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This $35 drain snake cost me $600 in plumbing repairs

I tried to clear a clogged kitchen sink with one of those plastic drain snakes from the hardware store. Got it stuck about 4 feet down the pipe and snapped the handle trying to pull it back out. Called a plumber in Austin and they had to cut open the wall to get the whole mess out. The plastic snake just shredded apart inside and made everything worse. Plus the plumber said if I'd just waited for him it would have been a $150 job instead of $600. Anyone else have a cheap tool turn into a total disaster?
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2 Comments
janaw11
janaw112d ago
The plumber told me that the plastic ones are actually worse than nothing because they break off so easily and then the little jagged pieces grab onto every joint and fitting in the pipe. He showed me the mess from my snake job and it looked like confetti mixed with wet hair down there. Now I just keep a metal snake in the garage and only use it as a last resort after trying boiling water and baking soda first. At least you learned before doing it to a toilet or something with even more expensive consequences.
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david701
david7012d ago
My friend's dad did this to a toilet and it cost him a grand.
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