Drain Snake: Borrow It
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A drain snake sits in your toolbox 364 days a year. When you need one, you really need one, but that happens once or twice a year at most. Borrow from a neighbor and return it the same day.
The Numbers
Why Borrow
- A slow drain happens once or twice a year. That is not enough to justify owning a specialized tool.
- A plunger handles 80% of clogs. The snake is for the other 20%.
- Hand snakes are cheap enough to buy ($25-40) but messy enough that borrowing and returning is nicer than storing one covered in drain gunk
- A power auger is absolutely a borrow tool. $200+ for something you use once a year.
- Drain snakes get dirty and gross. Borrowing means someone else stores the grimy coil.
Why Buy
- If your house has old pipes that clog regularly, a hand snake saves repeated plumber calls
- A basic 25-foot hand snake costs $25-30. At that price, buying is fine if you prefer to have it on hand.
- If you are a landlord with multiple properties, a hand snake is standard equipment
Check Before You Buy
Someone in your neighborhood probably owns a drain snake and uses it a few times a year. Borrowing saves money, saves garage space, and keeps tools in use instead of collecting dust.
See How FriendsWithTools WorksCommon Questions
Hand snake vs power auger: when do I upgrade?
A 25-foot hand snake reaches past the P-trap and into the branch drain. Good for hair, soap, and grease clogs in sinks, tubs, and showers. A power auger has 50-75 feet of reach and more torque. You need it for main line clogs (multiple drains backing up at once) or when the hand snake cannot break through. Hand snake first, power auger if that fails.
Can I use a drain snake on a toilet?
Do not use a regular drain snake on a toilet. The cable scratches porcelain. Use a toilet auger (closet auger), which has a rubber sleeve that protects the bowl. A toilet auger is a separate tool with a different shape.