My DH made a great drain opener that works.
We had a clog and tried snakes which didn't work.
We rented a water ram which opened it right up. A water ram is a piston that used quick released pressure to force the clog towards where it needs to go. After understanding those basics he designed one to have on hand for future clogs.
He bought a thick rubber stopper with a hole drilled in the middle like wine airlocks have, but much bigger. He bought the size to fit our sink or tub drain snugly.
He forced a valve stem into it (from car or bike tire).
He screwed a bicycle pump onto the stem. Just as you would to pump a tire.
When needed he places the stopper in the drain, screws the bike pump to the valve stem and pumps the clog out. If it is very stubborn I have to hold the stopper down while he pumps. If it is a tub drain he just steps on the stopper while pumping.
The water rams cost $300, or $50 per day rental. His costs Maybe $8, depending on what you have laying around and you have it as long as it lasts.
This doesn't need gas or electricity. Perfect for those stretches of days to weeks without power.
A toilet would need a very big stopper, we haven't needed to unclog one so haven't explored that yet.
stopper pic:
http://www.purebrewersonline.com/ProdImagesLG/Rubber Stopper Drilled.gif
valve stem pic:
http://4x4icon.com/offroad/air/valve_stem.jpg
bicycle pump pic #1:
http://www.bicycleaccessories.us/bicycle-pump-400.jpg
pic #2:
http://www.bestgoals.com.hk/catalog/images/BG-PUMP-01.jpg
We had a clog and tried snakes which didn't work.
We rented a water ram which opened it right up. A water ram is a piston that used quick released pressure to force the clog towards where it needs to go. After understanding those basics he designed one to have on hand for future clogs.
He bought a thick rubber stopper with a hole drilled in the middle like wine airlocks have, but much bigger. He bought the size to fit our sink or tub drain snugly.
He forced a valve stem into it (from car or bike tire).
He screwed a bicycle pump onto the stem. Just as you would to pump a tire.
When needed he places the stopper in the drain, screws the bike pump to the valve stem and pumps the clog out. If it is very stubborn I have to hold the stopper down while he pumps. If it is a tub drain he just steps on the stopper while pumping.
The water rams cost $300, or $50 per day rental. His costs Maybe $8, depending on what you have laying around and you have it as long as it lasts.
This doesn't need gas or electricity. Perfect for those stretches of days to weeks without power.
A toilet would need a very big stopper, we haven't needed to unclog one so haven't explored that yet.
stopper pic:
http://www.purebrewersonline.com/ProdImagesLG/Rubber Stopper Drilled.gif
valve stem pic:
http://4x4icon.com/offroad/air/valve_stem.jpg
bicycle pump pic #1:
http://www.bicycleaccessories.us/bicycle-pump-400.jpg
pic #2:
http://www.bestgoals.com.hk/catalog/images/BG-PUMP-01.jpg
