An Exhaustive Guide to Plungers

It’s not unreasonable to think that the world of plungers is a simple one. That there’s only one, and you use it to unclog the toilet before tucking it, dripping and forgotten, into a dark corner of your bathroom. Well… we hate to break it to you, but that’s just not true. There are multiple different varieties of plunger out there, each with its own characteristics. The three most important varieties are the cup, flange, and accordion plunger – and we’re here today to teach you about the features and merits of each one.

First up is the cup plunger.

Cup plungers are your average, everyday, wooden handle and brick red rubber plunger. They’re likely the first thing you thought of when you saw that this post was about plungers. Despite their status as the “go-to” plunger for millions, they are, in fact, not the best choice when it comes to unclogging toilets. Cup plungers were developed for the unclogging of sinks, bathtubs, and any drain surrounded by a flat surface. Curved surfaces like toilet bowls don’t give cup plungers the angle they need to create the effective seal needed for suction to happen.

Next on the list is the flange plunger.

Now this is the plunger you want if you have a pesky toilet clog to deal with. Flange plungers are similar to cup plungers in many ways except for the fact that, inside of the cup, there is a soft rubber flap that folds out. This flap functions to create seals on surfaces that aren’t flat – such as the inside of toilet bowls. It wedges into the drain hole at the bottom of the bowl and allows you to more easily clear toilet clogs. Thanks to the vacuum created on atypical surfaces with the help of the additional rubber, flange plungers help homeowners not worry about calling in plumbers every time they’re facing a heavy clog.

Finally, there’s the accordion plunger.

Just like the flange plunger is the cup plunger with a little extra, the accordion plunger is a souped up version of the flange. They’re most frequently found molded from black plastic and have a ridged grip connected to an extended accordion-like body. This particular body shape allows this variety of plunger to exert extra pressure on clogs. They have the same rubber flap that allows them to make seals on all kinds of surfaces with that additional plunging power. They’re a good buy for any home or business that finds itself facing many more extreme clogs.

Even if you’re a plunger pro and have all varieties on hand, sometimes just a plunger isn’t enough. When you need extra help clearing your drains from the clogs that plague them, contact the pros at Len The Plumber.