The Different Types Of Plumbing Augers And Their Uses

Professional drain cleaning requires a set of sophisticated tools that take over where the toilet plunger leaves off. One of the handiest of these tools is the plumber’s snake.

The auger consists of a flexible steel coiled wire that is wrapped around a spool. When in use, the steel wire is fed in to the mouth of a toilet, sink or tub drain. The operator advances the wire by turning a crank at the upper end of the auger. The coils at the tip of the auger act like a drill bit that screws into the material clotting the drain as it advances.The auger can then pull back on the clog and bring it out or break up the clog, allowing the small parts of it to be flushed down the toilet. The auger can also scrape buildup along the sides of the toilet drain as it advances or retracts.

There are several types of augers in use, designed for different plumbing fixtures and setups. Smaller hand augers are used for cleaning sinks and tubs. A hand auger should not be used in a toilet. A specific auger diameter versus drain diameter must be maintained, and the tiny sink auger will become coiled inside the toilet drain.

The closet auger is named after “water closet.” A European name for bathroom; it is conveniently L or J shaped. The foot of the J or L inserts into the toilet bowl. The foot of the “J” or “L” shaped closet auger is plastic coated so it will protect the toilet enamel. This is another reason not to use a hand auger in the toilet; it won’t have the plastic protection on the end of it. The wire is advanced by turning the crank clockwise.

The professional model heavy duty drum auger comes with an electrically rotating head that can cut through roots and other hard obstructive material. If used improperly, it can break apart a plumbing pipe, so it must be used with caution, by someone who knows what he is doing.

Professional plumbers are experienced in declogging, and able to avoid pitfalls, such as forcing the auger or winding the crank the wrong way and causing a tangle.

If an auger cannot break up a clog, it is best to call a plumber. By determining how far you were able to advance the auger, you can get some idea of how far into the drain the clot is located.

There are a number of instructional videos on how to use a plumbing auger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY97SOEeC9o&feature=player_embedded
A viewer will soon see that there are many tricks to using an auger, and if one is unsure what he is doing, it may be wise to call a plumber.

This report was brought to you by A-1 Plumbing of Baltimore. A-1 is a Baltimore plumbing company with licensed plumbers who are experienced in unclogging clogged drains.

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