When a drain blocks, the two most common household tools people reach for are a plunger and a drain snake (also called a drain auger or electric eel). Both work — but for different types of blockages and in different situations. Using the wrong tool first wastes time and can make the blockage harder to clear. Using the right tool for the right blockage, on the other hand, can have your drain flowing again in minutes.
This guide explains how each tool works, which blockage types they're suited to, how to use them correctly, and — critically — when to stop trying DIY and call a Newcastle plumber.
The Plunger: How It Works and When to Use It
A plunger works by creating hydraulic pressure — a rapid increase and decrease in water pressure on both sides of a blockage, which can dislodge soft, moveable blockages close to the drain opening. It doesn't remove the blockage from the pipe, it displaces it — either breaking it apart or pushing it further along the pipe where it's loose enough to flow away.
Best suited for:
- Toilet blockages — the classic plunger use case. Toilet paper, waste and foreign objects that have caught in the toilet trap respond well to plunging.
- Soft blockages close to the drain opening — a fresh blockage in a shower or sink where debris has accumulated just below the drain cover
- Partial blockages where water is draining slowly rather than not at all — the hydraulic action can break up a soft restriction
Not effective for:
- Grease blockages — hydraulic pressure can't break up a solidified grease plug
- Tree root intrusion — roots don't move under plunger pressure
- Blockages deep in the pipe run
- Blocked main sewer line
How to use a plunger correctly:
- Ensure there's enough water in the bowl or basin to cover the rubber cup — the plunger needs water to create hydraulic pressure, not air
- Position the cup directly over the drain opening and press down firmly to create a seal
- Push down and pull up firmly in 10–15 rapid strokes, keeping the seal throughout
- On the final stroke, pull up sharply to break the seal — this reverse pressure often dislodges a blockage
- Allow water to drain and assess — repeat 2–3 times if drainage improves but isn't complete
Use a cup plunger (the standard type with a dome-shaped cup) for sinks and showers. Use a flange plunger (with an extended rubber flap that fits into the toilet outlet) for toilets.
The Drain Snake: How It Works and When to Use It
A drain snake (hand auger) is a flexible metal coil that is fed manually into the drain pipe. The rotating coil either breaks up a blockage mechanically, hooks onto debris and pulls it back out, or pushes the blockage further down the pipe where it can flow away. It can reach 3–8 metres depending on the tool length.
Best suited for:
- Hair blockages in shower and bath drains — the rotating tip hooks onto hair mass and pulls it out
- Soft organic blockages 1–3 metres down the pipe
- Foreign objects caught in the trap or early pipe section
- When a plunger hasn't worked on a shower or sink
Not effective for:
- Established grease blockages — the coil punches through grease but doesn't remove it from the pipe walls
- Tree roots — a hand auger can't cut through established root masses
- Main sewer blockages — the line is too large diameter and too long
- Blockages beyond 5–6 metres
When to Stop DIY and Call a Newcastle Plumber
There are clear signals that the blockage is beyond DIY tools:
- Neither tool worked after 15 minutes of genuine effort — the blockage is likely either deep, structural (roots, pipe damage) or composed of material that won't respond to mechanical tools
- Multiple drains are blocked — indicates a main sewer issue that requires professional equipment
- Sewage or water is backing up — this is an emergency, stop trying DIY and call immediately
- There's a gurgling sound when other drains are used — main sewer issue
- The same drain has blocked before — a recurrent blockage needs proper diagnosis, not repeated plunging
- You can smell sewage — indicates either a significant blockage with decomposing material or a pipe fault
💡 Rule of thumb: If your DIY attempt hasn't worked in 15 minutes, it's probably not going to work. A professional jet clean that takes an hour and costs $200 is a better outcome than spending an afternoon with DIY tools and ending up with the same blocked drain plus a plumber callout.
Can I use a drain snake on a toilet?
Use a toilet auger (closet auger) rather than a standard drain snake on a toilet — it has a protective sleeve that prevents the metal coil from scratching the porcelain. A standard drain snake inserted into a toilet bowl without protection can scratch or crack the ceramic. Toilet augers are available at hardware stores for $20–$40.
What's the difference between a hand drain snake and an electric eel?
A hand drain snake is a manual tool with limited reach and power — suitable for DIY use on minor residential blockages. An electric eel (electric drain auger) is a motorised professional tool with greater torque and reach, capable of clearing more significant blockages and cutting through roots. Professional electric eels are what plumbers use when manual tools aren't sufficient but hydro jetting isn't appropriate.
📞 Need a plumber in Newcastle? Call 0491 570 006 for same-day service across Newcastle and the Hunter region.