"RogerN" wrote in message
m...
I've had a couple of problems with clogged drains and so far haven't done
much good snaking. I bought a cheap hand crank snake, it goes in a ways,
stops and I seem to make absolutely no progress. A friend suggested a
drill powered snake, goes in a ways, stops, twisted up like a pretzel
inside the pipe.

So I'm wondering if I have super tough clogs, or if it's just the cheap
Wal-Mart and hardware store snakes I'm buying? Tonight I bought a drill
powered snake that's inside a piece of tubing. So far I like it, the
tubing keeps the snake from twisting up inside the pipe easily but I still
haven't been able to clear the drain. It goes in maybe 4ft and I can't
seem to get it to go any further.

The drains I'm having trouble is the bathtub and the bathroom sink. The
sink has been clogged over a year, we quit using it. Recently the tub
clogged, we don't think it's a good idea to quit taking baths :-)
Unfortunately the crawl space is very difficult for me to access, I would
have to hire a skinny guy and the opening is on the other side of the
house, extremely inconvenient.

Is there a recommended brand and size of snake for 1-1/4 drains?

Thanks!

RogerN

I have a moderate size power snake and an adolescent girl in the house. I
have the opportunity to snake out the main line from the house to the septic
tank more often than I care too. If I get the cutter in and just let it do
its job with mild pressure it usually clears things right out, but if I push
too hard into the clog it will will double up and get all twisted just like
a small snake will. I have never had any good luck with a small hand or
drill operated snake. I think my last one is still laying outside under a
tree somewhere.

I will tell you, a power snake will pay for itself pretty quickly if it will
clear your lines over the cost of calling out a drain service a couple
times, but for many people its just cheaper and easier to call out a drain
service.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com