sink won't drain and it's driving me nuts

Ugh, I feel your pain. Just moved into my first house a few months ago and had almost the exact same issue. Tried all the DIY stuff too - vinegar, baking soda, even that weird plastic snake thingy. Nothing worked until I finally caved and called a plumber. Turns out the clog was way deeper in the pipes than I thought...some kind of grease buildup from the previous owners or something. Anyway, plumber used one of those heavy-duty snakes and cleared it out in like 10 minutes.

But now I'm curious - has anyone here ever rented one of those industrial drain snakes themselves? Is it worth the hassle or better to just bite the bullet and pay someone to handle it? Seems like it could save money, but also looks kinda intimidating to use if you're not handy...

"Seems like it could save money, but also looks kinda intimidating to use if you're not handy..."

I rented one of those industrial snakes from Home Depot a couple years back when our kitchen sink was backing up. Honestly, it wasn't too bad, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First off, they're heavier and bulkier than you'd expect, so getting it home and maneuvering it around tight spaces can be a bit of a pain. Second, if you're not careful, you could scratch up your sink or fixtures pretty easily - learned that the hard way.

The actual process wasn't rocket science, though. You basically feed the cable down slowly, let the machine do the work, and be patient. Took me about 30 minutes total, and it cleared the clog nicely. Saved me a decent chunk of change compared to calling a plumber.

But...if you're not comfortable with power tools or don't have someone to help you lug the thing around, I'd say just pay a pro. It's not worth the hassle or potential damage if you're unsure.

Yeah, renting one can save you cash, but I've seen plenty of DIY attempts go sideways. Had a client once who got the snake stuck halfway down the pipe - ended up costing him double to fix that mess. If you're careful and patient, it's doable...but sometimes it's better to bite the bullet and call someone. Did you try any chemical drain cleaners first, or skip straight to the snake?

Had a similar issue last summer when I first moved into my place. Tried the chemical stuff first, and honestly, it just made the whole bathroom smell like toxic waste for days without fixing anything. Ended up renting one of those heavy-duty snakes from Home Depot. It worked, but man, wrestling that thing down the drain was no joke. If you're not comfortable with DIY stuff, might be worth getting someone in to avoid extra headaches.

For a sink that’s still pooling after a plunger and hand snake, check whether other fixtures are slow or backing up too. If several are affected, the blockage may be in a shared drain rather than this sink’s branch, so a sink-sized snake might not reach it; that’s a good point to leave the next step to a plumber.

Since the hand snake didn’t help, if this is a bathroom sink, the stopper is another spot to look at. Hair and soap scum can build up around it, above where a small snake reaches. That’s a different, simpler thing to inspect before considering a larger machine. If the drain looks damaged or the stopper assembly isn’t clear to you, don’t force it.