Drain Snake Won’t Go Down Bathtub Drain—Why?

Purpose of Drain Snakes

Drain snakes are used to clear a clogged drain. They do this using a cable or flexible wire attached to a motorized handle. The cable can be made from several different materials including plastic, rubber, or metal. The motorized handle allows you to pull the cable in and out of the drain without physically touching the cable or snake.

General Drain Clogs

A general drain clog occurs when hair, grease, and other materials combine to form a solid mass that cannot easily be removed from the pipe. A general drain clog can also be caused by tree roots growing into a sewer line or septic tank.

Clogs In Small Water Pipes

Water pipes smaller than 1 inch in diameter often have problems with clogs caused by mineral deposits inside them that are not visible from the outside of the pipe. The mineral deposits cause water to flow in these small pipes to slow down considerably until it stops completely — this is known as "solarization" because it happens when sunlight hits the water inside these small pipes.

Clogs That Need More Power

If you're dealing with a clog that needs more power than a simple drain snake can offer, you might need an auger instead. An auger is similar in design but features spinning blades inside its body that can cut through tough materials like roots or hair. If your drain snake doesn't go down your bathtub drain, this could be what you were looking for!

Drain Snake Won’t Go Down Bathtub Drain—Why?

If you’ve ever tried to use a drain snake, you know how frustrating it can be when the snake doesn’t go down the drain. In some cases, this is because there is a big clog that blocks the pipe. In other cases, it’s just tough to get a snake through a narrow pipe.

Wrong Size Drain Snake

The first thing to check is whether you have the right size of drain snake for your drain. If you have an older house with smaller pipes than modern homes, you need a smaller snake than a newer one with larger pipes and drains. The same goes for bathroom sinks versus kitchen sinks; most kitchen sinks have larger traps and drains than bathrooms do. So if your bathroom sink won’t go down, try using a smaller snake or even see if there is another sink in the house that might work better if you don’t want to replace it yet.

Dysfunctional Drain Snake

If your drain snake isn’t working properly, it will not unclog your bathtub drain. Various issues can cause this, but the most common is that the snake has gotten tangled up in the pipe. If this happens, you need to take the snake out of the pipe so it can be untangled before using it again.

Too Much Force

If you use too much force when using a drain snake, it won’t work properly and may break inside your pipe instead of clearing it out. When using any plumbing tool, ensure you use as little force as possible while still getting the job done effectively.

Really Big Blockage

If you have tried to use a drain snake to unclog your bathtub drain, but it just won’t go down, then you have probably discovered a big blockage. You must use hydrojetting and other tools to clear the clog.

Mr. Rooter Plumbing

If water is not draining away, then it means the dirt which is blocking your drains is not traveling down the drain and into your pipes. As your fluid travels down the drain, it can be blocked by a clump of hair from the shower or tub. Even if the clog is not in those places, it can still result in clogged water. A qualified plumber may be needed if you can’t clean the drain. A drain snake will help you retrieve whatever object is obstructing your drain. The question is, WHY isn't my drain snake going down my bathtub drain — and Mr. Rooter Plumbing can help?