Designed to clear different types of products, plumbers consider drain snakes tools that cater to smaller drains like your kitchen or bathroom sink. The drain snake takes care of pipes ranging from 1-1/4″ to 2″ in diameter. Conversely, drain plugs are designed for larger drains, such as your bathtub or shower drain.
Drain snakes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: they’re designed to work with your plumbing system.
Table of Contents
Is it safe to use a drain auger?
A drain snake is a simple and cheap way to fix a blocked pipe. These are supposed to be used by anyone to clear a drain. But if used improperly, drain augers could make the clog worse. If you jam the obstruction tighter, you could cause more damage to the pipe.
How far should a drain auger go?
You might need to crank for a while depending on how far down your clog is, as the find the clog closet augers are typically made with about 25 ft. of reach. You can move on to the next step if you feel the cable come up against some form of resistance.
Can a drain snake break a pipe?
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 coated in zinc to prevent them from corroding. Drain snakes, on the other hand, are made of copper and are not coated with zinc.
If you have a drain snake in your home, make sure that it is properly installed. If your snake is in good condition, it should not be a problem. However, if you notice that the snake has been damaged, you should contact your local snake control company to see if they can repair the damage.
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. The curved end of the handle pipe should be facing the same direction as the pipe you’re trying to clean. Once you’ve located the clogged pipe, use a small flat-head screwdriver to pry it free.
If you don’t have a flat head screw driver, a pair of pliers will work just as well. Be careful not to over-tighten the screw, as this can cause the plunge to pop out of its socket.
Are drain snakes any good?
Light-duty drain snakes are great for quickly clearing hair clogs in the shower or grabbing items that were dropped down the drain. The drain snakes are made of high quality plastic that is flexible and durable. The drain snakes made with high-carbon steel are heavy-duty. Drain snakes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they can be used for many different purposes.
For example, you can use a drain snake to remove hair from the inside of a shower curtain. You can also use them to drain water from a faucet that has been left running for a long period of time. Drain snakes also make a great addition to your home’s plumbing system.
Can you run a drain snake through a toilet?
If you can’t fix the toilets with a plunger, use a toilet auger. A plumbing snake is a flexible coil of wire that is designed to extend into pipes and clear obstructions without damaging the plumbing.
