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When living in a city like Fairfax where many old homes can have temperamental plumbing, apart from the humble plunger there cannot be many tools more useful to a professional as the ‘plumber’s snake.’ This is one tool found in the toolbox of every plumber. Fairfax residents can also keep one in the home to use instead of calling out a professional. But what exactly is this tool, and what does it do? Here is a quick introduction to this most useful of tools. An Overview The plumber’s snake goes by a variety of names, including a ‘toilet jack’ and even an ‘electric eel.’ It is basically a flexible auger that you can send down the drains. Using the crank, you can turn it to rotate the metal wires to loosen blocks and clogs. It is usually the second method of unblocking drains after the plunger has failed to dislodge the problem, and is a favorite tool of many a plumber. Fairfax residents can certainly buy one without spending too much money, and can then keep it in the home to use in emergencies. The auger works in a variety of ways, depending on the type of blockage in the drain. One of the most common ways that it works is by actually drilling into the blockage and then pulling whatever object it finds back out again. It also sometimes breaks up the blockage where possible - when the blockage consists of softer objects. Alternatively, sometimes it is used to scrape off the fat and other accumulated matter in the pipes to free up the space. Which Snake Is Suitable for the Job? There are various types of snakes you can use, depending on the type of blockage that you have, so if in doubt ask your plumber. Fairfax residents can make use of the hand auger for small blockages in the sink or bath drain - this is sometimes called a hand spinner. However, these are not suitable for toilets as they can cause damage and the can get caught up in the larger pipes. For a toilet, you will need a closet auger, which is shorter and ideal for using with flush toilets. It has protection to prevent it from damaging the porcelain, and it can break up and remove most clogs in a toilet. There is another heavy-duty auger, which is called a drum auger. These are motorized and are a lot more powerful, and some models even come with cameras. However, you should probably get a professional to use them as you could cause some damage if you don’t know how to handle it. Call a Professional to Help You The plumber’s snake is a very useful tool, but if you do not have experience of using one or you are worried about causing damage to your drains, it may be a better idea to call out a professional plumber. Fairfax experts can be called out for any problems you face in the home, no matter how minor, and you can always watch how they unblock your toilet using a snake if you want to have a go next time. Sarah Saadoun works for HMS Plumbing, a family-owned business in Manassas, Northern Virginia. If you need a plumber, Fairfax is lucky to have Herve and his dedicated employees at HMS - proud to be serving the plumbing needs of Northern Virginia residents and businesses. For reliable plumbers HMS Plumbing is your first choice.
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