Must-Have Tools for Tackling Plumbing Clogs

Clogs are one of the most common issues professional plumbers will encounter on the job. These clogs can happen for any number of reasons, from homeowners flushing items they shouldn't to sediment building up over time. Sometimes, a simple plunger or manual snake can quickly remove obstructions and restore proper flow, but other times, the material causing the blockage may be more difficult to dislodge. To help plumbers handle any clog, no matter how severe, here are 10 must-have tools for tackling them.

Hand Augers

For smaller, more localized clogs in sinks, tubs, and toilets, a hand auger is an indispensable tool. It features a flexible cable with a corkscrew tip that you feed into the drain. By turning the handle, you can work the tip through the obstruction to break it up or hook onto it for retrieval.

These tools come in various lengths, typically up to 25 feet, which provides enough reach for most residential drain lines. Their manual operation allows for precise control, so you can feel the clog and work on it without damage to older or more delicate pipes.

Toilet Augers

While a standard hand auger can work for toilets, a dedicated toilet auger is a superior tool for that specific fixture. Its design includes a vinyl guard over the cable, which protects the porcelain bowl from scratches and scuffs. The auger has a J-bend at the end that helps navigate the toilet's trap with ease. The cable is usually shorter and more rigid than a sink auger's cable, a construction that delivers more force directly to the clog. This focused power is often needed to clear tough blockages common in toilet drain lines.

Drain Snakes

When a clog is located further down the line, beyond the reach of a hand auger, a drain snake is the next tool to use. These machines, also called drum augers, use an electric motor to rotate a cable housed in a drum. The cable can extend 50, 75, or even 100 feet into the pipe. As it spins, it scrapes the inside of the pipes to clear away buildup. Different cutter heads can be attached to the end of the cable to address various types of blockages, from tree roots to solidified grease.

Sectional Drain Cleaners

For the most demanding jobs, a sectional drain cleaner offers immense power and versatility. Unlike drum machines that use one continuous cable, sectional cleaners use shorter, interlocking cable sections. This setup allows you to add more sections as needed, so you can reach clogs hundreds of feet away.

The cables are also thicker and more rigid, which lets them transfer more torque to the cutter head. This extra power is what you need for cutting through heavy root intrusions or other severe obstructions in large-diameter pipes. Their modular design also makes them easier to transport and manage on a job site compared to a large drum machine.

Hydro-Jetting Machines

Sometimes, a mechanical tool isn’t enough. Hydro-jetting machines use high-pressure water streams to obliterate clogs and clean the entire inner surface of a pipe. A specialized nozzle attached to a high-pressure hose shoots powerful jets of water in multiple directions. These jets can cut through grease, sludge, scale, and even tree roots, and flush the debris out of the system.

This machine is highly effective for preventative maintenance, as it restores pipes to a near-original condition and helps prevent future blockages.

Pipe Inspection Cameras

Before you can fix a clog, you need to know exactly what it is and where it is. A pipe inspection camera system gives you a clear view inside the drain. A waterproof camera head on the end of a flexible push rod sends a live video feed to a monitor. This allows you to identify the type and location of the blockage with complete accuracy. You can see if you’re dealing with a collapsed pipe, a root intrusion, or just a simple buildup. This diagnostic capability eliminates guesswork so you choose the right tool and method for the job from the start.

Pipe Locators

Once you’ve identified a problem with your inspection camera, a pipe locator helps you pinpoint its exact location and depth from above ground. The locator works with a transmitter that sends a signal through the camera's push rod or a separate line. The handheld receiver then detects this signal, which lets you mark the spot directly above the blockage or pipe damage.

This precision removes the need for exploratory digging, which saves time, reduces labor, and minimizes disruption to the property. It’s a necessary tool for any repair that requires excavation.

Wrenches

No plumber's toolkit is complete without a comprehensive set of wrenches. Pipe wrenches are necessary for gripping and turning pipes and fittings. Basin wrenches are purpose-built to reach the nuts that hold faucets in place in tight, awkward spaces behind sinks. An adjustable wrench is a versatile option that can handle various sizes of nuts and bolts.

With a full assortment of wrenches at your disposal, you can disassemble and reassemble plumbing fixtures and connections quickly and efficiently during a clog removal job.

Plungers

Even for a professional, the humble plunger remains a valuable first response tool for simple clogs. There are two main types. A cup plunger is best for flat surfaces like sinks and tubs, where it can form a good seal. A flange plunger, with its extended rubber flap, is shaped to seal effectively against the curved bottom of a toilet bowl.

The pressure and suction created by a plunger can often dislodge minor obstructions without the need for more complex equipment. It’s a quick and effective solution that can resolve many service calls in minutes.

Hand Spinners

A hand spinner is a compact and lightweight tool for clearing clogs in small-diameter lines, such as those for tubs, showers, and bathroom sinks. It consists of a canister that holds a quarter-inch cable, and you feed the cable into the drain by hand while turning a handle. The spinning action helps the cable navigate bends and work through soft blockages like hair and soap scum. Its small size makes it convenient to carry and use in tight spaces where a larger machine would be cumbersome. Use it for quick and simple jobs.

Tools for Every Plumbing Clog

These are 10 must-have tools for tackling plumbing clogs. When a plumber has all these devices in their truck, they should be able to fix any clog without having to head back to the shop or go to the store to pick up additional equipment.

At 24 HR Supply, we sell high-quality professional plumbing supplies online. If you need plungers, augers, or pipe inspection cameras for your next job, get them here. All our products are affordable and effective, and we ship them quickly so you don't have to wait on the parts you need to get back to work.