I tried to snake a shower pan drain, but couldn't get the snake to bend. What's the trick?

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Pman6

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I was spinning the snake with my drill while trying to push and jab it through, and couldn't get the snake to enter the first bend

I've had difficulty with ptraps before. I gave up on a tub once, and I gave up on this too.

Luckily the toilet plunger busted the shower clog.

but am I snaking this the wrong way? or are all shower and tub ptraps this hard?
 

James Henry

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There is a technique to it. Insert the snake until it bottoms out in the ptrap. While pushing the snake in the ptrap. Pull the trigger on the drill like your firing a semi auto gun and the snake will walk up the other side of the ptrap and into the drain.
 

Jadnashua

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Take a look at the spiral on the end of the snake...the drill should work in the normal, forward direction, but if it doesn't, won't hurt to try reversing the direction. Be careful, though, that could try to unwind the coil if it gets stuck.
 

Tuttles Revenge

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It depends a lot on your p-trap. If you're going through an old Durham style cast iron trap.. no way. The bend radius is too tight.
 
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Hey, wait a minute.

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