​How To Choose a Replacement Drain Cable

Posted by Duracable Dale on 27th Oct 2020

You’ve been running your favorite trusty drain cleaning machine for years without incident. Sure you maintain it and keep it in good working order, and you probably have a few tricks up your sleeve to work around that kink in the cable or that funny bump that happens every so often. But how do you know when it’s time to replace your drain cable? And how do you decide which style cable would be best?

Time for a new cable

Signs to look for in a worn-out drain cable are a loss of rigidity, loose action, or failure in a line. When a cable gets a “noodley” feeling, it’s probably time to replace it. Despite your best efforts to take care of your cable, weird things happen, so if you encounter a kinked cable or a pulled-apart section of the spring, your best bet is to scrap the damaged cable and get a new one, or cut off the damaged part and splice good sections together.

For many drain techs, priority features in equipment are dependability and durability, made in the USA products, and a fair price. Cable made from virgin steel will hold up better as it twists, stretches and recoils through hundreds of uses. Multi-metal “spring steel” does not have this property and won’t last as long or perform as well. Rigorously tested products and a no-nonsense warranty are plusses for most buyers. You won’t find these features just anywhere, so be sure to shop around for the right supplier.

What’s your cable style?

  • Hollow core cable is the industry standard, and the favorite among many drain technicians. It is flexible, can navigate multiple bends, and is less likely to flip, bird-nest or bundle up in the line.
  • Inner core cables have a nylon strand inside that works against cable kinking and breakage. The nylon inner core gives more life to the cable at a small cost and doesn’t add much weight. Many drain techs like to use inner core cable on long, straight runs for more intense clog-busting ability compared to a hollow core cable.
  • Cable-in-cable is extremely stiff and incredibly durable. It’s designed for long, straight runs and can really devour even the toughest roots or blockages.
  • Loose-wound cable is very flexible and tackles corners faster and easier. It also fits smaller reels easier without snaking. Loose-wound cable is available as hollow core or inner core.
  • Bulb head cable clears more pipe with its larger diameter, helping techs churn through clogs quickly, but this type of cable is not suitable for cutting.
  • Open hook cable often works for clearing hair clogs, or for pulling objects from drain lines such as rags, dropped tools, or accidentally flushed household items.

Size

To determine the cable diameter you need, first look at your machine’s reel capacity. A drain cleaning machine is designed to hold a specific size cable. Loading the wrong diameter or length will cause your cable to fail prematurely and could even damage your machine.

  • ¼” cable is typically used in 1” to 2” lines, Ideal for household clogs, sinks, tubs and other minor jobs, a ¼” cable is light enough to maneuver small household drains.
  • The most popular drain cable size is 3/8”. Whether it’s tubs, sinks, kitchen traps or washing machine lines, use 3/8” cable to tackle all of your light duty jobs in lines up to 3” in diameter.
  • If you are using a heavy-duty blade on a tough job in a line less than 4”, a ½” cable is recommended.
  • 5/8” cable is perfect when you want something versatile on your truck that can handle both small and large jobs in lines up to 6” in diameter.
  • When you encounter roots or tough stoppages on a 3” or larger run with tough turns or hard-to-reach spots, use 11/16” cable for the flexibility you need.
  • 3/4” cable is ideal for those heavy jobs when you need a stiff cable. It’s great for ripping roots in 3” to 10” lines. For a rodding effect in long straight lines, try ¾” inner core.

That’s not the end of it

You still need to consider what end fittings you prefer on your cable.Match your end fitting size to the cable diameter and select your preference for male, female, or slip-joint style ends.

A cable that’s able

The right cable gives you just the right finesse to clear a line. It’s not a one-size-fits all scenario. It takes experience and trial-and-error to find the ideal cable for a particular circumstance, but a good manufacturer or distributor should be able to help you find the equipment that will work best for most of your jobs.

Want to learn more? Call the experts at Duracable Manufacturing. We’ve been making drain cleaning equipment since 1935 and can help you choose the cable or other equipment that suits your needs.

Duracable Manufacturing Co.

1-800-247-4081

sales@duracable.com

www.duracable.com