Drain Cleaners & Augers - Harbor Freight Tools (2024)

FAQs

What is the best tool to unclog a drain? ›

A drain snake or drain auger is a popular tool to dislodge clogs. It's extremely effective when used correctly, as it has a metal cable with a corkscrew at the end.

Power Drain Snakes: These are powerful, electric-powered drain snakes that professional plumbers typically use to clear large or tough clogs.

If you have a clogged pipe, a drain snake is a simple and cheap tool you can use to fix it. These are advertised as devices that anyone can use to unclog a drain. But if used improperly, drain augers could make the clog worse. You could jam the obstruction in there tighter, or worse, do damage to your pipes.

Typical residential pipes run between 1 to 2 inches in diameter. These small diameter pipes will require either a 1/4” or 5/16” diameter snake. Some residential lines, like showers, might have drains with up to a 3” diameter. These larger lines may require a slightly larger snake, usually around 3/8” in diameter.

For the toughest of clogs, a plumber may use a hydro jet. This tool sends pressured water through pipes to break down drain build-up. This tool is often faster and more efficient than a typical drain snake. Hydro jets get rid of the clog, but they're also effective for cleaning drains.

Manual Drain Snakes

A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog.

Hydro- jetting service from a professional plumber is a better option if you have a sewer line clog or if other methods are not effective in treating your clogs. Homes with plumbing systems that have weaker pipes that might not be able to withstand pressurized cleaning should also consider using a drain snake.

A snake is smaller than an auger, but often more successful than plungers at removing clogs. There may be a helix-shaped hook to maneuver through the pipe by turning the crank. The device should remove any blockage that is dense and shreddable. It's also more suited for smaller, 1¼- to 2-inch diameter pipes.

Snakes are better at cleaning residual sludge from pipes, White says. They feature a metal cable that you feed into a pipe, with a corkscrew-shaped spring on the end designed to hook onto the clog so you can pull it out.

Yes, a drain snake can break a pipe.

Will a drain auger clear roots? ›

Drain snaking is a cost-effective service a plumbing company can offer to clear the roots from the drain pipes. The machine plumbers use for this service is often called a drain snake, mechanical auger or rooter machine.

If your snake isn't unclogging your drains it could be because the thumbscrew is loose, the clog is too severe, or the auger is dirty, for example. A drain snake (also known as an auger) is a simple, inexpensive necessity for every homeowner.

First, bit size and hole diameter are essential for fencing or landscaping businesses. While you can use smaller augers for planting bulbs and annuals, they won't work for post holes. A 4- to 7-inch auger is about as small as you can use for fences. Even better, look for augers in the 8- to 9-inch category and above.

Call a plumber when the distance of the clog exceeds the length of your drain snake, usually 15 feet or 25 feet. Drain snakes cannot cut through obstructions. Call a plumber or a rooter-type service for cutting through and dislodging solid items like tree roots. Should you run water right before using a drain snake?

Drain snakes may be anything from 25 and 50 feet in length. There are electrical snakes that may reach up to 75 feet and burrow deeper into a drain. Plumbers will use a motorized, 100-foot-reaching sewage auger for commercial projects. Numerous houses have existed for decades, so has their plumbing.

Vinegar, Salt, & Lemon – Mix equal parts of salt and vinegar in a bowl, add a half part of lemon juice, then pour the mixture down your drain. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes then follow it up with hot water.

Pour one-half cup table salt down the drain, followed by boiling water. Or try a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar—let it bubble, wait 15 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain. You can also try a cup of baking soda and a half-cup of salt; let it sit for several hours, then flush with boiling water.

First, you can run hot water down the drain for 5 to 10 minutes to see if that helps break up the clog. If it doesn't, pour equal parts of vinegar and baking soda into a bowl and then pour that mixture down the drain. Let it sit for 15 minutes, and then run hot water down the drain.