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Is it safe to use a toilet auger?
It is certainly possible to clear a toilet clog with an ordinary drain snake, but all too often you will leave disfiguring scratches in the bottom of the bowl. A drain auger, on the other hand, will not scratch the porcelain of your toilet.
Can toilet auger damage?
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.
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 difference between a 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 far does a toilet auger reach?
Closet augers are typically made with about 25 ft. of reach, so you might need to crank for a while depending on how far down your clog is. When you feel the cable come up against some form of resistance, that means you’ve reached the clog and can stop cranking.
How long should a toilet auger be?
Toilet augers have a ‘rubber elbow’ near the tip, and a hollow plastic or rubber tube in the middle. A coiled cable runs through the hollow tube casing, ending in a coiled hook. It’s about 3 feet long when it’s fully stretched out, and has a spinning crank with a rotating handle.
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.
How do you unclog a drain if a snake doesn’t work?
If the auger still doesn`t work, call a plumber. If you can`t remove an obstruction in a sink drain by using an auger inserted into the drain, tackle the clog through the U-shaped trap under the sink.
Can you snake a clogged 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. If you snag the obstruction, pull out the auger. Clean the auger as needed.
How do you clean an auger?
With a high-bristle wire pipe brush, poke through the plumbing snake’s crevices, dislodging any remaining particulate that the scrubbing brush was unable to reach. Then, run the plumbing snake through clean water to ensure that the coil is clean. Wipe it down with a rag and leave it out to dry completely.
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.
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.
How long should a snake be in a toilet?
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.
What kind of liquid can I use to unclog a toilet?
As an alternative to using dish soap and no plunger, try this all-natural solution. Pour one cup baking soda and two cups vinegar into the toilet. Allow it fizz for a half hour. If clog doesn’t dissipate, try the hot water trick.
What’s 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.
What is the best snake to unclog a toilet?
BEST OVERALL: Ridgid GIDDS-813340 41408 Power Spin Drain Cleaner. BEST BUDGET: Liboyixi 6+1 Drain Clog Remover Tool. BEST FOR TOILET CLOGS: RIDGID 6 ft. BEST FOR HAIR CLOGS: FlexiSnake Drain Weasel Sink Snake Cleaner. BEST EXTRA LONG: VEVOR 50FTx1/2Inch Drain Cleaner Machine. BEST ELECTRIC: POPULO Electric Drain Auger.
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.
