Match the cable to the job
Cable diameter, stiffness and length affect which bends it can negotiate. A small manual snake for a basin is not a substitute for a powered drain machine, and longer is not automatically safer.
- Cable diameter and working length
- Open coil, boring head or retrieval head
- Drum containment
- Replaceable cable and cleaning access
Control and hygiene
A drum can contain the cable between uses, while a locking mechanism helps control feed. Consider how the cable will be cleaned, dried and stored after contact with wastewater.
- Glove compatibility
- Cable lock
- Manual crank ergonomics
- Storage away from living areas
A safer decision process
- 1
Confirm the problem is local
- 2
Remove the trap when that is the safer access
- 3
Feed without forcing through resistance
- 4
Rotate and retrieve in short controlled sections
- 5
Clean the tool and test the drain gradually
Important safety point
Do not use a general metal snake through a toilet pan. Use a toilet auger with a protective guide to reduce scratching and damage.