Drain snakes work for smaller drains like your kitchen or bathroom sink. Drain augers tackle larger pipes like your toilet or shower drain.
Can you use a sink auger on a toilet?
What makes a toilet auger different from other augers?
Because of its design, it's able to more effectively remove clogs compared to a regular toilet snake (for more on that, keep reading below). For example, some augers come with a closed coil head, which is used to push through the plug.
Can a drain snake be used on a toilet?
Can a drain snake break a pipe?
Drain Snakes Can Damage Pipes
While billed as devices that are easy to use by anyone and everyone, drain snakes can be hard to manage, and if used improperly, can damage pipes. Old pipes in many homes are galvanized, or coated in zinc, which was done to prevent the pipe from rusting or corroding.
Can you run a snake down a toilet?
To unclog toilets that couldn’t be fixed with a plunger, use a toilet auger. Also called a plumbing snake, this flexible coil of wire is designed to extend into pipes and clear obstructions without damaging the plumbing. Feed the end of the cable into the toilet, taking care not to scratch the bowl.
Why do toilet wax rings fail?
One very common cause of wax ring problems is loose toilets. If the toilet is not firmly mounted, or gets loose to the point where it rocks a bit, it can cause the wax ring to lose its seal. When installed, a wax ring is compressed to fit the flange and the toilet, creating the seal.
Will bleach unclog a toilet?
While bleach is not as effective as typical drain cleaners, it’s high in chlorine and can help break down toilet clogs, such as toilet paper, grease, hair, and more.
Can a snake come up your toilet?
According to experts, unfortunately, it can happen. Not only can snakes come up through the toilet, but other critters like rats, squirrels, and tree frogs can too. However, this is not a very common occurrence, so you can breathe a sigh of relief.
What happens if you flush a snake down the toilet?
If even the thought of toilet snakes sends chills down your spine, take heart; while it’s certainly possible for a snake to end up in your toilet, it’s extraordinarily unlikely.
Should you snake your toilet?
Although technically you can use a regular snake (instead of a toilet snake) to unclog a toilet you really should not. The reason being that a regular snake can damage the porcelain of your toilet bowl. A toilet snake (aka toilet auger) is specifically designed to be used on toilets and will not cause any damage.
Can bleach unclog a toilet?
While bleach is not as effective as typical drain cleaners, it’s high in chlorine and can help break down toilet clogs, such as toilet paper, grease, hair, and more.
How do you ruin a toilet?
- Using chemical drain cleaners (like Drano) Most chemical drain cleaners clear your drain by breaking down the clog with a chemical reaction. …
- Plunging down too hard. …
- Using the wrong plumber’s snake.
- Using chemical drain cleaners (like Drano) Most chemical drain cleaners clear your drain by breaking down the clog with a chemical reaction. …
- Plunging down too hard. …
- Using the wrong plumber’s snake.
How long does a toilet last?
Most plumbers agree that an average toilet can last around 50 years. However, this is only when the toilet is well maintained and gently used. If it was improperly installed or frequently misused, it may not last as long.
How long do toilet seats last?
While a toilet typically lasts at least 15 years, toilet seats last only about 5 to 7 years before they begin to crack or become stained to the point that, no matter how hard you scrub, they no longer appear clean. That’s when it’s time to consider replacement.
Can Coke unclog a toilet?
Coke and Pepsi are loaded with phosphoric acid, which breaks down buildup that can clog your drains! Phosphoric acid can even remove lime scale and other tough buildup that regular cleaners struggle with. This is an effective and refreshing home remedy if we ever saw one!
Does Coke clean a clogged drain?
Coke. Coke is a lesser-known fix you can find in your refrigerator. Pour a 2-liter bottle of cola — Pepsi, Coke, or generic brand substitutes — down the clogged drain. Coke is actually quite caustic and effective at clearing away buildup in your drains, but it’s far milder than commercial drain cleaners.
Can you smell a snake?
The only way people will know whether there is a snake in their house is by seeing it, Sollenberger said. Snakes don’t really have an odor and don’t really make sounds so it would be impossible to smell them or hear them.
Can snakes drown?
Registered. Most snakes will soak in a bowl if they can fit in it. Try to provide a relatively large bowl in comparison to the length or size of the snake as it’s not impossible for an animal to become stuck and drown.
Can alligators come up toilet?
In New York, stories of alligators in the sewers have proliferated since the 1930s, but they are probably just urban legends. In Paris, however, a crocodile was found in the city’s sewers in the 1980s under Pont Neuf. There is no record, though, of an animal of this kind getting round a U-bend and arriving in a toilet.
Is it OK to put hair down the toilet?
Similar to dental floss, sending hair down the drain can cause larger problems later on, experts at American Water note. Hair tends to stick to the inside of pipes, leading to build-up and clogs over time. Don’t flush large clumps of hair down the toilet, and use drain covers to protect your shower and sink drains.