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That $60 drain snake saved my basement from 200 gallons of regret
Last spring our laundry room sink started gurgling and backing up, so I called a plumber who quoted me $180 just to show up and maybe clear it. Instead I bought a 25 foot manual drain snake from the hardware store for $60 and spent an afternoon fighting with it. Turns out the clog was a wad of lint and a screw that had fallen down the standpipe, and I got it out after maybe 40 minutes of cranking. The plumber would've done the same thing but charged me for the visit plus the actual work on top. My wife still teases me that I looked like a fool wrestling the thing in a crouched position, but the water went down smooth after that. Anyone else had luck with a cheap manual snake over calling a pro for a simple clog? Or am I just asking for a bigger bill when the real problem shows up later?
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butler.abby1mo ago
Oh man, that story is way too familiar! I had almost the exact same thing happen with our bathroom sink last winter, except mine was a clog of hair and soap scum that took me like two hours and a lot of grumbling to finally break through. My back was sore for days after crouching under the cabinet like some kind of weird contortionist, but honestly, that feeling when the water finally drains is pure victory. I get why people call pros, especially if you're not handy or the clog is deep, but for a simple blockage, a $60 snake is a solid bet. You did the smart thing trying the cheap fix first, and honestly, even if it doesn't work, you've not really lost anything because you still own the tool for next time. Plus, think of all the money you saved for pizza and beer, which is way better than paying someone to do something you can figure out with a little patience.
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emery_taylor1mo ago
Ha, nice! Though here's a thought nobody's brought up yet: that $60 snake pays for itself way faster than people realize, because once you own it you start fixing clogs for neighbors and friends, and suddenly you're the hero of the block for the cost of a decent six-pack.
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