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The Right Way To Plunge Different Drains in Your Home

When it’s time to reach for a plunger — or buy one at the hardware store — it’s important to think about what kind of drain you’re working on and how you should tackle it. That means knowing the different kinds of plungers and what they’re used for, what they aren’t used for, and what solutions you should consider if a plunger proves inadequate for your clog — all subjects we’ll be covering.

What Type of Plunger Do You Need?

A plunger isn’t just a plunger — the wrong design could leave you with a poor seal, a big mess, or even damaged plumbing. We’ll discuss the three most common forms of plunger, but know that there are far more — tiered and beehive plungers designed to be versatile at the expense of being a bit more trouble to keep clean and any number of disastrous alternative plungers you should avoid, like “touchless” designs and power plungers.

Accordion Plungers

Accordion plunger in sink

Accordion plungers, also known as bellows plungers, are easy to recognize if you think about the name. They’re the big plastic plungers with the big end of ridges designed to collapse and expand. These can apply much more pressure to a clog, but come with the drawback of being harder to keep clean. You should exercise caution and not force things too much with one of these.

Whether it’s more suitable for a toilet or other drains will depend on whether the very bottom is shaped more like a flange plunger or a cup plunger. Some may opt for a beehive or tiered tip meant to fit a variety of pipe sizes, too.

Flange Plungers

Flange toilet plunger

Your flange plunger is the standard toilet plunger design. It has your typical wooden handle attached to a cup shape, but the cup shape has a narrow flange extending from the middle that can settle deeper into the pipe and will keep the plunger from turning inside out. This design does make them a worse fit for drains like a sink or bathtub because the shape makes for a worse seal there. Make sure you extend the flange when using these instead of letting it stay folded into the cup!

There aren’t the most powerful option for clearing a toilet, but they’re a good default for toilet plunging and aren’t going to output so much power that you damage your pipes.

Cup Plungers

Cup plunger for sinks

Your most basic plunger design, a stick attached to a simple bowl or cup shape with no frills, flange, or fancy details. These are often misused as toilet plungers, but the lack of a flange means that they don’t fit well into the toilet to seal the pipe and can turn inside out.

Using one of these for your toilet is a great way to end up with gross toilet water everywhere and your clog no better than it started. Instead, use these for drains such as sinks, showers, or tubs — just seal off other entrances, make sure there’s enough water to cover the cup, and plunge away.

Using A Drain Auger

Plumber unclogging tub drain with auger

An augur is the big boy solution to drains, when a plunger falls short. While technically a snake and auger refer to somewhat different equipment, the main difference is size, and both work the same way: A long cable is fed into the clogged pipe and then the head twists about, breaking up the clog. The twisting action can also scrape the edges of pipes clear and help the line navigate trickier geometry. The important thing is to not use too much force for your pipes and cause damage.

When To Call Masters About Your Clogged Drain

If you’re at the limits of your plunging ability and don’t want to invest in a snake or auger, have already tried that and still aren’t having good luck, or have older pipes and worry about damaging them if you apply too much force, it’s time to call in a professional. Masters Heating & Cooling will gladly assist you with your clogs anywhere in Northeast Indiana and the Greater Indianapolis area.

Contact Masters now to discuss our drain cleaning and clog clearing services or schedule a visit ASAP to your home.

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