Tools for Unclogging Drains and Toilets
Got a clogged drain? Need help unclogging a pipe? Stopped up sinks and plugged toilets can often be cleared without the help of a plumber – if you learn some plumbing tricks. We’ll teach you how to unclog a stopped up kitchen sink, bathtub and floor drain.
Tools You’ll Want to Keep in the House
You’ll want to invest in the following tools, all of which are inexpensive and very handy for clearing drains.
- A plunger - $5 to $10
- A cable auger - $15 to $25
- A closet auger - $15 to $40
You’ll see electric augers and drain jetting equipment, but you won’t want to mess with these tools on your own. Most jetting devices make huge messes and don’t clear clogs well, and you won’t want to try using an electric auger on your own because of the risk of injury. If you can’t clear a drain with a plunger, cable auger or a closet auger, you need to call a plumber so you don’t damage your pipes or the fixtures.
A cable auger is also called a snake. It is a strong, flexible, lengthy steel cable that is sold wound around a spool. The spool has a hand crank on it that allows you to snake the steel cable down into and then back out of the drain. You can buy 100-foot long cables, but a 25-foot long cable is more reasonable for a homeowner to use. Most homeowners end up frustrated if they try to snake a clog that is more than 25 feet down the drain. It’s not worth the extra expense. Instead try to deal with clogs sooner than later, at the first sign of clogging or slow draining.
A closet auger is a snake designed for unclogging toilets or pipes leading away from the toilet. The auger is bent at the proper angle to snake a toilet, making it possible to get the cable through the toilet trap curves.
To learn how to clear drains, read the other articles in our How To Clear a Drain Series:
- How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink
- How to Unclog a Bathroom Sink
- How to Unclog a Floor Drain
- How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain
Each of these articles will be published throughout January of 2014.
When You Need to Call a Charlotte Plumber
If a stopped up sink, plugged up bathtub drain or clogged floor drain won’t clear in a few attempts, call a Charlotte plumber. If you exert too much force, you can inflict permanent damage to the pipes or to a fixture. The cost of replacing piping or fixtures will be more expensive than having a professional clear drains for you.
Need Charlotte Plumbing Services?
Are you interested in more information about drain cleaning? Wondering what to do if you don't have access to tools for unclogging drains? Looking to fix a clogged sink drain or clogged toilet?
E.R. Services is open 24/7, 365 days a year. You don’t need to take time off work or wait until the morning because we never charge extra for nights or weekends. Just give us a call at 704-269-1066 or use our online contact form.
Learn more about Charlotte drain cleaning here.
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Serving the Charlotte metro area, including Charlotte suburbs. Looking for Charlotte plumbing services? Mooresville plumbing services? We’ll get the job done now and the job done right. 30+ years experience, fully staffed and committed to customer satisfaction.
Article Summary
Quick question & answer: What are the best tools to have around for unclogging drains and toilets?
The following tools help with unclogging drains and toilets. A plunger costs $5-$10. A cable auger (snake) costs $15-$25 and the hand crank lets you bring it in and out of a drain. A closet auger costs $15-$40 and is designed for unclogging toilets or pipes leading away from the toilet.
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