Plumbing Auger Basics

When a plunger won’t unclog a drain, both amateurs and professional plumbers alike turn to the auger, also known as 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 plumber’s augers, and when using an auger it is important to use the proper type. The auger for a sink and tub is called a hand auger. It has no plastic shield at the tip, and its wire is thin. If someone tries to use a hand auger for the toilet, the tip may scrape off the enamel in the toilet bowl, and the think wire may easily become coiled in the toilet. And even if used successfully, the hand auger, would, under those circumstances, transfer toilet bacteria to the sink or tub on its next use, also an unsatisfactory outcome.

The auger used to unclog toilets is called the closet auger. It’s name refers to “water closet,” the European name for a toilet. The closet auger is conveniently “L” or “J” shaped. The foot is plastic coated and conveniently fits into the toilet bowl drain. The plastic coating protects the enamel lining of the bowl.

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 monitor the progress of a declogging by observing changes in the water level in the bowl, and cautious flushing. They are careful not to force the auger in or out.

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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