I have had enuff spending 100 bucks a pop to get a basement drain that backs up cleaned that takes 5 min. Anyone have any recommendation as to what snake to buy? From what i read 1/2 horse for 2 to 4 inch line's. Was looking at rigid auto feed 1/2 75 feet for about 700.. Or off brand 1/2 50 ft for 250

Is it the same drain that frequently needs cleanout? What keeps coming up?

Jason (MI) When using a drain snake for the first time, be very careful of your work gloves "snagging" or catching on the cable. Maybe use a slick coated fabric work glove?

"I have had enuff spending 100 bucks a pop to get a basement drain that backs up cleaned that takes 5 min."

That is exactly what I spend for a plumber to snake a basement drain. It is worth every penny because I don't pay until they unclog it (unless line is collapsed, then its KA-CHING for them). They have the heavy duty equipment costs four figures and the experience from doing it every day.

I am a licensed plumbing contractor with around $40,000 worth of drain cleaning machines. There are machines that take different sized cables for different sized drain lines. For example:

A hand electric snake can take 1/4" and 5/16" drain cables from 25' to 35' in length. Theses are good for 1-1/4", 1-1/2" and 2" drain lines.

Then there are machines that can hold 3/8" cables from 35' to 75' in length. These cables are good for 2" to 3" drain lines, not for roots.

Then there are machines that hold 1/2" cables good for 3" to 4" lines.

Then there are machines that hold 5/8" to 3/4" cables for drain lines 3" to 6" and can hold 75' to 100' length cables.

If you are sending a snake cable down a sink, tub or shower with a trap, then you may need a special end of your snake to get around the trap. Clean outs and roof vents are easy to operate.

It's not so much the machine as it's the cable, size and end with experience..... I've lent friends my older machines that have seen me clean out their drains before. I even let them try my machines for them selves. Of course, by them selves they either get the cable stuck or kink the cable.

For sinks, tub and shower I'd get a 1/4" cable around 35' in length. Even Home Depot sells a Ryobi 18 volt snake with 1/4" cable, but only 25'. They work well because you can lock the cable in the machine and apply force to the stoppage.

I have the Rigid which you described. I buy them used for 100 to 150.

Most times they are in mint condition. This is what people buy and use for a couple years until they get their main line replaced.

Here is an off brand for 150

Jason,

I hear a problem with the line.

Time to send a camera down the tube and know where to repair.

So what did they pull out of each cleaning?

Habe you seen Clog Hog and hydrojetting on YouTube? That’s what my city uses on the main lines

Clay tiles can crack and chunks fall down. Orangeburg pipe collapses with age. PVC pipe bows and dips as dirt shifts. Cars driving above the lines will crush them.

My handyman saiid the day I asked him to snake a sewer line would be last I would see him. Drain yes, sewer no.