Can a wire coat hanger damage plumbing?

Question

Is it ok to use a wire coat hanger on toilets and sinks to unblock them? Or can this damage the plumbing?

Paul · Answer

Hi Sarah
It’s not recommended as you can leave scratch marks on the ceramic or get them jammed down the plug hole causing damage trying to remove them
Either use drain unblock fluid or call a professional as it wouldn’t be too expensive 
Thanks

Ian · Answer

It's can potentially get caught down the drains or disturb the plumbing fittings and cause leaks. I would leave it to the tradesmen

Michael · Answer

Hi,
Yes it can because the plumbing pipework is pvc. Coat hanger wire is to rigid it does not bend easily to negotiate the bends within the pipework. This then will result in one forcing the wire into the pipework and then pulling the wire out can cause damage to pipework

Luke · Answer

Wire coat hanger won't necessarily damage the plumbing but may leave scrape marks 
Unblock toilet fill something with water bucket 
Plastic washing up bowl something that can hold a few litres at least then from a high around chin/chest high pour into toilet in one go the weight and pressure will disloge the blockage it may sit there for a minute but then it will suddenly go works well unless it's blocked with cement lol

Gary · Answer

It’s an old school way of trying but it’s worth a go

Zach · Answer

You’re better off using chemicals to unblock the drains (if they still run away and aren’t blocked up completely).

Naikullah · Answer

AKA the "poop knife". Other than scratching the internals of whatever its rubbing against ie ceramics/plastics, it is relatively safe.

Mitchell · Answer

Hi there no I wouldn’t recommend doing that you need it to be flushed maybe even take toilet out to flush the pipes

Rick · Answer

To be honest, it's not something I would do, particularly on a toilet as the pan connector might be a flexible one, which would mean it could be damaged if you were skilled enough to get a coat hanger passed the U-bend. My suggestion would be to get yourself a small wet and dry Titan vacuum cleaner to sort out blockages. Put some water in the basin, cover up the overflow hole in the basis and get sucking! 
Hope that helps.

Zoltan · Answer

Using a wire coat hanger may cause a damage to the toilet system and the toilet aswell. Manual suction pump(rubber not plastic), special flexible drain unblocking wire would be the best options to try. If you can't sort out the issue than call the handyman/plumber. But it worths trying by yourself, carefully, with the tools mentioned above.

Can a wire coat hanger damage plumbing?

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