How do you use a drum auger on a shower drain?

How do you unclog a toilet with a drum auger?

Do drum augers work?

The cable is coiled within a drum canister. The collar where the cable comes out has a thumbscrew or other device for locking the cable when you’ve reached the clog, and it’s time to turn the corkscrew end into the clog to snag it and pull it out. Gross, yes, but it works!

How do you use auger snake?

How to Use a Drain Auger
  1. Step One: Insert the Drain Auger. Grab your drain auger and insert the end of it into the drain or directly into your toilet. …
  2. Step 2: Navigate The Drain Auger Towards The Clog. Crank the handle clockwise as you slowly push the drain snake into the toilet. …
  3. Step Three: Pull the Drain Auger Out.

When should you use a toilet auger?

What happens if a toilet auger doesn’t work?

You need to make sure that you’ve securely tightened thumbscrew(the piece that secures the cable inside the drum or handle). If the thumbscrew is loose, the cable will not rotate at all when you twist the handle. The cable rotation is how the drain snake picks up debris, so if it can’t do this, your auger won’t work.

What is the difference between a snake and an auger?

Drain snakes work for smaller drains like your kitchen or bathroom sink. Drain augers tackle larger pipes like your toilet or shower drain. The snake covers lines from 1-1/4″ – 2″ range, and you’ll use an auger for lines in the 1-1/2″ – 3″ range.

How do you unclog a drain if a snake doesn’t work?

If the auger still doesn`t work, call a plumber. If you can`t remove an obstruction in a sink drain by using an auger inserted into the drain, tackle the clog through the U-shaped trap under the sink.

Can a drain snake break a pipe?

Drain Snakes Can Damage Pipes

While billed as devices that are easy to use by anyone and everyone, drain snakes can be hard to manage, and if used improperly, can damage pipes. Old pipes in many homes are galvanized, or coated in zinc, which was done to prevent the pipe from rusting or corroding.

Is a drum auger the same as a snake?

The biggest difference between drain snakes and augers is how they remove the clogs. While an auger attempts to force its way through and demolish the obstruction, a snake is designed to pull it out the way it came.

How long of a drain auger do I need?

Because they are designed for the toughest of clogs, the cable should be no smaller than 5/8 inch in size, with a minimum length of 75 to 100 feet in length. This snake is designed to clean out drains that are 3 inches or larger, which typically includes clean outs to the street.

What does a drain auger look like?

A plumbing auger or plumbing snake is a long, flexible metal cable with a small, uncoiled spring on one end and a handle on the other. The auger head on the snake looks like a corkscrew. Home plumber’s snakes are usually around 50 feet long. The cable coils up when you’re not using it.

Can a toilet auger damage your toilet?

Tighten the auger’s screw. Once you’ve situated the auger correctly, push the cable through the toilet drain and turn it in a clockwise motion. … In fact, it can cause more harm than good, as it can cause the porcelain in your toilet to break or chip. It can also cause pipe damage or even full breakage.

What size auger Do you need to unclog a toilet?

Toilet Auger

With a length of 3 to 6 feet, they have a “J” shape that allows them to be easily fed through the toilet. The devices are hand-operated. The cable should be 1/2 to 5/8 inch in diameter. Toilet augers are specially designed not to scratch a toilet’s finish.

How long should a toilet auger be?

Toilet augers have a ‘rubber elbow’ near the tip, and a hollow plastic or rubber tube in the middle. A coiled cable runs through the hollow tube casing, ending in a coiled hook. It’s about 3 feet long when it’s fully stretched out, and has a spinning crank with a rotating handle.

How do you clean an auger?

With a high-bristle wire pipe brush, poke through the plumbing snake’s crevices, dislodging any remaining particulate that the scrubbing brush was unable to reach. Then, run the plumbing snake through clean water to ensure that the coil is clean. Wipe it down with a rag and leave it out to dry completely.

How far does a toilet auger reach?

Closet augers are typically made with about 25 ft. of reach, so you might need to crank for a while depending on how far down your clog is. When you feel the cable come up against some form of resistance, that means you’ve reached the clog and can stop cranking.