A closet auger is a tool for unclogging toilet drains. It has a long, flexible metal coil with a crank and metal tip. It’s named after the early days of plumbing when toilets were hidden in closets. A sink auger is different and not recommended for toilets. To use a closet auger, insert it into the drain until it hits the obstruction and rotate the handle to clear it. Wear gloves and take precautions to avoid contamination. If the blockage is deeper, use a cabinet auger through an accessible opening while someone plunges the toilet.
A closet auger, also known as a toilet auger or plumbing snake, is a device for unclogging toilet drains. It consists of a long coil of flexible metal with a crank at one end and a metal tip at the other. The handle and tip are connected by a metal strip that runs through the center of the reel, and as you operate the handle, the tip rotates. A typical closet auger is about 3 feet (1 m) long, which is long enough to clear most blockages in toilet discharge lines.
The term “closet” comes from the early days of plumbing when the toilet was typically hidden in a closet. Any fixture or fitting with that term in the name, such as a closet flange, is designated for use in and around restrooms. A sink auger is a different tool than a closet auger, with a thinner, more flexible spool designed to fit P-traps and drains that are more fragile than a toilet drain line. Using a cabinet auger to attempt to clear a sink blockage is not recommended and could damage your plumbing.
The usual procedure for using a closet auger is to insert the tool head into the toilet drain and push it until it hits the obstruction. Operating the handle rotates the head, which is hooked or designed as a spiral, and runs it through the block. Once the obstruction clears and the water begins to flow, the user pulls their head back from the drain and the obstruction usually comes with it. Working around a toilet carries the inherent possibility of being exposed to unsanitary conditions, so it is advisable to wear rubber gloves and take other measures to avoid contamination, including washing dishes thoroughly after the repair has been completed.
Since the reach of a closet auger is limited to 3 feet (1 meter), it cannot access blockages deep in the discharge line. In the event of an obstruction that is not in the immediate vicinity of the toilet, a cabinet auger can be inserted through an accessible opening, such as the cleaner located at the base of the waste pile. With one person plunging the toilet to move the obstruction down, another operates the auger from further down the line and the action of the head breaks up the obstruction incrementally as it gets closer. When the water starts flowing, the blockage can be removed with the auger.
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