Can a Drain Snake Break a Pipe? What You Need to Know (2024)

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Slow-draining water and gurgling sounds prompt many homeowners to reach beneath their sink cabinets and fish for a drain snake. Although these plumbing tools are often readily available at most home improvement retailers, you should know a few things before purchasing and using one. For instance, can a drain snake break a pipe?

When residents of St. George, UT, search for “drain services near me,” they trust our team at Iron Mountain Plumbing. We wanted to alert readers like you about the potential hazards of drain snake or auger use to prevent more severe plumbing problems. Read on to learn how to use a drain snake.

A drain snake is an elongated plastic strip or metal wire with prongs or coils that catch stubborn debris trapped in drains. These augers come in various sizes and lengths. Some even use electricity to power them throughout the operation. You can find them in home improvement or home goods stores for affordable prices.

Drain snakes have grown in popularity amongst many property owners. They seem easy to use to the average person. Just push the length gently into a clogged drain. Then, carefully tug the drain snake out.

While you pull the snake from the drain, the prongs or coils will catch slimy debris, like hair, food particles, and mold. Often, this tool will eliminate enough debris for water to flow freely in your tub, sink, or shower. Seems simple enough, right?

Unfortunately, improper drain snake usage runs rampant. Many plumbers receive calls from homeowners who accidentally break a pipe. Even worse, they sometimes risk their health while attempting this deceptively easy task.

Yes, a drain snake can break a pipe. It can also wreak other forms of chaos and havoc within your household. One mistake during use can cause significant damage to the user or the plumbing network they want to fix.

But howcan a drain snake break a pipe? You’ll learn more details about things that can go wrong with these augers below.

Most materials become more fragile as they age. Plumbing pipes are no exception. If you aren’t sure about your plumbing network’s age, you should learn more about the pipe installation date, material, and current wear and tear.

Ensure your indoor plumbing hasn’t developed the following damage:

• Corrosion:When a section of pipe becomes corroded, its materials become more brittle than usual. Corrosion may look like rusty spots on metal pipes or sludgy, bubbled areas on PVC.
• Mineralized buildup:Do you know whether you have a hard water source? If you do, your pipes and fixtures can develop mineral scale. An auger cannot safely remove the scale. The buildup might catch the prongs, leading to fractures from too much pressure.
• Cracks and fractures:Resolved and unresolved cracks can worsen after contact with the auger. You might pull the pipe too hard if the prongs or wires hitch on a chipped area.
• Weakened areas:Loose fittings or generally compromised pipes are no match for a drain snake wielded by unskilled hands. Before using this tool, verify that your exposed plumbing has no weaknesses.

The average retailer carries only one type of drain snake: the long plastic strip with sharp prongs along the edges. Home improvement stores may have a variety in stock. Before purchasing one, you must ensure the product that fits the drain.

There are four common auger assortments:

• Top snakes:You have probably seen these brightly colored strips of pronged plastic in the household cleaning aisle.
• Toilet augers:This auger features a plastic handle with a long, tight coil attached. The coil has a ball of looser coils at the tip.
• Mini-rooters:This small, electricity-powered machine contains a spool of tightly wound coil. Plumbers typically use them to clean large, in-floor drains.
• Drain machines:These tools look like larger versions of mini-rooters. They handle heavy-duty drains, such as those found in commercial buildings.

When you use a top snake, you’ll slowly feed it into the clogged drain until the entire length disappears. Then, you’ll pull it up slowly. Often, the debris caught on the prongs resists your pull. The prongs themselves can also get hung on the drain fixture.

This resistance prompts some homeowners to yank the snake upward. While you need to use a bit of force to free the snake and debris, you shouldn’t pull too hard. Using too much force could damage the connected pipe or the drain components.

Drainage networks contain black or gray water. This type of water often contains contaminants, such as:

• Mold
• Viruses and bacteria
• Decaying food particles
• Sewage
• Other decomposing waste

Even the most basic form of drain auger can severely injure you. The sharp prongs along the plastic strip can catch on clothing and skin. If a prong snags your arm, neck, or face as you tug it out of the drain, it may puncture your skin like a fish hook.

If you pull with enough force, you might end up with a severe open wound, potential infections, and severe scarring. You might even need to pay an impromptu visit to the emergency room, where a physician will stitch your wound and prescribe antibiotics.

Remember that top snakes can only help with minor clogs in small, residential drains. Don’t rely on them for toilets, floor drains, and other large or commercial drainage systems. If you suspect a blockage in your toilet or a bigger, more complex drain,schedule professional services.

Toilets are portals to dangerous sewage and other contaminants. Large drains don’t always have the same shape as a small sink or tub drains. Attempting to unclog these fixtures could threaten your health or your plumbing system.

You might feel tempted to pull the drain snake as hard as you can when it hits a snag.Do not do this.Try gently maneuvering the tool until it becomes less resistant to your efforts.

If you cannot remove the snake or pull any debris from the drain, call a professional plumber for help. You might have a more concerning problem beyond small blockages to handle. Forcing the snake out of its position might damage a pipe or fitting.

Sometimes, the tools you have at home are no match for sizable plumbing problems. While many homeowners use DIY methods to avoid a bill from the plumbing company, they can often save money, time, and effort by requesting professional assistance in the first place. Your initial service bill will almost always cost less than a service bill following an unskilled repair attempt.

Keep the following in mind before using a drain snake at home:

• Know your plumbing’s age and condition before using a drain snake.
• If you must use an auger, only use a top snake for minor clogs in small drains.
• Contact a plumber if any other fixture needs clog removal to avoid injury or exposure to contaminants.
• Do not use excessive force when a drain snake resists your tugging efforts. Always call a plumber to assess and resolve the issue.

Can a drain snake break a pipe? Sometimes, it can. It can also cause other significant issues.

Having second thoughts about using one? Call 435-334-5617 for service from Iron Mountain Plumbing instead. Our licensed plumbers know thecauses of a kitchen sink clogand can quickly resolve these pesky issues without damaging your indoor plumbing.