"DK" wrote in message
...

Remove the P-Trap and enter your line from the p-trap outlet.
.

Can't remove the P trap without major surgery. My plumbing system is all
galvanized plus some plastic at the tub. I seriously considered this until
I took a long look at what would be involved - no thank you.



On Sat, 30 Dec 2006 11:17:08 -0800, "Eigenvector"
wrote:

Good Lord that was a pain in the rear!

I bought a 14 dollar drum snake and went at it. Getting it past the P
trap
was a major frustration and I bent the cable getting it past it.
Fortunately once it gets past it moves nicely and I immediately hit the
most
foul looking clog of hair I never wanted to see.

I pulled up a chunk of it and went back to plunging - got it down. A few
gallons of hot water and the drain works perfectly.

At least I didn't have to resort to toxic chemicals or dismantling the
plumbing.

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
m...

"Lawrence" wrote in message
oups.com...

Eigenvector wrote:
After reading all about how to use a drain auger I have a question
about
it's use.

Are you trying to PUSH the clog, or are you trying to HOOK the clog
and
pull
it out?

Based on what I've read it sounds to me like it's a little of both
actually,
but since I've never used on before I didn't want to start ramming the
auger
into the clog and wind up making it worse.

You are just trying to push the line into the pipe until you hit a
clog. Whether you hook it or not is a bit of luck. Try to get it wedged
into the clog real good but don't risk breaking the line. It is then
time to pull the line out and see. Remove the clog, if any, and then
snake it again and keep snaking it until you have reached the capacity
of your tool. I one time removed a dozen clogs before it came out
clean. Hair and grease.

If you can't hook it then smearing it along the walls of the pipe seems
to be what happens. At least the line is clean to the diameter of
the snake and that's the best the tool will do. A have a 50' Milwaukee
drain cleaner it is a good one.

Okay thanks. Sounds like it's really just a matter of doing it and
using
whatever works.

I only have to unclog about 6 feet of drain line until I meet my main
septic line so I don't have forever to go. My big fear is that my clog
is
really rust buildup in the galvanized drain line and no auger is going
to
break that loose without causing some damage to the pipes.