Advantages Of Hiring A Professional
Sometimes blockages can occur deep in piping systems. You may not be able to reach them with a simple snake you pick up at the hardware store. Professionals can use techniques like high-pressure water streams, or hydrojetting, to cut through obstacles.
These also have the advantage of completely clearing your pipes of buildup so that they are flowing at full capacity. And they are much safer than augers because high-pressure water will not damage your pipes.
Your clog could be the result of a more serious obstruction, like tree roots. A professional plumber can use special devices to clear these major obstructions.
Another advantage of hiring a professional is that, besides removing the clog, they can ensure that your piping is intact. If they spot potential trouble spots, they can recommend reconstruction of your pipes. Or, if the drains are severely corroded, plumbing specialists may suggest you replace or reline them.
A professional also can assess why the blockage happened in the first place. For instance, an insufficient amount of water flowing through pipes could have something to do with frequent clogs.
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Banish Blockages In Sinks Tubs Showers And More With The Right Drain Snake For The Task
By Michelle Ullman and Timothy Dale | Updated May 13, 2022 12:11 PM
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Potato peels down the kitchen sink. Loose hair swirling through the tub drain. The little plastic soldier your toddler dropped in the toilet. Clogs happen. When water isnt draining as quickly as it shouldor, worse, isnt draining at allrepair-savvy folks reach for a drain snake. 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. But these blockage busters come in different types and sizes, depending on the recommended use.
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.
Best Shower Drains Cleanerryobi One+ Drain Cleaner
Apartment managers will find this Ryobi cordlessdrain cleaning machine critical for simple clogs. The 25-foot core wire is made of reinforced cable to reduce kinks, and the different speeds provide more control to dislodge and remove clogs.
This tool comes with a 3-year warranty but the battery and charger are both sold separately. One customer described that they pumped 300 gallons of water on one large battery at a rate of five GPM up five feet thru 60 feet of ¾-inch hose continuous duty. Very happy with the performance.
Specifications
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Plumber Cost To Unclog A Toilet
The average cost for a plumber to unclog a toilet is $100 to $275. Plumbers charge depending on if a toilet snake can unblock the clog or if the toilet needs removing to clear the blockage. A toilet snake costs $10 to $30 for DIY jobs.
- If a bad odor persists after snaking the toilet, toilet repair costs$10 to $25 to replace a cracked flange or wax ring. For DIY, a new toilet wax ring costs $2 to $10.
- If backflow is also coming out of other drains, the main sewer line likely needs to be cleared of tree roots and debris, increasing the total cost.
What Is A Drain Snake
When clogs happen, drain snakes are a great way to clear out the mess. The terms snake and auger are often interchangeable. Both tools serve the same function. A drain snake device helps move a metal cable through the pipes, clearing any dirt and debris.
Drain snakes come in manual, mechanical and electric options. However, not all styles are right for every clog. Learning the best drain snakes for every occasion is essential.
If you dont feel comfortable trying to clear a clogged pipe yourself, call a professional plumber for help.
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How To Snake A Clogged Drain Line
Snaking a clogged drain line should be a walk in the park if you understand what to do. One important thing to remember is to use a smart plumbers snake.
Traditional plumbing snakes cannot effectively go through the sharp corners of PVC elbow traps. A smart plumbers snake consists of a flexible stainless-steel material and a small ball at the end.
The flexible material can easily reach all the corners of your lines. Here is a simple procedure that you can use to snake your clogged lines.
Snaking An A/c Drain Line Is Cost
Drain lines in air conditioners are prone to clogging for a variety of reasons, including:
- Filters collect dirt
- Minerals build-up
- Mold and mildew issues
Because you breathe in the mold spores developing in your drain line, this produces a mess and a health threat. You may unclog your drain line by passing a drain snake through it to save money on repair fees.
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Manually Clear Any Blockage
You can use air pressure or water pressure to attempt to clean your drain line. For example, you can take your garden hose when water pressure and direct it inside the lines. The pressure of the water may be enough to break down the clog and remove the condensate.
Also, you can push some compressed air through the lines. However, if this fails, you may resort to snaking your lines.
Alternatively, you can use warm soapy water or even vinegar water to remove the clogs from your drain. You may then use a thin wire brush to clean the clogged ac drain line.
Best Toilet Augerrigid Drain Auger
To unclog toilets, nothing was better rated than this Rigid toilet auger drain system. Its 6-foot zinc-plated steel cable comes with a vinyl cover to protect the toilet bowl surface from scratches. The .5-inch heavy-duty line can clear pipes that are 14 inches wide. This auger is compact and easy to store and is a good addition to a professionals toolkit.
One commercial plumber wrote in their review, I use this all the time to unstop toilets. Even when I do side jobs for a stopped toilet this is usually the only tool I bring with me I really don’t need anything else when I use this. It’s super easy to use, and usually, I’m in and out in less than 10 minutes. It’s one of my favorite tools.
Specifications
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Best Drain Cleaner For Hair Clogged Drainspopulo Drain Cleaning Machines
For a lightweight and easy-to-use cordless electric drain auger, this POPULO machineis a top choice. It can clear a toilet, shower, or sink drain from ¾-inch up to two inches with its 25-foot cord. The feeding handle lets users know how much cable to release, and the lock feature secures the line to remove especially difficult hair build-up.
I bought this to clean my drains out and this did the job in seconds, commented one happy consumer. I was using a hand auger, but it wouldn’t cut through the hair by hand. I cleaned out all the drains and vents in less than 40 minutes.
Specifications
Power Source: Lithium ion battery
Dimensions: 17 x 9.9 x 7.7 inches
When To Replace Your Drain Line
The entire drain line, or parts of it, may need to be replaced in extreme circumstances. If done by a professional, this can be quite costly.
On the other hand, if you dont know what youre doing, doing it yourself could end up costing you more. However, if youre handy with tools, replacing your drain line isnt difficult.
It will most likely work better if you remove the old drain line while it is still in place and use it as a template for the new line.
Remember to provide clean-out access to make routine maintenance more convenient. You can also use a clear rubber trap to detect whether problems are developing before they become a complete blockage. Before performing any type of maintenance or repair, make sure the unit is turned off.
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Snaking An A/c Drain Line Can Save You Dollars
Air conditioner drain lines are subject to frequent clogs from a variety of factors, including:
- Mineral deposits
- Mold or mildew build-up
This creates a mess and a health hazard since you breathe in the mold spores growing in your drain line.
To save money on repair bills, you can sometimes unclog your drain line by running a drain snake through it.
- Open your drain clean-out
- Push it in as far as it will go
- Twist a few times to try and break through the clog
- Pull the snake out.
Typically, this is a last resort before calling the repairman. Usually, a snake is used only when water or air pressure has failed to break up the clog.
Traditional drain snakes only work with smooth traps. If the trap is made of PVC elbows, these snakes just cant negotiate the series of 90-degree turns.
Tablets Can Break Down Problematic Fungi
A helpful agent in keeping drain lines clear is the drain pan tablet. Typically, you get 200 tablets per bottle.
Just pop one in your drain pan after changing your filters. It is designed to break down algae and gunk before it has a chance to clog your drain line.
Be sure to keep the bottle tightly sealed so that moisture from the air doesnt ruin the remaining tablets.
Warning: after one year, they tend to lose some of their potency, so you may need to use several at once to get the same degree of decomposition.
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Best Drain Snakes For Different Clogs
Kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, toilets and showers are all susceptible to different types of clogs. Before grabbing a tool and clearing the drain, make sure you have the best plumbing snakes for the job.
- The best drain snakes for your bathroom sink will be able to handle daily build-up. Everything from hair and cosmetics to soap and dirt can accumulate in your sink. Because bathroom pipes are smaller, and you dont want to scratch the inside of the sink basin, start with a hand-crank drain snake.
- The best drain snakes for your shower can deal with the drain backing up. When shower drains back up, they can cause standing water in the shower or bathtub. This can cause damage and create an unpleasant showering experience. A build-up of shower products, hair and dirt accumulates in the pipes, reducing the amount of water that flows through. When a bathtub or shower drain clogs, an electric auto-feed drain snake makes a great choice.
- The best drain snakes for your sink and shower drains need to handle compacted hair. Hair can cause a clog that can be difficult to clear. This mess requires a special type of snake with a head designed to grip onto hair. Look for a head with little hooks that will catch onto the hair and remove it cleanly. Choose one with a flexible design and a comfortable handle so its easy to maneuver through the pipes.
Using Vinegar And Water
Some people believe that it is good to use vinegar to clean their drain lines. However, you should never attempt to use vinegar for this purpose. Using vinegar to clean your drain lines may damage the evaporator coil.
The evaporator coil is a highly delicate component of your system. You can find the evaporator coils deep inside the indoor air handler. Without the evaporator coil, the indoor air handler will not function properly.
In addition, the indoor air handler helps to keep the temperature in your home under control. Thus, using vinegar will inadvertently damage the indoor air handler.
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What To Consider When Choosing The Best Drain Snake
If youd rather not call a plumber for a costly visit, its important to have the right tool if faced with a clogged drain. So take the time to properly consider the best drain snake for your home. Think about whether a manual or electric model would be best, and consider the type of drain snake head that would be most effective. Keep in mind these factors and the additional product features detailed below when shopping.
The Right Drain Snake For Every Clog
Bathroom sinks, kitchen sinks, toilets and showers are all susceptible to different types of clogs. Before grabbing a tool and clearing the drain, make sure you have the best plumbing snakes for the job. Every product varies, so read the manufacturers instructions before using a snake for plumbing repairs.
Best Drain Snakes for Sinks
Your bathroom sink is prone to build-up. Everything from hair and cosmetics to soap and dirt can accumulate in your sink, every time you wash your hands or get ready for the day. Because bathroom pipes are smaller, and you dont want to scratch the inside of the sink basin, start with a hand-crank drain snake.
Best Drain Snakes for Showers
When shower drains back up, it can cause standing water in the shower or bathtub. This can cause damage and create an unpleasant showering experience. A build-up of shower products, hair and dirt accumulates in the pipes, reducing the amount of water that flows through. When a bathtub or shower drain clogs, an electric auto-feed drain snake makes a great choice.
Best Drain Snake for Hair
Sink and shower drains see a build-up of hair over time. As the hair compacts, it causes a clog that can be difficult to clear. This mess requires a special type of snake with a head designed to grip onto hair. Look for a head with little hooks that will catch onto the hair and remove it cleanly. Choose one with a flexible design and a comfortable handle so its easy to maneuver through the pipes.
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How Can You Prevent Clogging Of Your Drain Line
Clogging can be very costly. Apart from the discomfort of bad odors and a system not functioning well, clogging can cost you money. You may be forced to redo some components of your system. This is always very costly.
Also, calling a certified HVAC professional to help you clean the drain line may be expensive. The good news is that there are many steps that you can take to prevent clogging in the first place.
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What Is A Toilet Auger
You should keep a plunger in each bathroom in your house. Sometimes, though, a plunger isnt enough. When toilets get clogged, a hand-crank toilet snake or auger is the ideal solution.
The best toilet augers feature a vinyl coating over the cable. The vinyl coating will help protect the bowl against scratches and marks as you work. The manual design of these devices allows you to feel the cable as it unwinds through the pipes.
Tip: If you use a drum auger thats not vinyl coated, make sure to use a lubricant spray to prevent the cable from rusting prematurely. This will extend the life of the auger cable, so it flows in and out of the auger easier.
Drain snakes come in manual, mechanical and electric options. However, not all styles are right for every clog. Understanding which snakes or augers work best ensures that youre prepared with the best drain snakes and augers for the project. Every product varies, so read the manufacturers instructions before using a snake for plumbing repairs.
Be ready for plumbing issues with a drain snake. Use The Home Depot Mobile App to locate products and check inventory. We’ll take you to the exact aisle and bay. Or you can consider a drain snake rental to get your project done. Use once, then bring it back – no maintenance required.
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How To Clean A Clogged Ac Drain Line
Failing to clean your AC drain line will cause your unit to turn off when its clogged and potentially cause water to pour out onto the ground.
So you definitely need to be cleaning your AC drain line regularly.
But what is the best way to do it? Well, here is how we do it when we perform an annual AC maintenance for our customers.
Attempt To manually Clear any blockage
The first thing you should do is to use your hands to manually clear blockage. Find the end of your drain line and make sure its not clogged. Reach your fingers inside and attempt to clear away debris.
Use A Shop Vac And Water
Next, connect your shop vac hose to the end of your drain line . If the hose connects loosely, you can use a cloth or duct tape to create an airtight seal. Turn the vacuum on.
At the same time, get a gallon jug of water and a funnel. Slowly pour water into the drain line access point near your air handler. The shop vac should suck the water out of your drain line and into your vacuum.
Be careful because if the clog does not loosen, water will back up into your drain line and potentially leak onto the floor.
Pour warm water into the AC drain line access hole near your indoor air handler.
Connect your shop vac onto the end of your AC drain line and turn it on.
Use A Drain Snake
Slime from a clogged drain line