It’s nothing anyone ever wants to deal with: a clogged sink, shower, bathtub, or toilet (the worst). It’s important to be prepared, however, and having the right kind of plunger for the job is important. But are there different types of plungers, or do you need a plunger for every occasion?
The short answer is yes, there are several types of plungers available on the market, and most will take care of common household clogs. The key is to know which one is the best for a particular plunging task. So let’s take a look at the best plungers to dislodge the clog and how those plungers work.
Different Types of Plungers
A plunger is a convenient tool that will help get things moving again without the help of an experienced plumber–but not all plungers are the same. Here are some of the most common types of plungers and where you should use them.
- Sink Plunger
- Accordion Plunger
- Flange Plunger
- Taze Plunger
Sink Plunger
Also called a cup plunger, a sink plunger is the most familiar type of plunger. They have a rubber cup at the end of a straight handle. The plunger can be used for bathtubs in addition to sinks in the bathroom and kitchen. A sink plunger is designed to work best on flat surfaces.
The cup lays flat over the drain and creates a vacuum when pushed up and down. By creating a vacuum, it can easily remove the clog and get the water flowing again. This type of plunger is not usually good for toilets, because it’s hard to create a seal that’s tight enough for suctioning.
Accordion Plunger
Just like the name suggests, this plunger looks like an accordion. These are created specifically for toilet clogs. They have a smaller cup that fits over the drain inside of the toilet bowl. It can be a little bit difficult to use at first, but it’s very effective in clearing clogs once you get a good seal over the drain.
The accordion plunger can displace much more water than other plungers and the design allows the user to create more pressure without worrying about the plunger falling in on itself. For best results, it’s best to try to get as much water in the plunger before starting, so a full bowl is recommended.
Flange Plunger
These plungers are just like sink plungers, but they have a soft rubber flap that folds out from the inside cup called a flange. This flap fits over the toilet drain and forms a tight suction for clearing the clog. If the flap is folded on the inside, the plunger could also be used on a tub or sink drain.
Like the accordion plunger, the flange allows you to create a tight seal within the bowl for plunging. For best results, you’ll want to get all of the air out of the plunger cup by pressing it down slowly to create the suction. This will reduce the air in the cup and seal it better.
It is very frustrating to be using your plunger and not see any result. So be sure you’re pushing the plunger straight and vertically in the drain to create suction. Don’t be tempted to angle the plunger, as this will not give you the amount of force that’s needed to keep the seal in place.
Taze Plunger
Used for drain cleaning of larger pipes, you don’t really see too many residential uses for a taze plunger. But if you have large pipe drains in the laundry room or garage, you may want to consider this heavy-duty option.
A taze plunger is basically a steel rod and a series of metal discs of various sizes. Choose a disc that is the same as the drain–the closer the better! Affix the disk to the bottom of the steel rod and start pushing down to create pressure between the disc and the clog.
Eventually, the clog will break up or move down the pipe to where it can be cleared out through a running trap. If your plumbing problem is too big for a plunger, call our plumbing experts at Meticulous Plumbing. Our experienced team will get your plumbing back up and running in no time. Contact us today!
