Customer Reviews

Ridgid 19148 Auto-Spin Sink Machine

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have a recurring clog in my kitchen drain that I have to snake once or twice a year, about 24 feet down the line from the garage end. I have been renting a large commercial auger for 40 bucks a day, and they are very heavy, labor intensive and they tend to sling greasy water around the area when you retract them from the line. I saw this one and decided it looked like a good design, so bought one.
I'm pleased with the design of it, the fact that it is self-feeding and self-retracting, and also that it has the hose to enclose the cable to keep it from flopping around and flinging nasty stuff around the work area. However, it's not perfect.
If I were to redesign this tool, I would make it about 30% larger all over with a little bit more heft and power, use a bit more metal than plastic, and increase the cable capacity to 3/8" X 40 or even 50 feet. A couple replaceable auger/cutter heads would also be nice. Then we'd have the ideal homeowner drain auger. Offer it for under [...] bucks and you couldn't lose.
If all you're doing is snaking the occasional slow kitchen drain or hair clogs in the tub, this baby should be perfectly adequate. But if I were a landlord having to maintain several units, I would definitely get something bigger. The problem is, there's just a huge gap in size between this and the next size up. I believer there is definitely a niche in between for a somewhat larger auger of this design. My congratulations to Ridgid or Home Depot for coming up with this design. Now just boost the size a little bit.

This tool does a far better job of clearing small drains than most home-owner snake tools and handily fills the gap between true professional products and hand or drill motor operated snakes. However, it has some sensitivities that other reviewers have mentioned.

Chief among these is that the tool is intolerant of any small kinks in the cable, and will not feed properly if kinks are present. Therefore, as a user, you need to be sensitive to how you use the snake and what you ask of it. In short, there is a bit of a learning curve. Should you kink a cable/snake, don't waste your time trying to make the tool work; just order another cable in. I find in normal use a cable lasts me about three years; inevitably I will kink it one way or another and then require a replacement. However, considering the cost and the convenience this tool represents, I consider it a decent trade-off.

Once you learn to use the "reversing" mechanism at the head end, the AutoSpin is capable of clearing household drains with ease, and in many cases does not require that you take the P Trap apart which is a huge plus.
I have also found the air-operated foot switch to be a bit "non-responsive" (hence frustrating) in use but it has not actually failed me in the time I have owned the machine. It too takes a bit of experience with, and once that is garnered, the tool works generally quite well.

Bottom line: I am glad I own this snake as it's a major step-up from hand or drill motor operated units and makes most household drain repairs a breeze. But because of the fiddly nature of operation (the learning curve) and the somewhat delicate snake cable, I can only give it three stars. On the other hand if you live in a house where drains become hair clogged ( I have a wife and three daughters. I love them unreservedly, but that's a lot of hair) this tool will pay for itself in short order. And, it gets easier to use with some experience.
Recommended but with reservations.

1/4" cables are for clearing your tub/shower drains, lav sinks(thats taking pop up out and running it through the sink, not taking trap apart), and clearing the trap for your washing machine. The 1/4" will go through traps without breaking them, well if it does break the trap, than you probably needed a new trap anyway.
Use a 3/8" cable to clear lines after the trap, thats removing the trap and running the line. Than you have an 11/16" cable for your 3" to 4" sewer lines. This product works great for me because I got tired of the manual 1/4" handsnake. So I think this product is great for clearing lavys, and tub/showers, not kitchen sinks, or anything else.

Auger cable kinked up and wouldn't return to drum. Had to be replaced.
Advance function is very slow and basically friction of the cable with the handle.
I would recommend something a little more heavy duty.

Well worth it!!! If you have a clogged drain pipe (standard house
pipe size) Buy the Ridgid Auto Clean Drain Opener. It Works!!!

I saw other reviews of this Drain Opener, and based on the positive
statements that I read I decided to go to Home depot and buy it.
Boy, was I pleased!

My problem was with the water barely going down the kichen drain.
I had taken out the trap and it was clear, so I knew that my problem
was further down the pipe somewhere.

Before buying this, I had tried using a hand snake, which wouldn't
work its way past one of the curves about 9 ft down. I had also tried
several different chemical drain cleaners (heavy duty safe for pipes
types).

I used this tool per the instructions. I did take my time to work
the snake in and out when I felt there was a possible obstruction.
The design is great. I had absolutely minimal mess in the house. Afterwards, the unit
did take a while to clean. I took the unit outside, and found it
was easy to remove the snake cannister. After removing the snake cannister
I pulled the snake so that it was completely extended outside of the
cannister and sprayed it with cleaner and hosed it off. I removed
and washed the hose assembly inside and out with warm soapy water
and hosed it out.

The whole job took probably 4 to 5 hours, from removing the pipes under
the sink to using the ridgid drain cleaning tool to putting the pipes
back under the sink to cleaning the ridgid tool and putting it away. I just need
to get some light machine oil to lubricate the hand operated extend-withdraw
machanism which they recommend doing. The whole job could probably have been done faster,
but I took my time and made sure to work the cable up and down the pipe several
times when I cleaned the drain.

Bottom line is I'm thrilled. If used correctly, I don't think that there
is a single legitimate negative about this product. My drain was completely
clear when I was done. I ran the water full force for 5 minutes and filled and
emptied each sink as a test.

Best part is I've already saved money (and mess) by not having to call a plumber
and I now have this took in my arsenal, if any of my drains clog up on me.

Just for the record my catalog number on my machine is 34963. It looks just like the
19148 that I originally saw picured on the web. My machine's Model number is K-30.

It seems every holiday when vegetable peelings and other garbage go down the disposal, the plumbing in my older home chokes on it all and I end up with a massive blockage in the drain. After two expensive plumber visits during the first year of home ownership, I bought the Ridgid Drain Cleaner. While it doesn't always clear the drain on the first try, I have always ultimately been successful in getting rid of the blockage with this machine. It paid for itself on the first use, and six years later I am way ahead on cost and convenience. Try calling a plumber on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Years Eve. If you can get someone to come out, it will be many hours and many dollars later before you can serve your meal and clean up. I totally recommend this machine.

The first one had a problem with the motor within a week of purchasing it. I exchanged it for a new one thinking this can happen to any product - it was a lemon. The second one stopped working the second time I used it due to failure of the air operated on-off pedal. Returned it for a refund - twice in less than four weeks is not a fluke. It's a poor product. Do not buy it unless you don't mind returning things.

Just try and get your product covered under the lifetime warranty. Numerous emails and phone calls unreturned. Product is ok but kinks a bit as can be expected but the plastic sheath doesn't last very long.

I bought mine at Home Depot about a decade ago. I have lived in 2 older houses since. My wife and daughters have long hair. You do the math. JUST used this again tonight after having about 2 years off from plumbing work.

This tool is awesome. You press forward.. it grabs the hairplug.. you press back.. it retracts the cable you get the hair plug out. You resume showering. Completely AMAZING machine. RIDGID is an awesome company. They stand behind their products too. Check out their warrantee.

I have had ZERO problems going in to the end of the cable and bringing it out. I have been in 1 1/4 pipe and 1 1/2 inch.. with ZERO problem i am sure I got into some 2+ inch cast iron too accidentally. Anyhow. This particular tool has become a life saver. Today.. a decade into use.. and about 12+ jobs done. I am thinking about replacing it because it SEEMS to be slowing down. (The cable going in and out) However i think it is still under lifetime warrantee so I will take a look at that. Anyhow.. Your going to here plumbing purists say..

"THE AUTOSPIN is junk.. " <------ no it isnt..

it just makes their job approachable and easier if you got a normal clog.
Dont fill your pipes with pointless CAUSTIC and dangerous chemicals.

dont use the rubber donut thing on a garden hose and get splashed with blackwater (BLECH!)

but this..

you dont NEED to call a plumber first. you dont need to RENT equipment. But it.. store it in the box.. and pull it out when you need it. Hands down.. for the home.. this probably is all you will ever need. i hvae NEVER called a plumber since owning my Autospin.

Thank you RIDGID!

THE PNEUMATIC FOOT PEDAL BROKE AFTER THE FIRST USE, RENDERING THE AUTO-ZONE TO THE DEAD-ZONE. If it weren't for that, I guess it would serve its purpose, I just never had the opportunity to find out.