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Use Powered Drain Snake — Use a Plumber's Snake (Auger)

Beginner3 hours

Part of project

How to Unclog a Shower Drain with Standing Water · Step 6 of 7

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In this video

Feed the cable of the drain snake into the drain opening in the wall. Continue feeding the cable until you feel it hit the obstruction, which was previously identified at 15 feet. Once you reach the clog, tighten the chuck on the drain snake to grip the cable. Attach a drill to the snake and run it, causing the auger head to spin and break apart the clog. Feed the cable in small increments (e.g., 6 inches at a time), run the drill, then loosen the chuck and feed more cable. Repeat this process, working the snake back and forth to clear the blockage.

Goal: Break up the drain clog

  • Keep the drain snake's drum close to the drain opening to prevent the cable from kinking or whipping around.
  • The auger head has a small hook or coil designed to grab and break up typical clogs like hair and grease.

Used in this video

  • Powered Drain Snake (brand: Unspecified, Tool Type: Sink auger/snake, Power Source: Electric, Head Type: Bulb auger, Cable Length/Size: Medium (25-50 ft)) — Mechanically clearing the clog in the drain pipe.
  • Drill (brand: Unspecified, Tool Type: Drill, Drill_Type: Corded) — Powering the rotation of the drain snake.
10.3K views7620-30 minutes
1 Tom Plumber

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FAQs

Is clearing a shower drain with standing water truly a 'beginner' project, and how long does it typically take?

Yes, it's considered beginner-friendly as it starts with simple, non-invasive methods. Most clogs can be cleared within an hour using basic techniques. The '3 hours' estimated time accounts for more stubborn clogs that might require using a plumber's snake, which still falls within a beginner's capability with proper guidance.

What are the most crucial safety precautions I should take when unclogging a shower drain, especially with standing water and potential grime?

Always wear safety glasses (like MCR Safety BearKat Safety Glasses MCSCRWBK110) to protect your eyes from splashes and debris. Waterproof gloves (like HANDS ON Men's Micro Fleece Gloves CT8500) are essential to protect your hands from dirty water and cleaning solutions. Ensure good ventilation, especially if you're using vinegar, and avoid touching your face.

Are there any essential tools or materials I might already have that can substitute for the specific brands listed, or are they all necessary?

Most household screwdrivers (flat head or Phillips) will work just fine; you don't necessarily need the specific Milwaukee or HDX models. Any baking soda and vinegar brand will suffice, and any kettle capable of heating water (like the KENMORE KKTK1.7S-D) can be used. The PLUMBFLEX drain snake (SU3248) is a specialized tool that is highly recommended for deeper clogs if natural solutions fail.

How do I effectively apply the baking soda and vinegar solution when the shower drain already has standing water?

First, manually scoop out as much standing water as possible from the shower pan using a cup or small bucket, then absorb remaining water with a towel. This allows the baking soda and vinegar to directly access the clog. Pour the baking soda directly into the drain opening, followed by the vinegar, allowing it to bubble and work on the blockage.

Transcript
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You can still use a snake to and that's what this is. This is 35 feet powered by a grill This is the coil of the snake. This is the power And the line you just feed the line into this if it's not already and it feed that line all the way into it This act like a drill chuck. So it holds it tight once you get to the length you want Right now we loosen that and we're going to feed this into the line till we get to the cloud and we know we've got about 15 feet of this to go Before we're going to run into the obstruction. This right here costs 45 bucks to rent for hello like four hours and We know it's going to be 350 if we call a plumber. So it's worth the effort And then we end of this just has a little hook on it and when it spins it'll just chew through Typical clogs. If it's roots, that's a different problem. But right now we're hoping it's just a just a typical clog So we're going to feed this through you got to get it around the fins here So this takes a little encouragement And we're going to go until it doesn't until it doesn't go any more If you did anything out of this video, go ahead and like it. We really appreciate it. So what I'm going to do now Because I'm going to take this and be disrespectful. I want this to get as close to the drain as possible Otherwise, it'll do like that. It'll be whipping around and all kind of crazy tighten the chuck and then I want to run the drill till this Six inches goes into the clock then I'll pull out six oranges and just keep on going I'm going to be able to come out all gunkie this time Yeah, it's gunkie right there

Auto-generated transcript. May contain errors.