I’ve wondered about those inspection cameras too, but honestly, I can’t justify the price for something I’d use maybe once every couple years. I just stick with the basics—good plunger, decent snake, and a bucket I don’t care about. Wet/dry vac is a lifesaver for sure, though. Chemical stuff freaks me out—last time I tried it, my pipes made noises I’m pretty sure aren’t in any manual.
I hear you on the inspection cameras—they’re cool, but unless you’re dealing with constant issues, they just gather dust. I’ve been called out to more than a few backups where folks tried chemicals first, and honestly, it’s usually a mess. Pipes making weird noises is never a good sign... I stick to a heavy-duty plunger, a 25-foot auger, and a pair of old gloves I don’t mind tossing. Wet/dry vac has saved me more times than I can count, especially for those “how did that even get in there?” moments.
Wet/dry vac has saved me more times than I can count, especially for those “how did that even get in there?” moments.
Couldn’t agree more on the wet/dry vac. That thing is a lifesaver, especially for those mystery clogs where you’re pulling out stuff you’d swear nobody in your house even owns. I tried one of those enzyme-based drain cleaners once and honestly, it just made things smell weird without actually fixing anything. Chemicals are a last resort for me now—too many horror stories about pipes getting damaged or gunk just getting pushed further down.
My go-to kit’s pretty simple: heavy-duty plunger (the kind with the flange, not the cup), 20-foot hand crank auger, and a stack of old towels for the inevitable mess. I keep a cheap plastic tarp folded up under the sink too, just to protect the floor if things get wild. Not glamorous, but it beats scrubbing sewage out of tile grout.
One thing I’ve wondered about is those inflatable drain bladders you hook up to a garden hose. Never tried one myself—seems like they either work great or end up spraying water everywhere. Anyone here actually had luck with those?
I’m also curious if anyone keeps spare cleanout caps on hand? I cracked one open a couple years back and didn’t realize how brittle it was until it basically shattered in my hand. Ended up running to the hardware store mid-mess, which wasn’t fun...
Drain bladders are a mixed bag. I tried one a while back—worked fine for a shallow clog, but the water pressure made me nervous. If your pipes are older or PVC, I’d be careful. As for cleanout caps, I keep a couple spares now after learning the hard way too. Those things get brittle fast, especially if you’ve got hard water.
I get what you mean about the drain bladders—pressure always makes me a bit uneasy too, especially since I’m trying to avoid any accidental leaks or pipe bursts. But have you ever tried using an enzyme-based drain cleaner as a first step? I know they aren’t instant, but over time they break down organic gunk without stressing the pipes. I’ve had pretty good luck with them, and it feels less risky for older plumbing (and better for the environment).
On the cleanout caps, totally agree they get brittle. I started switching to the heavy-duty ABS ones instead of the cheap PVC—seems like they last longer, even with our hard water. Curious if anyone’s found a way to keep them from seizing up, though. I’ve heard some folks use a little food-grade silicone grease on the threads, but not sure if that’s overkill or actually helpful...