How to use a Closet Auger

How To Use a Closet Auger

Learn to clear clogs using a toilet snake

The most stubborn clogged toilets will sometimes not be cleared even by lengthy softening and vigorous plunging. In these situations, the next step is to use a tool called a handheld closet auger. The term closet comes from the old euphemism for bathrooms, water closet, and refers to the fact that the auger is specifically designed for use on toilets and commodes. Augers are also the tool to use when attempting to clear any clog that is not soft or decomposable in nature, such as a toy or toiletry.

The Strain of a Clogged Drain

Don't Let a Clogged Drain Put a Strain on the Holidays

 A clogged drain can be a major pain when getting ready for the holidays and entertaining guests. Have a plunger handy next to every toilet in the house in the event of unexpected clogs. Another little tool, called a snake, can be man's other best friend when the drain clogs and can be had for about $15 at a local hardware store. About 25-ft. of snake is all that is needed for most plumbing jobs.

 

Tubs and bathroom sinks typically clog because hair and soap builds up in the drains. In both cases, remove the stopper in the sink and tub, and use the snake to loosen grime and hair.

A clogged kitchen sink is typically caused by a jammed garbage disposal. Most disposals come with an Allen wrench, the funny looking metal pipe that looks a bit like the letter Z. Under the sink at the bottom of the disposal, there is a small opening for the Allen wrench. Place one end of the wrench inside the opening and turn the wrench clockwise and counter clockwise until the wrench spins freely. If the disposal is clear and the sink is still clogged, try removing the trap in the sink drain and use the snake to loosen any clog.

The snake can be used to unplug clogs in laundry tubs as well. In fact, a snake can take care of most clogs, so if it doesn't work, call a plumber. The same can be said for floor drains. You could rent a sewer machine, however, if the end of the snake catches on something in the pipes, it will stop turning and can be seriously dangerous to remove.

By Nancy Wilkes

How to Use a Closet Auger

Learn to Clear Clogs Using a Toilet Snake

The geniuses over at uncloggingdrains101.com have done it again with an in depth article on how to use a closet auger, otherwise known as a toilet snake.

Closet augers are easy to use and inexpensive, possibly saving hundreds of dollars on the first avoided service call from a professional.

The article discusses differences in drain augers, safety concerns, and proper technique. Also included are instructional  diagrams and informative How-To videos.

The most stubborn clogged toilets will sometimes not be cleared even by lengthy softening and vigorous plunging. In these situations, the next step is to use a tool called a handheld closet auger. The tem closet comes from the old euphemism for bathrooms, water closet, and refers to the fact that the auger is specifically designed for use on toilets and commodes. Augers are also the tool to use when attempting to clear any clog that is not soft or decomposable in nature, such as a toy or toiletry.

Drain Cleaning Techniques

How Plumbing Professionals Clear and Maintain Drains

The wide variety of different problems and complications that can come up concerning household plumbing can easily overwhelm the average homeowner or renter. Repairs and modifications to water supply plumbing and pipes in the home should always be performed by a plumber or other knowledgeable and properly equipped personnel. But when troubles arise in the other plumbing network in the home, the maze of pipes leading from drains to a wastewater line flowing to a septic tank or utility main, there are more options available, both for the do-it-yourselfer and those ready to call a professional.

A drain service should be consulted when their expertise and powerful tools and equipment are required to either figure out the issue or to solve a known problem. A single clogged toilet or slow drain can often be addressed by the resident, particularly if they own the proper tools (both toilet and sink plungers, both drain and closet augers, for example).

Many times routine maintenance can be performed by the person living in the home. For example, drains subject to build up from grease, such as kitchen sink or shop floor drains, can be treated regularly with enzymatic drain cleaners. These bacteria cultures are much safer than caustic liquid drain cleaners, and can be used to keep up free flow in certain situations. Other routine task a resident may be expected to do include enzymatic treatment for a septic tank or the clearing of minor clogs.

However, more complicated maintenance, such as tree root removal, or more intricate repair or investigation, such as camera inspection of plumbing pipes and hard water buildup removal, require the help of a drain cleaning service, or rooter business. Rooter businesses and personnel will be equipped and eager to figure out whatever is causing any problem with drains and wastewater draining. Continue reading to learn more about the different services a drain cleaning and clearing business should provide.

When a treasured item like a wedding ring has been lost down a drain, when the cause or location of a clog is unknown, and when drains throughout the home have been performing poorly or worsening over time, then nothing beats getting a camera right to the source. These modern instruments are powerful cameras and lights which send back a video signal via fiber optic cables to the tool operator. A television screen, computer monitor, or other video device displays exactly what is seen inside the plumbing of the home, and the pro can know just how to fix the problem. Cameras can be extended down drains and access points via auger cables or drains rods-stiff but flexible rods which can navigate plumbing without tangles-and modern setups have radio transmitters capable of sending the exact depth and location of the camera to the receiver.

Electric and gasoline powered motorized drain augers are the "rooters" used by rooter services. They will vary in size, depending on the required task. Clogged drains and toilets can often be cleared using handheld drain augers and closet augers-tools designed for safe use around fixtures. But when the cable must be extended more than a couple dozen feet, or the diameter of the pipes being cleared is over 2 inches, a larger power tool is required.

The drain service professional will use a tip on the end of the auger's stiff cable appropriate for the job. Certain soft clogs and types of solid blockages from the home can be broken up or retrieved out of the pipe. A heavier duty, mechanical grinding head may be used when the blockage is more solid and built up. Damaged pipes with intruding tree roots or earth must be bored clean regularly with such a tool, otherwise the pipes will need to be repaired or replaced, which can be much more costly and time consuming.

Drain or sewer jetting is the rinsing clear of the interiors of plumbing and pipes with high-powered pressurized water through cutting nozzles extended down the drain. The pressures and cutting abilities of these tools is remarkable, and they are capable of bursting plastic, damaged, or old plumbing if used improperly. When used correctly, jet washers can remove any sort of build up or blockage that can be eroded away. This includes mineral build up, calcification, and other hard water residue. Greasy, oily, fibrous, or paper blockages can be sliced to bits with the cutting jets, and the flow of water flushes all parts and bits away. Even some tree root intrusions can be tackled with drain and sewer jetters. Only very solid blockages, such as foreign objects flushed down the toilet, cannot be handled with a properly used jet sprayer.

Rooter services and plumbers also will clear any clogged sink, toilet, or other drain. If a problem is recurring, a drain service may be helpful in finding out why it keeps happening. But there are many very routine tasks, such as unclogging a toilet or clearing any household drain that can be accomplished without having to call a pro. Having tools like a bellows sink plunger, and a closet auger for the worst clogged toilets can mean saving hundreds of dollars in a single use. These are common hand tools that every resident should have at hand for emergencies.

Every community has a number of plumbers and professional drain or rooter service businesses available. A good tip for finding a local business online is to include your zip code in a search query. Search engines will recognize that you are interested in finding a local drain service or local plumber. You can also consult your telephone directory to find a drain service to call for your difficult maintenance or plumbing emergency.

Home Drain Snaking

What Is a Handheld Drain Auger?

Handheld Drain Auger Definition

Drain snakes (or augers) are stiff cables with weighted tips that can snake down your household plumbing, busting up or even extracting any obstruction they encounter. The smaller handheld tools are suitable for clearing clogs in drains in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, garage and workshop, or pool and patio drainage.

Because a backed up or slowly flowing drain is one of the most irritating potentially most damaging, in terms of property, household emergencies, and because a plumber's bill can easily run into the hundreds for off-hours visits, an inexpensive tool like a handheld drain auger usually makes up its own cost in its first use. Large or active households will find many uses for their drain spinner, particularly models small enough to allow use without requiring removal of stoppers or straining plates.

Different Snake Designs

Designs will vary in spooling out the cable; some are pistol-gripped devices while many larger core drain snakes are simply loosely coiled. Most handheld drain augers of the smallest size available with metal cables come with a spool that can be rotated along with the cable. This drum shaped housing can sometimes be attached to a cordless drill for power rotating. Smaller tools, seen on TV, are made of plastic and too short and flimsy for serious work. True drain snakes will have at least 1/4 inch metal cables of up to 25 feet in length. They are versatile enough to get down a bathtub overflow drain, but strong enough to handle any blockage they encounter.

Drain Snakes and Closet Augers

Do not use these smaller drain snakes on a toilet. The narrow cable can easily become tangled in the wide toilet drain, and if a knot forms beyond reach, you are stuck with an incredible restoration to get it out. This is a rookie move, don't do it. Only use snakes designed for commodes, called closet augers, on toilets. The design of closet augers makes them safe for use on toilets.

Safety Comes First

And safety always should be a primary concern. While your handheld drain auger is safe for use on other drains in the house, be aware the heavy cable head and rough metal cable can easily damage other fixtures. Use an old washcloth over the area to prevent scratching any porcelain or chrome in your workspace. Eye protection is advisable, because there can be some splashing of dirty water and filth.

Clear That Clog

Drain snakes may be even easier to use than a plunger! Always follow your owner's manual instructions, but there isn't much to the basic principles. Extend the cable down the drain, rotating, backing up and moving forward around corners, until you get the impression you have cleared the clog. Standing water should flow away; often you will hear a gurgling noise as the blockage comes clear. Flush fresh water down the drain as you remove the cable back onto its spool, washing it clean then dry with a towel before storage.

Where to Get a Handheld Drain Auger

If you have a few moments to make your drain snake purchase decision, then do some online research. For drain auger product reviews, visit uncloggingdrains101.com.

Equipment for Cleaning and Clearing Clogged Drains

Plunger

Learn about the tools used by the pros and homeowners alike for solving clogged drains quickly.

Drain cleaning has stayed as up to date in terms of new tools on the market.

There are more tools for unclogging drains than just the plumber's helper plunger. Don't forget the workhorse drain snake, and the more modern tools such as pressure washer attachments and remote video inspection systems.
Once again we can count on uncloggingdrains101.com to clear things up for us! With in-depth articles they what services and tools are available for clearing clogged drains, and how to use them.

From their introduction:

Your modern drain servicing professional has a remarkably high-tech selection of tools at their disposal. Examples include remote operated video cameras for inspection of plumbing, and precision-machined high-pressure sprayers used in jet-washing of sewers.

But a homeowner can handle most household clogs on their own if they have just one or two inexpensive tools. A plunger and / or a handheld drain auger appropriate for the troublesome drain(s) makes up its cost in the first saved service call to a pro. But with such a wide variety of plungers and drain snakes available, consumers must be informed about their proper use to make the right purchase decisions.

Handheld Drain Snake Reviews

Drain Auger Discussions & Reviews

Learn more about closet augers & handheld drain snakes

Nobody beats uncloggingdrains101.com for top-quality, timely articles on drain cleaning and clearing. They just added a drain auger review section, with more product discussions coming soon!

Drain snakes are inexpensive, modest investments that pay for themselves in their first use and saved call to a plumber. But you'll still want to be an informed consumer, so read the articles at uncloggingdrains101.com today!

Find the proper tool for your home by reading up on the details, specifications, & user comments from around the web.

How to Use a Closet Auger to Clear a Toilet

Learn to clear clogs using a toilet snake

From beginner's basics to the final flush

There is a comprehensive article on how to use a closet auger over at uncloggingdrains101.com. Also known as toilet snakes, these handy home tools can save you a call to the plumber.

Closet augers get their name from the euphemism for bathroom, water closet.

From the article at uncloggingdrains101.com:

…a well designed closet auger will have made several considerations for preventing damage to the toilet. Closet augers typically have longer, telescoping, shafted handles than augers intended for use on sinks and showers. The long handle will curve, j-shaped, at the end where the cable extends for insertion into the drain of the toilet. The shape and length of a closet auger handle allows the plumber or homeowner to work from above without stooping.

Motorized Rooting and Drain Snaking

 Electric Motorized Drain Rooting

Using powerful drain augers to grind and extract intrusive tree roots or other obstructions

I found another top-notch article on drain maintenance over at uncloggingdrains101.com. This time they explain how drain service professionals use motorized drain rooters to maintain drains clear of build up.

From uncloggingdrains101.com:

 The equipment used by the pros is a burlier and more powerful version of common household handheld drain spinners (for sinks and floor drains) and closet augers (specially designed snakes for use on toilets).

photo credit

Know Your Drain Augers

Some clogs are too tough for a plunger.

Sometimes the blockage is in several places, or has formed far down the line.

Another common problem is something solid has been lost down the drain, and must be recovered before it is lost. Drain augers, or drain snakes, are often the next tool on your list. UncloggingDrains101.com breaks down the differences you'll see in tools, including motorized and hand tools.

From the article:

When a safe working environment has been established, the procedure will be gaining access to the drain, locating the clog, and bringing the auger down to bear on the blockage.

photo by Pgdp123

Clogged Toilet Solutions

Tips and Tricks for Clogged Toilets

Check out all the handy tips about unclogging toilets at Unclogging Drains 101!

UncloggingDrains101.com is quickly becoming one of the best resources for its topic on the internet. No site compares to Unclogging Drains 101's multiple in depth articles on how to unclog toilets. Here's a quick tip from one article:

the typical clogged toilet resulting from over abundance of bathroom tissue and related materials can frequently be tackled without need of plunger, toilet snake, or plumber. This is because this sort of blockage can be busted up into smaller parts, enough so that it can eventually be flushed away.