The Tools Plumbers Use to Unclog Drains
Drain cleaning tools like augers and snakes are essential for clearing tough clogs. These tools use a tightly coiled metal cable with enough strength to break through blockages. At the same time, they stay flexible to move through pipe bends and fittings.
Different auger heads can be attached depending on the type of pipe. Such as Orangeburg, clay, cast iron, or PVC. As well as the material causing the clog, like paper, grease, tree roots, or scale. When used properly, drain cleaning tools can cut through stubborn clogs and restore water flow.
For smaller blockages, the auger cable may catch and pull the debris out. As the tool spins, it also scrubs the inside of the pipes. This helps clear grease buildup, sludge, and mineral deposits.
Whether you’re a homeowner or a professional, drain cleaning tools are a reliable solution for restoring your plumbing system.
Toilet Auger
The toilet drain auger feeds a shorter length of drain cleaning cable through a hooked length of tubing. The hooked design facilitates feeding the auger into the drain pipes of the clogged toilet. The hooked section has a rubber or plastic sleeve the end of the auger to protect the porcelain finish of the toilet bowl. Many toilet clogs occur in the “S” shaped trap built into the bowl that prevents sewer gases from getting through. The shorter cable of the toilet auger is usually sufficient to reduce the size of toilet clog. Or retrieve the cause of the clog.
There is a downside to toilet augers. They can sometimes just push a clog further down into the drain system beyond their designed length. At that point the toilet may have to be pulled and a more powerful drain cleaning tool will have to be employed. A drain cable machine often referred to as a “plumbers snake”.
Hand Held Drain Auger
Hand held drain augers are used for cleaning smaller drains like lavatory sinks and bathtub drains. The operator turns a crank (some models come with an electric drill attachment option) to rapidly rotate the cable as it moves through the clogged pipe. The ¼ inch cable found on most hand held drain augers should never be used in a drain over two inches in diameter. They are usually ineffective in completely clearing the blockage in larger pipes and can easily become tangled in the pipe making removal very difficult.
Cable style drain augers are not recommended for use though the bowl of flush toilets. The wire can scar the porcelain finish. Also, as mentioned above, toilets have large diameter drain pipes allowing for the small diameter auger cable to become tangled and bound up inside the toilet.
Drain Cable Machine
Drain cable machines or a “plumbers snake”, are powerful, motorized machines. They have modular attachments and blades for the effective drain cleaning of larger pipes like kitchen drains and main sewer lines. The attachments are specifically designed for various pipe diameters. Type of pipe, and type of drain clog. Cable machines with the appropriate attachment are powerful enough to cut through tree and shrubbery roots. Also, scrape grease and mineral deposits from the inner lining of the pipes when used properly.
If used improperly, these drain cleaning tools can easily damage clay, Orangeburg, PVC, and even cast iron piping. It is highly recommended that you call on a licensed plumber for these types of stoppages. It is not recommended that home owners use cable machines as the can be very dangerous for DIY use.
Don’t Let a Clogged Drain Disrupt Your Day
If you’re dealing with slow drains, recurring clogs, or foul odors coming from your plumbing, it’s time to call in the professionals. At EVERYDAYPLUMBER.com, we use advanced drain cleaning tools and proven techniques to get your pipes flowing again. Quickly and affordably.
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