Drain Snake Rental

A drain snake rental gives you a powered cable that cuts through clogs in sinks, tubs, floor drains and main sewer lines. Small drum augers handle household drains, while larger sewer augers clear main lines, so match the machine and cable to the pipe size and length of your run.

What a drain snake does

A drain snake, also called a plumbing snake or drain auger, feeds a flexible steel cable into a pipe. A cutting head on the end spins as the cable advances, breaking up or pulling back hair, grease, soap buildup, paper and tree roots. Renting a powered machine makes sense when a plunger or hand auger has not cleared the line, or when the clog is far down the pipe.

Common jobs include:

• Kitchen and bathroom sink clogs past the trap
• Slow tub and shower drains
• Laundry and floor drains
• Main sewer line backups from the cleanout
• Root intrusion in older sewer lines

Types of drain augers you can rent

Sewer snake rental usually means a larger drum or sectional machine. If you search for a 100 ft drain snake rental near me, you are likely dealing with a main line, so ask the supplier for a machine whose cable length and diameter suit your pipe.

How to choose the right drain snake

Match the cable to the pipe. Thin cables are made for small household drains and can kink or break in a large line. Heavy cables are made for main lines and can damage small pipes and fixtures. Tell the supplier the pipe diameter and roughly how far the clog is from the access point.

Pick the right access point too. For main sewer lines, run the snake through a cleanout rather than a toilet or small fixture drain. Ask which cutting heads come with the rental, since different heads are used for soft clogs and for roots.

Tips before you rent

• Wear the gloves recommended for the machine, along with eye protection and old clothes. Drain cables are messy.
• Never wear loose gloves, sleeves or jewelry near a spinning cable.
• Let the cable do the work. Forcing it can cause it to kink or whip.
• Run water as you work to flush debris once the line opens.
• Do not use chemical drain cleaners before snaking. They can splash back on you during the job.
• Ask the supplier how to operate the foot pedal and forward and reverse controls before you leave.
• If the line keeps clogging, it may have a break, sag or heavy root problem that needs a camera inspection by a plumber.

How to use a drain snake

The steps below are for the powered drain machines most people rent. Read the supplier's instructions too, since controls vary.

1. Figure out where the clog is. One slow fixture usually means a branch line; several backed-up drains point to the main line, which is best reached through a cleanout.
2. Lay down a drop cloth, set out a bucket and rags, and put on safety glasses and the leather cable gloves that usually come with the machine.
3. Open the cleanout cap or trap slowly and stand to the side. A backed-up line can release dirty water under pressure.
4. Set the machine close to the opening so very little cable is exposed between them, and use a guide tube if one is provided.
5. With the motor off, feed the cable in by hand until you feel resistance.
6. Step on the foot pedal to spin the cable forward and feed it slowly. Let the cutter do the work. If the cable binds or starts to loop, take your foot off the pedal immediately.
7. Work back and forth through the blockage, then run water to confirm the line drains freely.
8. Pull the cable back out with the motor spinning forward at a slow pace, wiping it with a rag as it comes out.
9. Flush the line with plenty of water to carry away the broken-up debris.
10. Disinfect and dry the cable, cutters and drum before you return the machine.

Mistakes to avoid

• Wearing cloth gloves, loose sleeves or jewelry. A spinning cable can grab fabric and wrap around a hand.
• Letting slack cable build up between the machine and the drain. It can kink, whip around or snap.
• Running the motor in reverse for long stretches, which can unwind and damage the cable.
• Snaking right after pouring a chemical drain cleaner. The chemicals can splash back on you and damage the cable.
• Running a power auger through a toilet. It can scratch or crack the porcelain, so use a toilet auger or go in through a cleanout instead.
• Trying to clear a main line clog through a sink drain, where the small pipe and the trap fight the cable the whole way.
• Using a heavy main-line cable in a small sink or tub line, where it can jam in the trap.

Pro tips

• Start with a smaller cutter head to open a path, then switch to a larger one to clean the pipe wall.
• Note how much cable is out when you hit the clog. It tells a plumber roughly where the problem is if it comes back.
• If the clog keeps returning, or the cable brings back roots, the line may be damaged and needs a camera inspection by a plumber rather than more snaking.
• Keep a garden hose nearby to rinse the cable as it comes out.

For other repairs, the plumbing tool rental guide covers pipe and fitting tools. If a backup has already flooded a basement, see the pump rental page.

How to find drain snake rental near me

To rent a drain snake near me, search by your city and the dates you need it. Jobsite Jockey shows live inventory from rental suppliers on the Derental marketplace, including handheld augers, drum machines and sewer snakes.

Compare a few suppliers before you book. Rates are set by each supplier and vary by machine size, cable length, rental length, location and delivery. Ask about cutting heads, cleaning requirements on return and whether a cable is included in the base rental. Then request the rental online and confirm the details with the supplier.

Use the Browse equipment button to see plumbing snakes and sewer augers for rent in your area.