While drain snakes can be very effective in clearing certain clogs, sometimes they can actually exacerbate a problem. For example, if your pipes are old and corroded, sticking a drain snake down there can scrape off chunks of metal, making the clog much worse and damaging your pipe.
Is a toilet auger better than a plunger? A snake is safer to use on tough clogs than a plunger, which can apply too much pressure on the wax ring at the base of the toilet, causing it to break—and it’s also gentler than a liquid dissolving solution, which can corrode your pipes.
How do you unclog a toilet with a closet auger?
Is a toilet auger the same as a snake? Drain snakes work for smaller drains like your kitchen or bathroom sink. Drain augers tackle larger pipes like your toilet or shower drain.
What is a closet auger used for? Also known as a water closet auger or plumbing snake, this device is designed to move through the drain of the toilet to remove the clog or obstruction that’s causing the stoppage.
Can a toilet auger damage pipes? These are advertised as devices that anyone can use to unclog a drain. But if used improperly, drain augers could make the clog worse. You could jam the obstruction in there tighter, or worse, do damage to your pipes. There are a few things you should know before snaking a drain yourself.
Can a snake make a clog worse? – Related Questions
How do you make a homemade toilet auger?
The most common item recommended to create a homemade toilet snake is a wire clothes hanger. Unwind the triangular part of your hanger, but leave the hook on the end in place. Feed this down your toilet and once your hit resistance, pull back. The hook should grab onto your clog and help loosen it.
Can you use a regular auger on a toilet?
How long of a toilet snake do I need?
Because they are designed for the toughest of clogs, the cable should be no smaller than 5/8 inch in size, with a minimum length of 75 to 100 feet in length. This snake is designed to clean out drains that are 3 inches or larger, which typically includes clean outs to the street.
How do you unblock a badly clogged toilet?
- Ways to Unclog Your Toilet.
- Lubricate the Blockage With Dish Soap.
- Make a Coat Hanger Snake.
- Break Up the Clog With Hot Water or Drain Cleaner.
- Mix Your Own Declogger.
- Plunge Using a Plastic Bottle.
- Unblock Your Toilet With Vinegar and Baking Soda.
How long should a toilet auger be?
It’s about 3 feet long when it’s fully stretched out, and has a spinning crank with a rotating handle. Place your auger into the toilet, pushing it in until the rubber elbow is nestled in the crook of your toilet.
What kind of snake will unclog a toilet?
A toilet snake is a type of drain snake made specifically for use on toilets. You use a toilet snake the same way that you use a drain snake, but toilet snakes are made specifically so that they don’t damage the porcelain of your toilet bowl.
How much does a toilet auger cost?
The national average cost to unclog a toilet is $200 to $700, with most people spending about $350 for a plumber to use an electric auger to clear the toilet drain clog and test the system. This project’s low cost is $100 for a simple drain snaking or professional chemical treatment by a plumber.
Should you snake a toilet?
Although technically you can use a regular snake (instead of a toilet snake) to unclog a toilet you really should not. The reason being that a regular snake can damage the porcelain of your toilet bowl. A toilet snake (aka toilet auger) is specifically designed to be used on toilets and will not cause any damage.
How do you snake a toilet with a hanger?
Simply unwind the hanger so that it’s completely straight with the exception of the hook. Then, wrap a small rag around the hook to help prevent any scratches or damage to the porcelain and, while wearing rubber gloves, gently angle the hanger down the drain until you find the clog.
How do you snake past a 90 degree turn?
The proper way to use a snake is to insert the head into the drain and push very slowly without cranking. If you try to force it, it can bend back on itself and actually come out of the drain. Push gently and slowly, and if the auger is the right one for the job, it should slide smoothly through the pipe.
Is it worth buying a drain snake?
First of all, a drain snake is a good item to keep handy in a home. A basic hand-crank drain snake (a.k.a. a drain auger) is a much better option for getting rid of a minor clog than resorting to chemical drain cleaners. In fact, you should never use these chemicals on your drains!
How do you unclog a toilet if a snake doesn’t work?
We recommend you add a cup of baking soda to your blocked toilet and wait for some minutes. Next, pour two cups of vinegar slowly into the toilet. Vinegar and baking soda will typically react to form bubbles, so ensure you pour carefully and slowly to prevent the toilet water from overflowing or splashing.
Will dish soap unclog a toilet?
Pour a half cup of dish detergent (degreasing dish detergent like Dawn works best) into the clogged toilet. Follow this with three to four cups of boiling water. The boiling water and degreasers will break up the clog, sending it right through.
Can a snake damage toilet?
Using the wrong plumber’s snake Plumbing snakes (also called drain cables) that are used to unclog sinks can actually scratch your porcelain toilet bowl.
Can you snake a toilet yourself?
To unclog toilets that couldn’t be fixed with a plunger, use a toilet auger. Also called a plumbing snake, this flexible coil of wire is designed to extend into pipes and clear obstructions without damaging the plumbing. Feed the end of the cable into the toilet, taking care not to scratch the bowl.
What kind of snake do plumbers use?
A standard household drain snake, sometimes called a drum snake or top snake, is the smallest of the drain-clearing augers. It is primarily used for clogs in tubs, showers, bathroom sinks, washing machines, and sometimes kitchens sinks. Most have a 25- or 50-foot cable with a corkscrew tip for snagging debris.
Can you use a shop vac to unclog a toilet?
Oftentimes, you can unclog a toilet using a wet/dry vacuum like a Shop-Vac. However, NO DOT attempt this method with a regular household vacuum. It is not engineered to handle water. Use the wet vac to empty the water from the bowl so it doesn’t overflow or splash out.
Will a toilet eventually unclog itself?
A clogged toilet will typically unclog itself over time. Most things that clog a toilet are water-soluble which means they will eventually dissolve in the toilet water. When the clog is given enough time to break down, the pressure of a flush should be enough to clear the pipes.
What is the best liquid to unclog toilet?
- Best Overall Drain Cleaner: Drano Max Gel Liquid Clog Remover.
- Best Drain Cleaner for Hair Clogs: Liquid Plumr Clog Destroyer + Hair Clog Eliminator.
- Best Single-Use Drain Cleaner: Green Gobbler Drain Opening Pacs.
- Best Enzymatic Drain Cleaner: Bio Clean.
Can I snake a clogged toilet?
To clear a clog in your toilet without a plunger, or if plunging hasn’t worked, a toilet snake can help you return to a functioning flush (sigh of relief). To get started, put on a pair of rubber gloves and make sure you’ve located the water supply in case you need to quickly restrict the water flow.
Can you run a drain snake through a toilet?
To unclog toilets that couldn’t be fixed with a plunger, use a toilet auger. Also called a plumbing snake, this flexible coil of wire is designed to extend into pipes and clear obstructions without damaging the plumbing. Feed the end of the cable into the toilet, taking care not to scratch the bowl.
How far does a toilet auger reach?
Most toilet augers extend anywhere between 3 to 6 feet in length to remove clogs.
How do plumbers unclog a toilet?
In case the matter is more serious plungers do not work anymore and at this point of time plumbers come up with a much stronger instrument known as the toilet auger or toilet snake. This is a cable-like tool that plumbers twist in deep into the toilet to the clog. This is a kind of device to loosen the clog.
