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How far should a hand auger reach into a branch drain?
How do you choose a drain-cleaning cable’s size and reach based on the drain and the likely location of the clog? A short hand auger may suit a blockage near a trap, but reaching farther down a branch line can call for a different cable. I’m unsure how much pipe layout and material should affect that choice, or how to tell when the cable is meeting a bend or obstruction rather than working through a clog.
For a hypothetical branch line with a blockage farther from the fixture, what signs would tell you to stop rather than push a longer or larger cable through?
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If a cable meets a firm stop that doesn’t ease with gentle operation, or starts to buckle instead of advancing, I’d stop and withdraw rather than force it or switch to a larger cable. That feedback doesn’t prove you’ve found a bend or damaged pipe, but it’s a good reason not to push farther blindly; the cable’s behavior should override the hoped-for clog location.
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