Spring Drain Cleaner Safe to use to unblock pipe?

[Harris3005]

My main siphon drain is blocked and all my water is currently going down my emergency drain so I'm wondering if it's safe to use a metal spring drain unblocker like the one pictured below to try to unblock it without having to take the plumbing apart? Probably a stupid question but should I worry about it putting metals into my water if it's just going to be quickly in and out?

Thanks!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

That’s the tool you want yes. Or one similar.
IMO sort term contact with metal won’t hurt. What you do want to look for is oil. Washbit in the sink with a light dish soap and wipe down with alcohol.

They also make versions of that with brushes.

 

[Harris3005]

That’s the tool you want yes. Or one similar.
IMO sort term contact with metal won’t hurt. What you do want to look for is oil. Washbit in the sink with a light dish soap and wipe down with alcohol.

They also make versions of that with brushes.

Thanks Salty, I'll make sure to clean it thoroughly before I use it! My emergency drain is much wider than my siphon drain so it's ridiculously noisy at the moment. Hope this works!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks Salty, I'll make sure to clean it thoroughly before I use it! My emergency drain is much wider than my siphon drain so it's ridiculously noisy at the moment. Hope this works!

Glad I could help.

I can’t help but to imagine what’s going to come out.

Hope it doesn’t move around.

 

[Harris3005]

Glad I could help.

I can’t help but to imagine what’s going to come out.

Hope it doesn’t move around.

Probably a Trochus snail. They have been breeding like crazy since I had to leave the tank fishless and I keep keep finding small ones in the in the sump! Hopefully it's not bristleworms like this[emoji50]

 

[saltyhog]

Is this a Herbie/BA set up? If so, have you tried opening the valve completely? If it's something like a snail it will usually pass when you do that.

 

[Harris3005]

Is this a Herbie/BA set up? If so, have you tried opening the valve completely? If it's something like a snail it will usually pass when you do that.

Yeah, it's happened before and that worked and flushed the snail right out. Haven't had any luck doing it this time though unfortunately and I've tried a few times over the last few days.

 

[saltyhog]

Oh well, worth a try! It may be jammed in there really tight.

 

[Harris3005]

Oh well, worth a try! It may be jammed in there really tight.

[emoji106]I'll be giving it a go tomorrow, hopefully I can get it sorted without having to take the pipe apart!