Clogs, Obstructions, and Blockages Beware: Our Drain Machines Fear Nothing

Sometimes a clogged drain just requires a little bit of ingenuity to address. Oftentimes there’s no need to call in the big guns. Minor grease builds up in sink drains but can be addressed with hot water half of the time. Too much toilet paper can often be remediated with a plunger. If things start to get out of hand, there are hand augers and other tools to help you reach the root of the problem and make it possible for you to clear things up without professional help. Sometimes, despite good practices, more serious blockages gain a foothold and require professional help to assess and remove. When lines stop flowing and conventional methods don’t cut it, drain cleaning machines might be the difference between a functional line and a dead halt.

But there weren’t always drain machines. Nearly 100 years ago, Samuel Blanc put together a curious machine that used a washing machine motor to turn cables connected to blades to remove tree roots from sewer lines. It eliminated the need for in situ excavation to deal with the obstructions in the lines and revolutionized the way plumbing issues were addressed. That was the original Roto Rooter machine, and today droves of manufacturers offer machines in varying formats and with different strengths to handle plumbing as minor as a mild obstruction in a kitchen sink to an industrial grease blockage.

Whether or not you’re looking for a Roto Rooter machine or you’re exploring many of the exceptional alternatives on the market, you’ll find a fleet of options here at Duracable to help you power through blockages. You might be interested in a machine that can be easily transporting between residential settings to clear obstructions in sink lines or you might be looking for something more robust like one of our sled machines, but either way, with such a diverse array of options at your disposal, we can help set you up for success.

Sink Drain Machines: Compact and Versatile
The most basic, and the most compact, drain machines that we offer here at Duracable are our lines of sink drain machines. They’re designed with a residential setting in mind, with the aim of still offering plenty of power to get through almost anything that a residence could offer in the way of a blockage. Typically fairly small and light, as well as easy to transport, sink drain machines are also created to be relatively easy to move into and out of a room. A drain machine that can’t access a drain isn’t much use, after all, and a sink drain is often ideal for smaller settings.

Our DM138 is our most popular model of sink drain machine. A versatile workhorse, it offers a rugged 14-inch polyethylene reel and comes with a 90-foot ¾ Duracable drain cable. It offers a ¼ horsepower engine that is operated with a foot pedal for precision, and it’s a great option for clearing most residential obstructions. That doesn’t just mean sinks - it’s great for tubs, showers and other residential plumbing lines ranging from 1 to 3 inches of diameter. Best of all, the machine can be run horizontally or vertically, so if you can bring it into a space to access a drain, you can get it up and running. Designed with versatility in mind, this drain machine can also accept a smaller 8-inch reel to make it easy to switch out a drain snake.

An even smaller model that still offers a lot of power and versatility is our DM125 sink drain, with a ⅙ horsepower motor. It can also be run horizontally or vertically and its frame makes it easy to set it up. Additionally, the polyethylene reel on this model might be small, but it helps keep messes to a minimum and overall lightens the unit and makes it smaller and easier to transport. Just about the most convenient option for quickly and easily dispatching residential clogs and blockages, this model will really shine when space and time are at a premium.

Here’s another winner in a sink drain machine - our DM150A Oversized Drain Cleaning Machine with a 14-inch polyethylene reel offers a lot of value in a fairly compact package. This unit comes with a ¼ horsepower motor and comes lined with a Duracable ½ inch 75-foot hollow core cable. This machine brings plenty of power for clearing most residential drains, but power is only a portion of the value in this machine. What really makes it stand apart is the fact that it can pivot and lock into 5 positions from 0 to 90 degrees to make it easy for you to set the machine up to access the drain on which you’re working. It’s also easy to get the reel on and off of the machine and it can accept 5/16, ⅜ and ½ inch drain snakes.

Upright Drain Machines
There are some times when a sink machine- even our models - might need a little more power to clear an obstruction. When you’re staring down the drain at a more resilient obstruction, an upright machine might be a more practical option for you to keep things clear. Both of the upright machines we offer here at Duracable aren’t just powerful - they’re still fairly easy to transport and maneuver around many residential settings, as you will see.

First let’s take a look at our Mini Upright Drain Machine, model DM162SP1. This drain machine is stronger and tougher than our sink models but still offers a host of features that make it fairly easy to transport between jobs and get on site. It comes with an 18-inch cable drum and is loaded with an 80 foot ⅝ inch cable. It’s recommended uses are clearing residential lines, floor drains and light commercial lines ranging from 2 to 6 inches of diameter.

This model can be operated horizontally or vertically like the other models that we’ve explored so far and is narrow enough to fit through a 30-inch doorway. It also comes with stair gliders to help make it easier to get it in and out of where you need it. It also offers some other user-friendly features like a built-in toolbox so you can easily keep everything you need in one place. It also comes with a power cable feed and return so you can get your drain cables down to the obstruction and back without stressing them or incurring damage. While still fairly mobile, this is still a heavy model, so it’s advisable to use a loading ramp and winch to load and unload it from your vehicle.

Our other option in an upright drain machine is our DM175SP1 Upright Drain Machine. It features built-in stair climbers, and just like the previous model it offers a built-in toolbox so help is never far from hand. It also offers the user a power feed and return to feed and retrieve cable at a steady rate to eliminate kinking and stress. Its 23-inch cable drum holds 100 feet of 11/16 inch drain cable and it is powerful enough for many residential and commercial jobs. It’s worth noting that this machine comes with an impressive 3-year warranty on the frame and gearbox, as many of our machines come with a 2-year warranty.

Sled Machines
If you need a little bit more power for clearing obstructions, then a sled machine might be exactly what you need. They’re a traditional style, much like the original drain machines, and often feature a fair balance between portability and additional strength. If you’re looking for a balance bet

On the lighter end of the spectrum is our J MAXX SP with a 16 inch open spoke metal reel and a 75 foot ⅜ inch cable. It’s one of our best sellers and pairs weight and strength admirably, being able to power through most residential clogs. It may only have a 1/3 horsepower motor, but don’t let that fool you. If you need to clear a drain from your tub, shower, sink or more, our J MAXX SP will not disappoint you. Its sled design, large wheels, and convenient handle make it easy to maneuver about most residential settings. It’s one of the most classic, time tested, results-driven designs you can invest in - if you’re looking for a Roto Rooter machine, you won’t go wrong with our J MAXX SP.

That being said, if you need power you might want to take a look at our DM30SPB that comes with a 21-inch polyethylene reel and a 100 foot ⅝ inch cable. Its ½ horsepower motor gives it all the power it needs to power through most obstructions in lines up to 6 inches wide. It’s a big, tough machine, and even though it’s heavy, features like its large wheels and a telescoping handle make it easier for you to maneuver it on the ground. It also packs other features into its design that make it even tougher - for example, its frame houses the wiring to protect it from exposure and abrasion.

If you’re looking for the ultimate in power in our drain machines, then you should take a look at our DM55 SPJ Sled Drain Machine with a 26 jumbo polyethylene reel and a 150 foot 11/16 inch drain cable. This thing is one of the most powerful drain machines out there, with a ¾ horsepower motor, a drum capacity of 900 pounds and a nearly indestructible frame. Like many of our other models, it can be operated vertically or horizontally, and even though it might take a little muscle to get into position, it offers an impressive amount of torque. Tree roots and other industrial blockages will meet their match in this machine, designed to tackle the most obstinate of blockages.

Whether you determine you need a sink machine or one of our toughest sled machines or some mix of equipment for handling different jobs, we offer machines here at Duracable that you can use to keep your clients’ drain lines running freely.

One more thing to note - except where listed, our drain machines come with a 2-year warranty, which is quite the term of service for a drain machine. When we design and produce a piece of equipment for hard use, we build it to the most exacting of standards. What we mean is, our gear and equipment will work as hard as you do, drain machines included.

Get Your Accessories Here Too
Of course, what good would we be if you could find a drain machine here but none of the accessories you need with it to clear drains? Here’s some good news - even though many of our drain machines come loaded with cable, depending on the nature of the obstructions you’re facing, you’re going to need different cables and blades to be effective, and you can get them right here.

If you need drain cables for different jobs, you can find hollow and inner core cables right here on our site. In diameters from a ¼ to ¾ inches and in standard lengths to 150 feet, we offer cables in varying degrees of rigidity that you can use as needed to get through the toughest obstructions. Like our machines, our cables are extensively tested before being sold to ensure strength, flexibility, and durability.

You’ll also need blades to go along with those cables or you won’t be getting through many obstructions. Like our machines and cables, we offer blades of the highest quality and strength for getting through everything from minor obstructions to tree roots and conglomerations of grease. They’re pre-sharpened and available in round, pear-shaped, elliptical, offset, round-bottomed, U shaped and more configurations to suit the specific environment in which you’re operating.

While you’re here, you may as well take a look at our camera inspection equipment and drain care products, because clearing a pipe is only part of the full service offered in the drain cleaning industry, and don’t be afraid to give us a call if you have any questions. Whether it’s something like a Roto Rooter machine you need or just some peripherals to round out your assortment of necessary equipment, we have it here at Duracable.com. You can reach us at 800-247-4081 or email us at Sales@Duracable.com if you need help with anything.