What is a Drain Auger?

Drain augers, sometimes called drain snakes or plumber snakes, are devices which are used to remove clogs from drain piping systems. Drain augers are available in both manual and powered varieties. Drain augers, when properly employed, are successful at removing most typical household drain clogs. 

Cable Augers

Cable drain augers use flexible steel cable with a corkscrew type device attached to the end of the cable. They are in a casing with a handle attached, which must be turned when using the auger. Rotating the handle spins the cable as it advances it down the drain pipe toward the clog. The debris blocking the drain is trapped on the corkscrew end and is removed when the cable is backed out of the drain. This clears the blockage and restores water drainage to the pipe.

Flat Augers

Flat augers are very similar to cable augers in their operation, with the exception they are designed with a flat (rather than round) cabling system. These types of augers are designed for water pipes, which are less than two inches in diameter. Some flat augers have spear tipped points to simply break the clog up rather than remove it. The flat type of auger is generally stiffer than cable models and can be used to eliminate larger pipe obstructions.

Power Augers

Power augers are similar to their manual counterparts with the exception of some, either built-in motors or made to be attached to power drills. Power augers feed cable down the pipe the same way their manual counterparts do, but with less physical effort. They also work more efficiently and quickly to remove difficult clogs, which require extra pressure. However, when using a power auger it is important to be careful and not damage the pipe from an unsteady operation.


Toilet Augers

Toilet augers, sometimes called closet augers, are made specifically to unstop toilets. They come in two types, manual and powered. The cable is designed to travel easily through the specialized toilet plumbing. Toilet augers are the most flexible in their construction for easy maneuverability within the bowl.