In situations like these, professionals, homeowners, and handymen will typically look to some form of handheld drain augers as the tool for the job. A clogged toilet should be cleared using a plunger or closet auger specially designed for the task. When the trouble has formed in the service lateral drain (the pipes running away from the home to the main utility or septic tank line) a motorized rooter or plumber’s snake will be used, which has the power to deal with dense clumps of roots and other solid obstructions.
But when a clog has formed affecting a specific household drain—including bathroom sinks, showers, bathtubs, kitchen & utility sinks, and shop & laundry drains—then the preferred tool will be a drain auger.
Not all handheld drain augers are strictly speaking hand-tools. While some drain snakes come equipped with drum spools which can be rotated by hand, many drain augers are attached to power tools such as a cordless drill. Both hand-cranked and motorized augers will be used in the same way to clear the blocked drain, but the extra force of a power tool should always be treated with respect.
Don't use snakes meant for sinks to unclog a toilet.
Sharp edges can scratch porcelain.
Use a snake designed for toilets, called a closet auger, or try a plunger.
Toilets have wider drains than sinks. If you extend too much narrow cable down a toilet, it can become tangled and caught.
You should consult the owner’s manual for proper and safe operation of your particular model of drain auger. When working on undamaged pipes, a correctly used auger is safe and generally advised for pipes constructed of all modern materials, including PVC, copper, steel, and concrete.
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.
When you have a toilet plunger, you are well prepared for clearing clogs made up of anything softer than a rubber ducky.
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