Match the machine to the line
| Line | Typical size | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Sinks, tubs, lavatories | 1¼″ – 2″ | Hand or drill-powered drum auger, ¼″–⁵⁄₁₆″ cable |
| Toilets | 3″ | Closet auger |
| Branch lines, stacks | 2″ – 4″ | Drum machine, ⅜″–½″ cable |
| Main and sewer lines | 3″ – 6″+ | Sectional machine, ⅞″–1¼″ cable |
Drum vs. sectional machines
Drum machines keep the cable coiled inside a spinning drum. They’re clean, quick to set up, and the usual choice for indoor lines up to about 4″. Sectional machines feed short cable sections you couple together as you go. They’re lighter to carry, reach much farther, and have the torque for roots in main and sewer lines, but they’re messier and take more skill.
Cutters and heads
- Straight or bulb auger: to find and grab a soft blockage like hair.
- Spade or U-cutter: to open a hole through grease or paper.
- Root saw or sawtooth cutter: for roots in main lines. Start smaller than the pipe, then go up a size.
Safety
Wear leather gloves with the grips the manufacturer specifies (never cloth, which can wrap in a spinning cable) and eye protection. Use the foot switch so you can stop instantly, keep the cable guide tube on drum machines, and never force a cable that’s binding; back it off and let the cutter work.