Best Drain Auger: Drain Cleaning Machine vs Drain Snake | Buyers’ Guide

What is the best drain auger and drain cleaning machine? You may think that the answer is pretty clear, that the best drain auger should clean any blockages inside a drain pipe in the most efficient and quickest way. And you are right, but there are other factors influencing on the effectiveness of a cleaning process. In particular, the power tools are more preferable in terms of control and feeding accuracy achieved in automatic modes. The innovative design of modern drain augers eliminates kinks and tangling of cables which are commonly made from reinforced high-grade steel. Besides, the cables should be compatible with multiple cutting attachments for dealing with clogs and debris of different nature. 

Best Drain Auger in 2021

Types of drain auger systems: Drain auger vs drain cleaning machine vs drain snake

Manual drain snakes and augers

This type is commonly used to handle simple blockages in sinks, tubs or toilets around the house. A manual drain snake is typically cheap, light and compact. It is run down into a clogged pipe. By means of manual turning of its crank a cutting attachment screws into a clog to remove it. It happens that, plenty of efforts have to be exerted to clear away any obstruction. Such tools are equipped with a spring drum. An auger cable is feeding into a drain through the drum. Some units can be connected to an electric drill thus increasing the torque needed to get rid of tougher blockages. 

Electric drain augers

Electric drain augers are commonly used for various applications with a power outlet within the reach for corded options, and an appropriate battery available for cordless units. The RIDGID 59143 Drain Cleaning Machine is a bright example of a powerful electric model designed for average and heavy-duty applications.

The modern electric models are mainly designed for dealing with 20 - 50mm diameter drains, with a cable length up to 9 m., thus they can cover more demands and serve for residential and commercial-grade purposes. 

Gas-powered drain cleaning machines. It is a class of heavy-duty professional drain cleaning machines. They are designed for large-scale field work and for remote areas with no power supply available or in case of impracticability of its use. For instance, application of power generators is considered to be quite expensive and inconvenient solution for transportation and handling. However, gas-powered models are widely used by public utilities to maintain big urban sewage networks. And in spite of their heavy weight, the wheeled design contributes to an enhanced mobility.

I would like to mention one more type of electric drain augers which combines the power of electric motor and pump. And here I refer to hydro-jetting machines which are used for clearing out big sewages. Thus, this type can be used only by professionals. A high pressure is generated with the help of a pump and motor, after that a pressurized water stream (up to 4,000 PSI) is fed into a pipe. The pressure is so high, that any blockage might be smashed to pieces. Which is why, hydro-jetting is used only for complicated obstructions in large diameter pipes. Otherwise, such pressure jet could incur damage, especially to thin-walled or collapsed pipes.

Drum-type & Sectional cable augers 

In addition, all modern drain augers can be divided into two types in regards to their design and operating peculiarities: drum and sectional models.

Drum-type augers are similar to manual counterparts in the design, apart from an integrated motor, naturally. In general, these are more sophisticated machines which facilitate and speed up unclogging process in comparison with hand equipment. The majority of drum-type models feature an auto-feeding of a drain cable. They require less preparation time before operation as a cable is already integrated inside a unit. But despite the above-mentioned benefits, these units are heavier and bigger, even than sectional-type counterparts, consequently may cause some problems with transportation and handling.

Sectional cable augers feature a detachable spring (consists of several sections coupled together). Thanks to this peculiarity, clearing of drain blockages can be carried out at great distances from the place of equipment arrangement. Besides, you may figure out in advance an approximate length of a cable required to fulfill a certain job. Thus, the weight of a device will be considerably lower, in comparison with a hefty packed-full drum model. Besides, if a section is somehow damaged, it can be always replaced by a new one locally.

Other features to be considered when looking for a drain auger | Buyers’ Guide

• Cable length and thickness. This parameter defines the field of application of your tool. Different models are offered with a cable up to 15m. In particular, a 9m cable will be enough to handle average household issues. On the contrary, you may need longer cable for bigger houses or some light commercial applications. Also, you should take into consideration pipe diameter, to provide sufficient space for a cable while running it down a line, excluding any risk of inner wall damage. 

• Auto feeding. The advanced power drain augers come with an auto feeding function. It lets you to run a cable in a line and retrieve it back without physical contact; that is, there is no need to touch the cable. Overall, this feature allows keeping a working area clean, and contributes to safety, and efficiency.

• Cutting heads. These attachments are developed to improve the efficiency of a cleaning process, as well as to enlarge a range of applications of the equipment. Cutting heads can be universal (for general applications) and specific (used to tackle particular blockages). Universal tips usually come in a coiled design to face the majority of drain clogging problems of an average homeowner. The heads with sharp blades or toothed edges are commonly attached to more powerful drain auger models for commercial-grade applications.

Best Electric Drain Auger in 2021

1. Ridgid PowerClear Drain Cleaning Machine | Best Trusted

Since 1923 when Ridgid introduced its patented pipe wrench, all drain cleaning products from this manufacturer have been associated with reliability, efficiency and high quality standards.

This electric-corded drain cleaner allows handle blockages from 20 mm to 40 mm diameter (max 50 mm with light blockages) pipes, thus providing versatility in use. Its auto-feed technology makes a cleaning process faster. Besides, it keeps your hands and the working area clean while feeding and retracting the 9 meters cable. The latter comes in an inner core design featuring higher strength and resistance to kinks and tangles. The transparent cover of the unit allows you to monitor remaining length of the cable. More than that, this drain auger comes with a detachable guiding hose which consists of two pieces for general and hard-to-reach applications keeping your hands and working area free from debris.

Features

• Power source: Electric corded
• Drain capacity: 3/4 - 1 1/2 in / 20 - 50 mm
• Weight: ‎7 kg

The Ridgid 59143 is a reliable tool suitable for different drains around the house granting comfort and easiness of its operation to any user.

Ridgid Drain Cleaning Machine: Check the current price

Best-Selling Drain Augers in the UK | Comparative Table

What is a drain auger?

A sewage network requires preventive maintenance and servicing, as any other system. And drain pipe cleaning is one of the most frequent jobs. Bends and turns of a drain line in your shower, tub, toilet, or kitchen sink might be clogged gradually, for instance, due to an improper use of the system. If water runs slow down the drain, different chemical and mechanical methods are used for its cleaning. However, in case of severe blockages, when traditional methods do not work, a drain auger would be required. This device may come in different designs and capacity to handle each particular problem. Besides, from economical point of view, even some powered models would cost you less than plumber’s services. And they give you possibility to tackle drain clogging issues immediately. Would it be interesting for you? If so, let’s deal with specifics!

How to use a drain auger?

As seen above, manual and powered drain augers have similar principle of operation to a drain snake, apart from simplicity of their use. So, if you have a manual tool then you have to control entire drain cleaning process. An electric unit will feed a cable down to a drain pipe automatically.

Before starting work with your tool, it is necessary to wear protective gloves, and to inspect auger cable for integrity (for manually operated models). After that you can proceed with pipe cleaning.

You should forward the end of a cable with a cutting head to a drain or a toilet by rotating a crank or by means of an auto feed function (depending on a model). The cable must be deepened as much as possible to encounter an obstruction inside a pipe. The spring of modern drain augers are flexible to pass through bends and elbows of pipelines with no hassle, minimizing the risk of a failure. However, you should always check if diameter and head design of a cable are suitable for a piping you are going to clean.

Once blockage is found, the cable will hook it or wind it on (depending on a head design) and returns back. Manual drain snakes or augers should be pulled out without rotation. Right after removal of debris when water flow is not obstructed any more, you should open a hot water tap to flush the drain.