There are two different types of heads at the tip of a drain snake’s cable: cutting heads and coil or toothed heads. Some drain snakes allow for switching out the heads, but most have one fixed head. Power through recurring and difficult clogs with the Populo electric drain auger. This battery-powered drain snake uses a 25-foot reinforced flexible steel cable to clear clogs with ease. The cable can move through drains ranging from just ¾ inch to 2 inches in diameter, including sinks, toilets, and shower drains.

The kit includes three 19.6-inch ABS-plastic sink snakes with toothed heads for removing hair clogs from the sink drain and shower drain. Two 24-inch retrieval tools have a four-claw head with a plunger mechanism that opens and closes the claw to grab such items as earrings and rings. And for tougher, deeper obstacles, there’s a 39-inch steel drain snake that can handle clogs within about 3 feet of a drain. Instead of using a plunger to force water and air through the pipes, a drain snake is a physical tool that is fed into the drain. When the snake encounters a clog, it is rotated against the obstruction to break it up or grab the mass and pull it out. Q. What kind of snakes do plumbers use? Chemical drain cleaners are often only partially effective on hair clogs, leaving hair in the drain. Emerging technology has come to the basic drain snake to enhance ease of use and performance. These features include: There are four cutting heads included: a C-cutter, a boring bulb cutter, a spade cutter, and an arrow cutter. These specialized heads come in handy for breaking up a variety of clogs.Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.

May be too much tool for occasional homeowner use; geared toward professional and frequent unclogging Cameras are added to the end of the snake so that users can see everything in the drain and diagnose issues visually as opposed to going by “feel.” A camera will also help the user know if clogs are completely or just partially cleared.

LED lights on a drain snake can help the user navigate through pipes when used with a drain snake camera (see below). LED lights can also be built into the handle to help illuminate the work area. If these options fail, consider removing the P-trap to insert the snake beyond this problem spot. Then replace the P-trap once the pipes have been snaked. Q. How often should you snake your drain? This 6-foot toilet auger is specially designed for use in toilets. It features a vinyl protective sheath over its metal cable to prevent damage to the toilet bowl. Simply position the tube inside the toilet so that the rubber foot rests right at the bowl’s outlet, and then crank the 6-foot cable down. If homeowners would rather not call a plumber for a costly visit, it’s important to have the right drain auger or snake. So take the time to properly consider the best drain snake for the home. Think about whether a manual or electric model would be best, and consider the type of drain snake head that would be most effective. Keep in mind these factors and the additional product features detailed below when shopping. Manual vs. Electric It’s advised to snake the drain at least once a year to help reduce the potential for clogs. Why Trust Bob Vila

We know clogs are frustrating. And taking your drain apart to unclog it is even worse. But with The Drain Weasel, you never have worry about taking your drain pipes apart again! Drain snakes are made to be water-resistant, but they must also be able to resist the corroding effects of waste and chemical drain cleaners. With this in mind, drain snake manufacturers use high-quality ABS plastic and flexible high-carbon steel.this product worked great, it only took a couple of minutes of use to solve my problem of a horrible tub drain hair clog. thank you to the inventor. Household Electricals Shop all Household Electricals Dry:Soon Heated Airers Heated Blankets & Mattress Protectors Irons & Clothes Steamers Air Purifiers