Drain-Clearing Tools

By: Clayton DeKorne, reported by Jordan Reed, This Old House magazine

Power Snake
Larger drain-cleaning machines offer a longer reach and better control. With a reduction gear to slow the motor, this Sureflow apparatus snakes out its 1/4-inch cable up to 50 feet at a calm 150 rpm, minimizing kinks. Its flexible wire head can be bent to fit a drain's exact diameter.

plunger and long-handled closet auger to clear clogged drains

Toilet Tools
A plunger should be the first resort against any plug, especially in an easily scratched porcelain toilet. A bell-shaped collar seals tightly against the bowl, creating both suction and propulsion. Or use a long-handled closet auger, like this heavy-gauge-wire Marco Products model (right) — with a protective rubber sleeve — to break obstructions apart.

inexpensive manual snake with crank handle for clearing drains

Hand Snakes
For the occasional clog, an inexpensive manual snake provides the most return on the investment. Made from bendable high-carbon steel, this low-tech flat snake from Moen (right) can reach clogs up to 25 feet away. Marco's hand spinner (left) has an easily maneuvered crank handle that can also attach to a power drill.

Drain Cathchers
Prevent a clog by catching waste before it goes down the drain," says Richard. Easy-to-clean strainers fit snugly into tub and shower drains, while a kitchen sink basket keeps food from jamming pipes.

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For a quick dose of humility, there's nothing like celery strings dangling from your ears," says This Old House plumbing and heating consultant Richard Trethewey, recalling one encounter with a clogged kitchen drain early in his career. Rather than empty the greasy, overflowing sink, he went to the cellar, opened a pipe, and worked a snake line up from below. "I thought I was clever, until the entire contents of the sink came rushing down, hitting me square in the forehead ? a real Three Stooges move," he laughs.

Today, Richard says to start with a plunger and gently escalate the action as needed. "Old house plumbing can be delicate," he explains. "You don't want to come in with guns blazing ? blasting water down the drain or ramming the clog. You could burst a pipe or blow apart a coupling."

The next attack should come from a hand snake ? a coiled metal cable or flat steel wire that winds down the drain and breaks up the clog with gentle twists and tugs. Richard advises a slow, deliberate approach. "Best not to be hasty," he warns. "Most people advance several feet of wire before turning it. Then it either kinks ? or flips out, scratching the fixture or splashing mucky water all over you." Feed the snake in one foot at a time, he urges, then turn it, feeling the way. "It's like fishing," he explains. "You sneak up gradually, patiently, and when you get to the clog you can feel it, like a nibble." When you hit the block, work at it gently. While this can take time ? "Even the best of plumbers," Richard says, "can lose hours to a clogged line" ? it minimizes trauma to both plumber and pipe.

Article: Fixing a Leaky Toilet