Tools You Need to Unclog Most Drains
As a homeowner, you’re going to deal with a clogged drain once in a while, there’s no way getting around that. If you live in a home with toddlers or multiple people, then you’re more susceptible to clogs than single-person households.
We’ll show you how to clear stubborn clogs, and this includes ones that occur in the kitchen sink, the shower, bathtub, toilet, and floor drain. These old tricks of the trade can dislodge almost any clog, but if you still can’t clear it after a couple of earnest attempts, it’s time to admit defeat and contact a licensed plumber.
If you exert too much force during your attempts, it could cause permanent damage to your plumbing pipe or fixture – and we don’t want that!
Here are a few essential plumbing tools to combat pesky clogs that are not only affordable but easily available at your neighborhood hardware store or home center.
- Try a plunger. This is a tool that belongs in every household. As soon as trouble arises, reach for your handy plunger. It’s not just for toilets, it can clear clogs in sinks and tubs too.
- For deeper clogs, use a cable auger. If the clog is further down the drainpipe, the next tool to try is a cable auger or plumber’s snake. This is a long, flexible steel cable that is wound around a spool. Cable augers can be as long as 100 feet, though most household clogs don’t need one that is longer than 25 feet.
- Closet augers for toilets. If the clog is in the toilet, you can try a closet auger, which is specifically made for snaking toilets. Like the cable auger, it has a hand crank but instead of a spool, the cable is inside a rigid shaft. The auger is shaped to a precise angle so it fits through the curves of a toilet trap.
- Rent a power auger. If you have a very large clog, you can rent an electric power auger, a machine that is a large cable auger powered by an electric motor. It can cut through big clogs and even tangled tree roots, however, not everyone is comfortable with using this device.
When it’s Time to Call on the Pros
While there are some clogs that you can certainly attack at home, sometimes there’s a time when you need to call it quits and call on the professionals.
At Excalibur Plumbing, our drain cleaning experts can diagnose and take care of your clog quickly so you can get back to living your life and enjoying your plumbing normally!