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What Is a Toilet Auger? A toilet auger is a specialized form of
How to Snake a Drain – The Spruce
. Like other types of drain snakes, it has a handle that rotates a flexible metal cable that can bore through drain clogs.
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. 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. When they do, it’s often from roots growing into the pipes.
Can a toilet auger make it worse?
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.
Is a toilet auger better than a plunger?
Although different styles of plunger work on sink drains and toilets, plungers tend to be most effective on toilets. Snakes, or drain augers, are used for stubborn blockages in sink or toilet drain lines. When the cable is pulled back out of the drain, it brings the blockage along to restore normal water flow.
What does it mean to auger a toilet?
Basically, a toilet auger is a drain-clearing tool that is specifically designed to be used on a toilet drain. It works by clearing the toilet through to its drain pipe behind or under it. This device has a sharp spiral of wire on the tip and a semi-rigid wire that is flexible enough to bend in the bowl.
What does a plumbing auger look like?
A plumbing auger or plumbing snake is a long, flexible metal cable with a small, uncoiled spring on one end and a handle on the other. The auger head on the snake looks like a corkscrew. Home plumber’s snakes are usually around 50 feet long. The cable coils up when you’re not using it.
Are toilet augers safe?
Any drain tool can pick up bacteria from drain pipes, and this is especially true of any tool used in a toilet drain. Make sure to wear gloves when using a toilet auger, and rinse off the tool when you are finished using it.
How much does it cost to auger a toilet?
The average cost to auger a clogged toilet is $300 to $350, depending on the type and size of auger needed for the job and how long it takes. An auger is also known as an electrical snake and may be used for severe clogs that cannot be resolved with a simpler snaking solution or other treatment option.
What happens if a toilet auger doesn’t work?
You need to make sure that you’ve securely tightened thumbscrew(the piece that secures the cable inside the drum or handle). If the thumbscrew is loose, the cable will not rotate at all when you twist the handle. The cable rotation is how the drain snake picks up debris, so if it can’t do this, your auger won’t work.
What is the best way to unclog a toilet?
Hot Water and Dish Soap Wait for 10-15 minutes while the dish soap and hot water soften the clog. Once you do so, the toilet will unclog and flush freely. Alternatively, you could use hot water and shampoo from the sink if you wish to clear your toilet without leaving your bathroom.
Can snaking a drain damage pipes?
When a drain snake is inserted into a pipe, the end may flop around, scratching the pipe. A drain snake used with too much force being can scratch a zinc pipe and damage the coating. This can lead to cracks or rusting in the pipes opening the door to a major problem in the future.
Can Drano unclog a toilet?
You can use Drano® Clog Removers to unclog a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower or clogged bathtub, but DO NOT use them in toilets. For preventive drain cleaning, you can use Drano® Max Build-Up Remover in drains, toilets and even septic systems.
What tool do plumbers use to unclog toilets?
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.
What does a toilet snake look like?
A drain toilet snake is a long wire coil with a corkscrew-like tip that you feed into your pipes until it encounters the clog. Even the least expensive toilet snake will clear a toilet. These toilet snakes are often short because most obstructions catch in the first S-bend or at the floor flange.
What size auger Do you need to unclog a toilet?
Toilet Auger With a length of 3 to 6 feet, they have a “J” shape that allows them to be easily fed through the toilet. The devices are hand-operated. The cable should be 1/2 to 5/8 inch in diameter. Toilet augers are specially designed not to scratch a toilet’s finish.
Can you use a toilet auger in a shower drain?
Sometimes the best way to unclog a shower drain is with a drain snake, sometimes called a manual auger or electric auger. If it’s electric, you’ll need a power drill to run the plumber’s snake. Then turn the handle counterclockwise to back the snake out of the drain. Go slowly, so you don’t lose the clog.
How do I remove a trap from a toilet?
How to Get Stuck Objects Out of Your Toilet Remove the water from the toilet bowl. You can scoop the water out with a disposable cup or container. Grab the end of the toy, if you can see it in the drain, and pull it out. Fish the toy out of the drain. Plunge the toilet. Use an auger or snake. Try a de-clogger.
