What to Look For When You Want to Buy A Plumbing Snake

A plumbing snake can be a magnificently useful weapon against clogs that a plunger just can't take care of. For those who want to knock out drain clogs with professional acumen, we've put together this little guide of a few things to look out for when you set out to buy a plumbing snake.

1. Choosing Your Plumbing Snake -

A plumbing snake is a slender, flexible auger that is used to remove clogs in drains. Plumbing snakes can come in all shapes and sizes. The first main decision to make is whether the drain machine you buy to go with your plumbing snake is hand cranked or electric. A hand cranked auger would probably be enough for most homeowners to take care of the average clog. However, for a plumbing professional, we recommend an electric drain machine. Electric drain machines are easier to use, and can handle a more intense clog.

You should also consider the type of end you're using on your plumbing snake. Sometimes, plumbing professionals will use plain drain cable to poke through a blockage, however this strategy is not always effective. A coil or screw head will lodge itself into the offending clog, and pull it out. These heads are most useful for buildups of paper towels, or other paper products. A root cutter does just what it says on the label, it cuts away blockages. This type of blade is perfect for tree roots, but we only recommend it for plumbing professionals, as a cutting head can potentially do damage to the pipes it unclogs.

2. Considering Your Cable -

In order to unclog a drain without unnecessary complications, you'll need the correct drain cleaning cable. The diameter of the cable that you'll need will depend on both the type of machine you're using, and the type of drain you're cleaning. It seems easy enough, but take it from us, if you choose the wrong size, it won't be easy to remove your cable from the drain after it's doubled over and tied itself in knots.

For a small or medium size machine try to use ⅜" cable. Make sure you also have at least 50-75 feet of cable length to work with. This setup is most useful for something like a washing machine, or a kitchen or bathroom sink. For a large machine, don't use anything less than ⅝" thick, however, something like ¾" would be better. Also, try not to go with cable less than 50 - 100 feet in length. Sometimes even more can be required, depending on how deep the stoppage is. Large machines should be reserved for drains that are 3" or more in width.

3. Buy American

If possible you'll want to get your plumbing snake from a manufacturer that makes its products in the U.S.A. This is more than us tooting our own horn. Products of this type that are made in the U.S.A. go through more rigorous quality control measures. Even if they might be more expensive up front, a better made machine will save you money by staying with you for the long run.

So, those are just a few of our tips to keep in mind when you're looking to buy a plumbing snake. If you're interested in learning more, check out Duracable's wide selection of drain cleaning equipment, or just give us a call!