Did you know that there are different types of plungers that are for different clogs?
Keep on reading to find out which type of plunger is the best to use for which clogs.
Types of Plungers – Which is the Best to Use for a Clog?
The 3 main types of plungers are:
- Sink Plunger
- Flange Plunger/Toilet Plunger
- Accordion Plunger
Let’s go through the 3 different types of plungers and where they work best to help you with your clogs.
Source: Home Depot
Types of Toilet Plungers Quick Chart
Plungers are relatively simple to figure out and use. Below are the different types of plungers and their uses.
| Plunger | Use |
|---|---|
| Sink | Sink Drains |
| Flange | Toilet |
| Accordion | Toilet |
Sink Plunger
You guessed it, sink plungers are used to unclog sinks. They are made of rubber, with a plastic or wooden handle. The rubber part forms a seal against the drain, creating suction to move the clog along. But, the rubber part is usually quite small and works well for flat drain surfaces.
They work OK on toilets but because of the way they are shaped, they really don’t create enough suction around the bowl in your toilet to do a good job. The best toilet plunger is always ready for the job.
Types of Plungers for Toilets: Flange Plunger
What kind of plunger do you need for a toilet? You need a flange plunger that is shaped specifically to form a good seal on your toilet bowl. They are the best type of plunger for a toilet.
Types of Plungers: Flange Plunger/Toilet Plunger
Flange or toilet plunger is shaped differently than a sink plunger.
A flange/toilet plunger also has a rubber end on it, but the rubber is shaped differently. It’s longer, so that is can form a proper seal on your toilet bowl.
This gives it the ability to form a good amount of suction pressure on the rim of the bowl.
Having a ton of suction is KEY to successfully removing clogs from your toilet the first time.
Accordion Plunger
An accordion plunger looks totally different from a flange or sink plunger.
It’s made of a hard plastic. Instead of using suction to remove clogs, it uses a hard blast of air.
This happens because once you attach the plunger, it fills with air. You then push down on the accordion plunger fast, to send that blast of air down the pipe.
That blast will banish your clog to the underworld, never to be seen again.
What Plunger do I Use for Which Clogs?
| Plunger | Use |
|---|---|
| Sink | Sink Drains |
| Flange | Toilet |
| Accordion | Toilet |
Toilet Clog Prevention
Here are some tips to prevent future toilet clogs:
- Don’t flush too much TP down the toilet at once
- Flush multiple times during a big poop
- Watch that the kids don’t flush anything
- Don’t flush any wipes down the toilet. It doesn’t matter if they say they are “flushable”. They aren’t. Most of my service calls are for this issue.
- Clean out your pipes twice per year with a toilet auger
- Don’t flush cat litter: it turns into cement in your pipes
- Don’t flush paper towel
- Don’t flush large feminine hygiene products
- Grease should be poured into a container and thrown out, not down your toilet
Drain Clog Prevention
Here are some tips to prevent future drain clogs:
- Watch that the kids put anything down the drains
- Clean out your pipes twice per year with a drain auger
- Grease should be poured into a container and thrown out, not down your toilet
- Use a drain catcher in your sink drains to catch any debris that gets into the sink
Cost of Hiring a Plumber Versus Buying a Drain Auger
Hiring a plumber to unclog your drains costs anywhere from $100- 250, depending on the area and how complicated the clog is. A drain auger can be as cheap as $30. You can also use your drain auger as many times as you like, so I consider it an investment.
Cost of Hiring a Plumber Versus Buying an Auger
Hiring a plumber to unclog your toilet or drains costs anywhere from $100- 250, depending on the area and how complicated the clog is. A toilet and a drain auger can be as cheap as $30 each. You can also use the auger you buy as many times as you like, so I consider it an investment.
Conclusion
Now that you know which types of plungers are best for which jobs, you can buy exactly what you need, without wasting your time. Save some cash and get the right tool for the job the first time.
- Types of Plungers – Which is the Best to Use for a Clog?
- Types of Toilet Plungers Quick Chart
- Types of Plungers for Toilets: Flange Plunger
- Cost of Hiring a Plumber Versus Buying an Auger
- Conclusion
- Types of Plungers FAQs
- What Plunger do I Use for Which Clogs?
- Toilet Clog Prevention
- Drain Clog Prevention
Types of Plungers FAQs
You can, but it might not get a good seal on the toilet bowl which is necessary for the plunger to form suction to pull the clog out.
OK, this is kind of gross, but in a pinch why not? Because toilet plungers are designed with a plastic flap on them that won’t form a good seal around your sink drain to pull the clog out. Sink plunger are flat and fit on top of your drain.