There can be little warning when a toilet or drain gets clogged. Sometimes this can happen due to poor plumbing, but most times the clog can be fixed with some useful plumbing tools. Here is a list of our top 5 most useful tools to use to de-clog your drains.
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1. Plunger: A plunger is the first tool to use when de-clogging your drain. It can be a very handy tool, especially when trying to clear blockage with toilets and sinks. Plungers can dislodge clogs without you having to take apart your pipes to fix the problem.
2. Snake: A snake, also known as an auger, is a more advanced tool to get rid of clogs in your pipes. A snake is a coiled spiral cable, and you push the “snake” down the pipes to push on whatever is clogging the pipe and get it dislodged. Snakes have a crank handle to move the snake down the pipe.
3. Toilet snake: A toilet snake, or closet auger, is a plumbing snake that is used specifically for fixing toilet clogs. The difference between the regular snake and the toilet snake is that the toilet snake is more rigid has a shorter cable. The cranks is also fitted with rubber so it won’t scratch the porcelain of your toilet bowl.
4. Sewer tape: The name of this tool may be a bit misleading. It actually is not tape, but a flat, metal band with a hook on the end of it. The hook is used to dislodge the clog.
5. Drain Cleaner: Liquid drain cleaners are easy to use and easy to find. They use chemicals to unclog your drain. They can be very useful when there is buildup in your pipes.
Drain cleaners dissolve everything in the pipeline on its way down. They work well if the clog is due to grease or hair. Drain cleaners almost always contain a combination of chemicals to dissolve a variety of things that are stuck in your pipe.
Don’t try to mix drain cleaners, as some chemicals are not meant to be mixed. Remember to use safety practices when using chemicals to de-clog your pipes. If one of your drain cleaners doesn’t solve the problem, don’t try to fix it by pouring another drain cleaner down the sink. Try another method, or call a professional plumber to solve the problem.
