Quick answer
A drain auger is a plumbing tool made of a flexible coiled-steel cable that is pushed and rotated into a drain line to break up, hook or pull out a clog, worked by hand crank or by an electric motor.
People call it a drain snake. It clears a stoppage but does not wash the pipe walls, and the right cable size depends on the drain size, from a sink trap to a main sewer.
Quick facts
The key facts about Drain Auger, with sources:
- Also called
- Drain snake, plumber’s snake, cleanout auger 1
- How it is fed
- Into the trap or a cleanout, with a thrusting and twisting action 1
- Example machine range
- One drum machine clears 1½ to 4 inch lines 2
- Cable sizing (same machine)
- ⅜ inch cable for 1½–3 inch lines; ½ inch for 3–4 inch 2
- Not for
- That model is not designed to remove root blockages 2
- Permit
- Clearing stoppages is exempt under 2018 IRC text 5
- Leading sewer backup cause (one utility)
- Root intrusion 3
Key takeaways
- A drain auger is a turning steel cable that reaches a clog a plunger cannot move.
- Match the cable to the pipe: thin cables for sink and tub drains, heavier cables and machines for main lines.
- Feed it through the trap or a cleanout, not through the overflow or a vent.
- An auger punches through a clog; it does not scrub grease off the pipe walls the way hydro jetting does.
- Never use an auger or plunger after chemical drain cleaner has gone in; the splash can burn skin and eyes.
What a drain auger is, and why it is also called a snake
Every drain auger, whatever the brand, combines a long flexible coil of steel, a tip that grabs or cuts, and a crank or motor that spins it.
As the cable is pushed into the drain and turned, the spinning tip bores into the clog, breaks it apart or snags it so it can be pulled back out through the opening.
The name is loose in everyday use. Oregon State University’s Extension fact sheet calls it a “cleanout auger (snake)” 1.
Plumbers use “auger” for the hand-cranked and toilet versions and “machine” or “drum machine” for the powered ones.
A closet auger is the short, curved version made to pass through a toilet without scratching the bowl.
An auger is the second tool, not the first: OSU’s order is plunge first, then remove and clean the trap, and only then use the auger if the drain is still clogged 1.
How an auger clears a clog
The cable is fed into the drain until it meets resistance. Turning it makes the tip corkscrew into the blockage.
OSU’s instructions: guide the cable down the drainpipe with a thrusting and twisting action, and if it meets an obstruction, use a back-and-forth motion while twisting the handle close to the drain opening 1.
When water runs through, the cable comes out, the trap goes back on and the line is flushed with plenty of cold water 1.
Powered machines do the turning for you. One drum machine spins its cable at 165 rpm and has a control system that stops the drum when the blade lodges in a blockage, which limits the cable flipping over inside the drum 2.
That feature exists because a jammed spinning cable stores a lot of twist.
- Plunge firstPartly fill the basin, seal and plunge 1
- Remove the trapClean it; many clogs end here 1
- Feed the cableInto the trap arm or drainpipe, thrust and twist 1
- Work the obstructionBack and forth, turning near the opening 1
- Retrieve and flushReassemble the trap, run cold water 1
Source: [1]
Types of drain auger
| Type | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hand (drum) auger | Sink, tub and shower drains | Fed through the trap, not the drain opening 1 |
| Closet (toilet) auger | Toilets | Short curved shaft with a guard to protect the bowl |
| Powered drum machine | Branch lines and small mains | One model: 1½–4 inch lines, ⅜ or ½ inch cable 2 |
| Sectional machine | Main sewer lines | Cable in short sections joined as it goes; a pro tool |
| Hydro jetter (not an auger) | Grease, sludge and scale | Water at high pressure; see the comparison below |
Example: matching cable to the drain
Using one manufacturer’s published sizing for its K-400 drum machine 2 and the Sioux Falls code note that underground drainage must be 2 inches or larger 4. The drain list is an example.
| Drain | Typical pipe | Cable from the maker’s chart | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom sink | 1¼–1½ inch | Small hand auger; below this machine’s range | Pull the trap first 1 |
| Kitchen sink branch | 1½–2 inch | ⅜ inch cable 2 | Grease often comes back; jetting may follow |
| Underground drain under a slab | 2 inch or larger 4 | ⅜ inch cable (up to 3 inch) 2 | Usually reached from a cleanout |
| 3–4 inch building drain | 3–4 inch | ½ inch cable 2 | Roots need a different tool on this machine 2 |
Source: [2]
Too thin a cable in a big pipe can coil up and kink; too thick a cable will not turn the bends in a small drain. The pipe sizes are typical, not code minimums for every fixture; check what you actually have.
Where the cable goes in: traps, toilets and cleanouts
On a sink, the cable goes into the trap or the trap arm after the trap is off, not down through the strainer.
OSU notes the cable will not usually go down the drain opening and has to be put into the trap 1. On a toilet, the closet auger goes in through the bowl.
On a main line, the plumber opens a sewer cleanout, the capped fitting that gives a straight shot into the pipe.
Codes put cleanouts where cables need them. Sioux Falls’ guide, under the 2024 UPC, requires a cleanout where a trap arm changes direction by more than 90 degrees 4.
Central San in California says a lateral cleanout gives your plumber easy access for cleaning and that older homes may lack one 3.
On a quote, “cable” or “snake” means an auger; “rod” is often used for the same thing on main lines.
What a drain auger does well, and where it falls short
What an auger does well
When augering only buys time
If the same drain clogs every few months, the auger is treating a symptom.
Grease that coats a kitchen line, roots that grow back through a joint, or a pipe that has sagged or broken all return after the cable is pulled.
Central San names root intrusion as the leading cause of sewer backups and lists broken pipe, root intrusion and offset joints as lateral defects 3.
At that point the useful next step is a look inside. A sewer camera inspection shows what the cable keeps hitting, and Central San recommends a licensed plumber video-inspect the lateral to check for cracks, breaks, offset joints or roots 3.
What drives the cost of augering
We do not quote prices, because fair numbers need dated local quotes.
For a hired job, the drivers are which line is clogged (a fixture branch or the main), whether there is an accessible cleanout or the toilet must be pulled, how far the cable must run, after-hours timing, and whether a camera inspection is added.
Main-line work through a missing cleanout costs more because access must be made first 3.
Our plumbing cost guide explains how plumbers price drain calls, and drain cleaning services describes what a visit includes.
Using a hand auger on a sink or tub, safely
A simple homeowner task on a fixture drain. Main lines and powered machines are better left to a plumber.
- Make sure no chemical drain cleaner is in the drain. If it is, stop and call a plumber 1.
- Put on gloves and eye protection. Set a bucket under the trap.
- Remove the trap and clean it; this alone clears many sink clogs 1.
- Feed the cable into the trap arm, thrusting and twisting 1.
- At resistance, work back and forth while turning near the opening 1.
- When water flows, pull the cable back slowly, wiping it into the bucket.
- Reassemble the trap, check for leaks and flush with plenty of cold water 1.
Chemical cleaner plus auger is a burn risk
Chemical drain cleaners are strong caustics or acids that are dangerous to skin and eyes, and OSU says never to use a suction plunger once one is in the pipes 1.
Lye (sodium hydroxide) causes eye and skin burns per CDC/NIOSH 7. If a cleaner is already in the drain, do not plunge or auger; tell the plumber what product was used. Never put a cable into a sewer pit or ejector basin.
Caring for the tool and the drains
- Rinse and dry the cable after each use, then oil it lightly so it does not rust.
- Inspect for kinks or broken coils and replace a damaged cable.
- Keep fats, oils and grease out of drains, as Central San advises 3.
- Do not flush wipes, even ones labeled flushable; Central San says they are not 3.
- Use hair catchers on tub and shower drains.
Note the distance
When a plumber cables a main line, ask how many feet out the cable stopped. If the next clog stops at the same distance, that spot is the place to put a camera 3.
Warning signs and when to call a plumber
- More than one fixture is slow, or water rises in a tub when the toilet flushes: likely a main-line clog.
- Sewage backs up into a floor drain or lowest fixture 6.
- The cable keeps hitting the same spot at the same distance.
- The clog returns within weeks of augering.
- You smell sewage or see wet spots in the yard over the sewer line.
For a backup in progress, stop using water and see our plumbing emergencies page.
Rules that touch drain clearing
Permits: under 2018 IRC and IBC text as published by Idaho Falls, clearing stoppages is exempt from a permit, as long as no pipes, valves or fixtures are replaced or rearranged 5. Local codes may differ.
Cleanouts: codes require cleanouts at set points so drains can be cabled; Sioux Falls, under the 2024 UPC, requires one where a trap arm turns more than 90 degrees 4.
Laterals: many sewer agencies make owners responsible for the lateral up to the public main; Central San requires an overflow device on the lateral cleanout and a district permit for work beyond routine cleaning 3.
Overflows (EPA): EPA lists blockages among the causes of sanitary sewer overflows, which can back up into homes 6. Rules checked 2026-10-12.
Auger vs. other ways to clear a drain
| Method | How it works | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| Drain auger | Rotating cable bores into the clog 1 | Opens a path; leaves residue on walls |
| Plunger | Suction and pressure on the water 1 | First step; no tool in the pipe |
| Hydro jetting | High-pressure water scours the pipe | Cleans the walls; better for grease and sludge |
| Chemical drain cleaner | Caustic or acid dissolves the clog 1 | Burn hazard; OSU advises against it for a fully clogged drain 1 |
| Trap removal | Take the trap off and clean it 1 | Solves many sink clogs with no cable |
Drain snake myths that damage pipes or waste a call
- Myth A snake and an auger are different tools.
- Reality In everyday use they are the same; OSU calls it a cleanout auger (snake) 1.
- Myth If the auger cleared it, the drain is fixed.
- Reality Roots, grease and broken pipe bring clogs back 3.
- Myth Any auger clears tree roots.
- Reality At least one common drum machine is not designed for roots 2.
- Myth Pour cleaner in first, then snake it.
- Reality That risks caustic splash; OSU warns against plunging after a cleaner 1.
- Myth “Flushable” wipes are fine.
- Reality Central San says they are not flushable 3.
How your sewer agency and trees change the picture
Where you live changes who owns the pipe the cable goes into and how often roots come back.
Central San in California makes owners responsible for the whole lateral up to the public main, names root intrusion as the leading cause of backups, and requires an overflow device on the lateral cleanout 3.
Older neighborhoods with mature street trees and clay laterals see repeat root clogs more often. Check your sewer agency’s rules before major work on the lateral.
When to auger, and when to stop
A hand auger is right for one slow sink, tub or toilet after plunging fails. Call a plumber when more than one fixture backs up, the clog is in the main line, sewage is coming up, or the same drain clogs again soon after.
Next step: try the plunger and the trap first, then a hand auger on that one fixture. If the problem is the main, book a plumber with a camera.
- If One slow sink or tub
- Then Plunge, clean the trap, then hand auger 1
- If Toilet clog the plunger will not clear
- Then Closet auger
- If Several fixtures slow or backing up
- Then Main-line clog: call a plumber
- If Clog returns at the same distance
- Then Camera inspection before more cabling 3
- If Grease-coated kitchen line
- Then Ask about hydro jetting
Questions about Drain Auger
What is the difference between a drain snake and an auger?
In everyday use, nothing. Both names mean a flexible steel cable that is pushed and turned into a drain to clear a clog. Oregon State University’s Extension calls it a cleanout auger (snake). Plumbers often say “closet auger” for the toilet version and “machine” for powered ones.
How do you use a drain auger on a sink?
Plunge first, then remove and clean the trap. If it is still clogged, feed the cable into the trap arm with a thrusting and twisting motion, work it back and forth at the blockage, then pull it out, put the trap back and flush with lots of cold water, as OSU Extension describes.
Can a drain auger damage pipes?
It can if it is the wrong size or forced. A thin cable in a large pipe can kink, and a spinning cable can scratch porcelain or catch at a fitting. Old, fragile pipe is at more risk. Use the cable size the maker lists for your drain, and stop if it binds hard.
What size drain auger do I need?
Match it to the pipe. One drum machine maker lists ⅜ inch cable for 1½ to 3 inch lines and ½ inch cable for 3 to 4 inch lines. Bathroom sinks take a small hand auger. Main sewer lines need a heavier machine, usually run by a plumber.
Will a drain auger remove tree roots?
Some machines with cutting heads can, but not all. One common drum machine is listed as not designed to remove root blockages. Roots usually grow back through the same joint, so a camera inspection and a longer-term fix are worth discussing with a plumber.
Should I use a drain cleaner before snaking?
No. Chemical drain cleaners are strong caustics or acids that can burn skin and eyes, and OSU Extension warns against plunging after one is in the pipe. If a cleaner is already in the drain, do not auger it yourself; tell your plumber which product you used.
When should I call a plumber instead of snaking it myself?
Call when more than one fixture is slow or backing up, sewage appears in a floor drain, the clog keeps returning, or the blockage is in the main line. Those point to a problem beyond a single fixture drain, and a plumber can add a camera inspection.
Do I need a permit to snake a drain?
Generally no. Under 2018 IRC text, as published by Idaho Falls, clearing stoppages is exempt from a permit as long as no pipes, valves or fixtures are replaced or rearranged. If the clog leads to replacing pipe, that becomes permitted work.
Sources
- Oregon State University Extension, FS 192 Home Plumbing (1973), retrieved .
- RIDGID K-400 drum machine specifications as listed by Ace Tool (model 26998), retrieved .
- Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San), Home Guide, retrieved .
- City of Sioux Falls, SD, Plumbing Homeowner’s Guide (2024 UPC), retrieved .
- City of Idaho Falls, ID, Work Exempt from a Permit (2018 IRC and IBC text), retrieved .
- U.S. EPA, Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs), retrieved .
- CDC/NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Sodium hydroxide, retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyrePlumber Research team. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: The use method and chemical-cleaner cautions are from a 1973 Oregon State Extension fact sheet; we kept only the steps that still match current practice.
Machine sizing, rpm, stop feature and the root limitation are one manufacturer’s published specifications via a retailer listing, labeled as such.
Cleanout and lateral facts from Sioux Falls (2024 UPC) and Central San; permit exemption from 2018 IRC text published by Idaho Falls; overflow causes from EPA; lye hazards from CDC/NIOSH.
Pipe sizes in the example are typical, not code minimums. No prices.
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.