This 50-foot electric drain auger can reach deep into a drain system to clear the majority of clogs, eliminating the need for the user to call a professional plumber. Cable size:Sectional cable purchased separately; can use -inch or -inch cableManual or motorized:MotorizedBest used for:Larger sewer and septic system jobsHead type:Variable heads available. For common, simple household usage, a basic handheld toilet auger or manual drain snake would likely suffice. These include short, toothed drain snakes for removing hair clogs, standard metal drain snakes that can take care of most nearby clogs, and powerful electric drain snakes that can reach 50 feet in length to banish clogs buried in the middle of the drain system. And for tougher, deeper obstacles, theres a 39-inch steel drain snake that can handle clogs within about 3 feet of a drain.
Check out our Pro Tool Selection Guide or chat with a Drain Brain! But the right drain cleaning equipment, Chris Fantauzzo contends, turns those problems into profits. Get 10% Off Your Entire Purchase When You Open a New Account, Get our best deals and latest news delivered straight to you. 
Snakes are especially handy because they're long enough to reach clogs that are deep within a drainpipe. Plus, its budget-friendly and simple to use. After turning the curve, the snake usually slides through easily until you hit the clog. Its a manual model, however, so cranking takes quite a bit of muscle and perseverance. If you don't feel the auger breaking through and twisting getting easier, pull the auger out of the drain you'll likely pull the clog out with it.
Run water full force for a few minutes to be sure that the drain is unclogged.
\r\nSometimes, the clog flushes down the drain; at other times, the clog comes out attached to the snake.
\r\nJames Carey and Morris Carey Jr. share their 55+ years of experience as award-winning, licensed contractors with millions of people nationwide through a weekly radio program and syndicated newspaper column, both titled On The House. Keep reading for information about how a drain snake works, what type of snakes are used by professionals, and gain answers to other common questions about these plumbing tools. Potato peels down the kitchen sink. Cable size:25 ft. longManual or motorized:MotorizedBest used for:Sinks, drains, and minor sewer/toilet clogsHead type:Spiral. Review the manual carefully before use. Cable size:18 in. To help you choose and use the right drain snake, whether for a stopped-up toilet or a slow-moving sink, this guide shares tips on what to look for and rounds up the best drain snake options for effectiveness and ease of use. Crank the handle to send the 18-inch flexible snake down the drain and let its bristly tip grab onto clumps of hair. Cable size:25 ft. long, in.
8 Best Drain Snakes and Augers for Tackling Tough Clogs. They also appear regularly on CBS News Saturday Morning.
","authors":[{"authorId":9991,"name":"James Carey","slug":"james-carey","description":"James Carey and Morris Carey Jr. share their 55+ years of experience as award-winning, licensed contractors with millions of people nationwide through a weekly radio program and syndicated newspaper column, both titled On The House. Cable size:50 ft. long, in. Get the RIDGID toilet auger at The Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and the Plumbing Tool Store. Sometimes called medium drain machines, these powerful tools typically have a thicker cableoften 1/2 inch in diameterand extend up to 75 feet to reach down deep into plumbing lines. Clogs happen. For any difficulty using this site with a screen reader or because of a disability, please contact us at 1-800-444-3353 or cs@harborfreight.com. If you expect to use a drain snake on a regular basis or plan on tackling major clogs in gutters or washing machines, the extra muscle and reduced hand strain of an electric drain snake might make it the better choice. Cable size:6 ft. long, in. We always recommend reading the manufacturers directions first and, if available, watching any provided instructional videos on how to use a snake or auger, especially if you are unfamiliar with it or have never used one. With this in mind, drain snake manufacturers use high-quality ABS plastic and flexible high-carbon steel. This tool, a coiled steel wire usually about 1/4-inch thick with a handle on one end, works the opposite way that a plunger does: You push the snake into the clog and crank it to drive the snake farther into the obstruction.\r\n\r\nWhile parts of the clog break up and flush through the drain, the snake helps you gain access to the clog so that you can pull it out. Some snakes can fit as an attachment on an electric drill, giving it more power to force it through the clog.
Keep in mind these factors and the additional product features detailed below when shopping. This tool revs up to a speed of 560 RPM in seconds, so you can make quick work of these drain-clearing jobs. Dummies helps everyone be more knowledgeable and confident in applying what they know. Ryobi is one of the top names in power tools, so if you want a reliable drain snake that has the muscle to get the job doneat a reasonable price pointthis might be a good choice. If the clog is a solid object, the auger head entangles the object. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. Drain snakes are made to be water-resistant, but they must also be able to resist the corroding effects of waste and chemical drain cleaners. Typically, professional plumbers will have more than one snake. When water isnt draining as quickly as it shouldor, worse, isnt draining at allrepair-savvy folks reach for a drain snake. Most drain snakes have a small crank thats turned by hand to advance and retract the cable. Instead of using a plunger to force water and air through the pipes, a drain snake is a physical tool that is fed into the drain. You just feed the cable through the hollow guide handle and crank. The auger begins its journey down the drain. Two 24-inch retrieval tools have a four-claw head with a plunger mechanism that opens and closes the claw to grab such items as earrings and rings. This Ridgid auger is manually operated but doesnt require a lot of force, so you can clear many simple clogs without too much strenuous exertion. The FlexiSnake comes with five replacement heads. If youd rather not call a plumber for a costly visit, its important to have the right tool if faced with a clogged drain. The cable is sturdy and kink resistant. It is designed to use -inch or -inch cable to clean out lines ranging from 1 inches to 4 inches wide. This snake operates manually but can be converted to an electric auger by attaching it to a power drill. A plumbing snake or drain auger is simply a long, thick, flexible wire that snakes into drains and pipes to chew through clogs quickly and efficiently. To prevent these clogs, never dispose of leftover building materials in sink drains. For a more serious clog in the homes main water pipes, blockages farther down the kitchen sink drain than a typical food clog, or problems with washing machine drainage, a tougher drain snake may be called for. The retractable mechanism allows for quick and easy cable advancement and retraction, and the plastic angled guard protects porcelain and delicate surfaces. This precaution flushes the garbage completely out of the small-diameter sink drainpipe and into the larger main drainpipe, where it's less likely to cause a clog.
\r\n\r\n \tDon't dump materials down your drain: Do-it-yourselfers often flush building materials down the drain. We have invested millions of dollars in our own test labs and factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands. This tool also features a built-in LED light to increase visibility and precision while working. Don't dump materials down your drain: Do-it-yourselfers often flush building materials down the drain. But it is a great choice for the professional who needs a reliable workhorse to handle drain and sewer cleanouts or septic tank jobs. Think about whether a manual or electric model would be best, and consider the type of drain snake head that would be most effective. The basic process is as follows:\r\n
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Push the end of the snake into the drain opening and turn the handle on the drum that contains the coiled-up snake.
\r\nThe auger begins its journey down the drain.
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Keep pushing more of the snake into the drain until you feel resistance.
\r\nYou may have to apply pressure when cranking the handle to get it to bend around the tight curve in the trap under the sink. Standard and heavy-duty drain snakes may use ABS plastic in the handle or drum, but the actual snake is made from flexible high-carbon steel. Its manual crank sends the 25-foot, 1/4-inch cable twisting and turning into pipes, while the screw-shaped head chews through semi-solid obstructions yet can also catch and retrieve hair, paper, and other fibrous gunk. Note that many snakes and augers are intended for drains (in sinks and showers) and not for toilets. If clogged drains are a regular occurrence in your home, consider investing in the Ridgid manual drain snake, a hand-cranked model that provides a no-mess and hard-hitting solution to slow draining pipes. Some of our recommendations also feature multiple head types to suit the task at hand. The hand-held Super-Vee easily unclogs sink, tub, and laundry drain lines up to 3 in diameter.