Snake/Auger stuck in the middle of Drain-Pipe. What causing this?


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Old 06-10-21, 08:01 AM
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Snake/Auger stuck in the middle of Drain-Pipe. What causing this?

Hello:
My adult son who is pretty handy working around the house. He helped me to unclog drain-pipe of washing machine the other day. For the past two years, he had no problem 'in and out Snake/Auger' to unclog drain-pipe which is about 3/4 - one inch width. It's located at the back of washing machine and leading to the main-pipe. He used 'BrassCraft' Power Pistol Grip Drum Auger, 1/4" x 25' Cable. It's a brand new Snake/Auger.

This time, however he was VERY hard time to take the snake/auger out and took more than 10 - 15 minutes. It was damaged due to having stretched out so badly. The Washing machine started draining water good without any leaks at all.

Just wondering why Snake/Auger stuck when he was taking it out after he snaked through more than 20 feet trying to unclog the drain-pipe?

Thanks for any help.
 

Last edited by PineCone; 06-10-21 at 08:32 AM.
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Old 06-10-21, 09:13 AM
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The tip of the snake/auger likely caught on something and he kept turning the handle. This causes the spring to kink and can even knot itself.
 
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Old 06-10-21, 09:23 AM
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Thanks for the quick and knowledgeable response. I really appreciate it.
What he should do to 'unclog' drain-pipe the next time? Because, this, annoying incident/clog to leak water to the floor almost every year. Need a different type of Snake/Auger the next time when it happens?
Thanks,
 
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Old 06-10-21, 10:48 AM
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It's like fishing. You have to go by feel. If you pay attention when normally augering you can feel the tip turning and moving forward. Then if you feel it catch and keep turning you'll feel the cranking get harder as tension on the spring increase, then you might feel a "pop" making you think you've broken a clog free but it's really the spring kinking and knotting on itself. So, until you get to know the feel stop turning and pushing when you feel it catch something solid. Try backing up a bit and get the auger turning freely before moving forward again. If you can move the auger forward and backwards and you feel the tip moving forward and backwards it won't kink. Again, it's like fishing and you're feeling for that nibble on the end of the line while ignoring the feel of the lure bouncing across rocks.

Once a drain auger/snake has kinked it is damaged. You can still use it but you must be even more careful as it will kink more easily next time.

Knotting and kinking is more prevalent with the small hand augers because the spring is more supple and not as strong. It can also happen more easily in larger pipe as the spring has more room to loop around itself.
 
 

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