Take Care of Your Drain Tile System

Specialized plumbing tools used to clear drain clogs are affordable, and available at any hardware store or home center; or you can rent them.

Household Tools

Everyone should have a plunger ($5 to $10). This plumber's friend clears clogs from most things, including sinks, tubs and toilets. Every homeowner should keep one handy.

To dislodge clogs further down the drainpipe, use a cable auger, or plumber's snake, a long, flexible steel cable wound around a spool that's fitted with a hand crank. Cable augers are available in lengths up to 100 ft., though a 25-ft. model ($15 to $25) will do for most any household clog.

A closet auger ($15 to $40) is specifically made for snaking out toilets. It, too, is equipped with a hand crank, but instead of a spool, the cable is encased in a rigid shaft. The auger end is bent at a precise angle to fit through the tight curves of a toilet trap.

For a very large clog or one that's far from the fixture, rent an electric power auger ($15 to $30 per day). This machine—basically a large cable auger powered by an electric motor—is very effective at cutting through virtually any clog, even tangled tree roots. Before bringing home a power auger, be sure the rental agent shows you how to safely reel out and retrieve the cable.

Drain Tile

For exterior drainage problems a lot can happen. Roots can grow into the pipes, ground swells can break them and excessive dirt and debris will clog them and block the water flow. In many cases these drains need to be flushed by a professional drainage contractor. Call a company you know and trust or ask a friend to recommend one to you. Drain tile, perimeter drains, or french drains as some call them are your homes protection from ground water and keeps your basement dry from excessive rain. Make sure these pipes are draining properly and flowing into the sewer. Once every three to five years have someone flush them out. Call a drain tile cleaning Vancouver company for the service.