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.

How do you use a rigid auger?

What is the difference between a drain snake and an auger? Drain snakes work for smaller drains like your kitchen or bathroom sink. Drain augers tackle larger pipes like your toilet or shower drain. The snake covers lines from 1-1/4″ – 2″ range, and you’ll use an auger for lines in the 1-1/2″ – 3″ range.

How do you snake a toilet with ridgid?

Can an auger damage the pipe? Most heavy-duty augers that rely on electrical power are much more likely to damage your pipes if not used properly.

Can you run a snake through a urinal? You can either have snaking professionally done or on your own with a store-bought urinal auger. Pull out the coil sticking out the bottom of the drum and hold the handle of the urinal auger with your non-dominant hand.

What kind of snake do plumbers use? – Related Questions

Will a drum auger work on a toilet?

Important: to avoid scratching the visible ceramic surface inside a toilet bowl, do not insert a handheld drum auger directly into the toilet. A 25 foot handheld drum auger can be purchased for around $30. This is a good next choice, since the auger can break through many clogs that are further away from the toilet.

Is auger better than plunger?

Like we mentioned above, you’ll probably want to tackle a minor clog with a plunger first. For more stubborn clog, an auger is your next best bet. To use the auger properly, situate the curved end of the auger handle pipe so that it’s facing the same direction as the drain.

Can a drain snake break a pipe?

Drain Snakes Can Damage Pipes While billed as devices that are easy to use by anyone and everyone, drain snakes can be hard to manage, and if used improperly, can damage pipes. Old pipes in many homes are galvanized, or coated in zinc, which was done to prevent the pipe from rusting or corroding.

How do you use a rigid 6 toilet auger?

How do you use a heavy duty toilet auger?

How do you snake a toilet with a drill?

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.

Can you run a 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 often should you snake your drain?

ANNUALLY. Even if you don’t notice any specific signs that your drains are having trouble with clogs, you should do your best to have them cleaned at least once every year.

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.

How do you unclog a urinal with a snake?

Start simple by using a plunger on the urinal the same way you’d use one on a clogged toilet. If you aren’t having any luck, get a drain auger to snake the drain line and clear any blockages. If you need a heavy duty option, you can always use muriatic acid mixed with water to dissolve any blockages.

How do you snake a blocked urinal?

Pour a few inches of water inside the clogged urinal. Place a plunger over the drain and give several strong thrusts. This will remove shallow clogs that are close to the drain. If the bucket water flows through, flush the urinal to make sure it’s truly unclogged.

Can plunging make a clog worse?

Attempting to force a clog through a toilet with a plunger can often make the problem worse. Instead, create a seal and slowly push down on the plunger before pulling it back sharply. The suction can help pull the clog back up toward the bowl, breaking the blockage and allowing gravity to take over.

Why can’t you use liquid plumber in the toilet?

While drain cleaners work well for clogged tub and sink drains, they aren’t designed for use in toilets. Chemical-based clog removers such as Drano and Liquid Plumr aren’t designed for toilets. As Atlantis Plumbing notes, chemical drain cleaners are too abrasive for drain pipes.

How do you unclog a toilet when an auger doesn’t work?

Pour a few drops of dishwashing liquid into the toilet, then follow with a bucket of warm-to-hot water. You want it hot enough to melt any greasy lumps, but not boiling. Boiling water might crack your toilet bowl. If the toilet is still clogged, use a toilet plunger to try and push the mess down your pipes.

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.

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 far does a toilet auger reach?

Most toilet augers extend anywhere between 3 to 6 feet in length to remove clogs.

What’s the strongest thing to unclog a drain?

Best Overall: Drano Max Gel Clog Remover This popular drain cleaner works effectively on different drains and disposals—whether in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, or garage. This highly concentrated formula works in about seven minutes and can remove even the toughest grime buildup from your drains.

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!

Is a 25 foot drain snake long enough?

For the typical property owner, a 25-foot snake is long enough. If you have an upstairs bathroom, though, you might run into a problem needing a 50-foot reach. For many obstructions, ones that take place in sinks and tubs, you need a wire that’s 1/4-inch in size.

Can I use a drain snake on PVC pipe?

PVC pipes are an improvement over cast-iron pipes, because they have smooth walls that don’t allow debris to cling, so if you have to clear a clogged drain deep in the pipe, you can usually do it with a plunger or drain snake.

Is it safe to snake your own drain?

For smaller clogs, snaking your own drain is possible. Routine, minor sink clogs from hairballs or food remnants are typically located in the U-shaped trap directly below the sink or only a few feet deeper in the drainpipe. They may be cleared by using a light-gauge, hand-operated auger.

Can a drain snake break a PVC pipe?

If the bottom of the pipe or fittings are missing this can cause the snake to catch and break the pipe. It can also cause the equipment to get stuck. Broken PVC pipe is another issue with drains.

How do you use a rigid 6 toilet auger?

How do you use a hand auger?

How do you use auger snake?

How do you unclog a drain with an auger?