The best compressed air unclogging guns

We test and rate the best compressed air guns for unclogging pipes.

Blockages in the sink or sink are usually one of the worst nightmares at home. Suddenly, the drain doesn’t work, water accumulates and problems begin. An option to get rid of them quickly and without resorting to any professional is compressed air guns. With them, air is introduced into the pipe through a plunger that must be moved up and down as if it were a syringe.

In this way, and using pressurized air, it is possible to eliminate the blockage by causing the dirt to circulate through the pipe. Of course, it should be mentioned that these guns work well when the clog is close to the drain, which is where these devices have their greatest effect.

The ideal unblocking gun for daily traffic jams: Werkstein

Who is it for: for all those who tend to have frequent blockages in the bathroom or kitchen but which are not problematic.

Why we recommend it: The Werkstein unclogging gun is quite light and is made of ABS plastic, which makes it very resistant. Shaped like a pipe, it has an elbow at the bottom that is a great success to perform its function efficiently.

On the first use I only had to do one thing: fit a piece of rubber to the bottom of the gun that is responsible for creating the vacuum and pressure in the drain. It includes two rubber models with different measurements: both are 9.5 millimeters in diameter, but one is 4.5 centimeters long and the other 19. Since I did not know the exact length of the drain, I tried both and found that the smallest It was the one that fit best and did its job in both the sink and the bathtub.

Afterwards, you have to place it as close as possible to the drain so that it creates a vacuum correctly. This step is very important for it to really work. Once well positioned, the easiest thing is to grab the top handle and move the metal plunger up and down so that it creates pressure and can move the water and accumulated dirt. It also has another handle at the bottom to place your free hand and make the movement easier to perform.

It is true that during the first use it did not work perfectly (I did not place it properly and it did not vacuum correctly), but after several attempts it was effective. Being a little skeptical, and taking into account that, according to the manufacturer, it is capable of moving up to 1.2 liters of water, the sink unclogged it in a few minutes. The same thing did not happen in the bathtub, as it had more accumulated hair, it took much longer (about 20 minutes) although it also succeeded (at least for a while). In general, it is very manageable and can be used to avoid major traffic jams.

Its weak points: the handles are made of a plastic that is somewhat weaker than the structure itself, so they can break easily. In my case it didn’t happen, but the material is flimsy and over time it will almost certainly break.

Technical sheetDimensions: 95 millimeters in diameter.Material: ABS plastic and metal.Weight: 1.8 kilos.

A light and resistant unblocking gun for specific blockages: AGT PE5628-944

Detailed view of the AGT unclogging gun with its accessories.

Who it’s for: For drains with minor blockages.

Why we recommend it: the AGT compressed air unblocking gun is very light (it weighs less than a kilo) and is L-shaped, so during the first uses, especially, it is a little complicated to handle. Includes four accessories for different drain sizes (from 3.2 to 20 centimeters in diameter). In my case, the two largest adapters were the ones that were most useful to me in the sink and bathtub (it is not easy to place them the first time so that they provide the correct pressure and the air does not escape).

Although I had to pump for a long time, it didn’t take much force to get results. Likewise, the pressure it exerts is not very great and although it unclogs, the problem can reappear if it is a very large blockage. As for the material, it is made of ABS plastic and seems quite resistant to the passage of time.

Its weak points: it only works for small obstructions in the pipes, but if there is a larger blockage it falls short. Also, you have to pump for a long time to get results, which are short-term.

Technical sheetDimensions: 28 x 31 x 9 centimeters.Material: ABS plastic.Weight: 840 grams.

Good vacuum and pressure on the clog: the Wolfpack unclogging gun

Detailed view of the Wolfpack brand’s unblocking gun.

Who is it for: For people with daily problems with clogged drains and who need a quick solution.

Why we recommend it: at first glance it is a compressed air gun to unclog pipes that is quite flimsy in terms of the materials it is made of (plastic). Of course, it barely weighs and operation is very simple thanks to the four rubber adapters for different types of drains that are included. During testing I had a really hard time adjusting the smaller ones.

You have to use a lot of force to hook them to the part of the gun where you have to place them and it is important to try each one of them to see which one fits best.

It is also true that once placed, they create a vacuum very well, so when the plunger on the handle is activated to introduce air into the pipe and the trigger is pulled, it works the first time. Although when I tried it it didn’t have a big jam, it can be up to par when there is a bigger problem because the pressure it exerts on it is quite powerful.

Its weak points: the plastic with which it is made does not seem to be of very good quality and the adapters are not easy to place.

Technical sheetDimensions: ‎32 x 31 x 11 centimeters.Material: plastic.Weight: 838 grams.

A plunger gun for indoors and outdoors: Innovagoods Klingon

This model of unblocking gun is valid for interior and exterior work.

Who is it for: for people with traffic jams inside and outside the home.

Why we recommend it: the four rubber adapters have different measurements (2.5, 3.5, 9 and 18.5 centimeters in diameter). In my case, I used the two smallest ones for the sink and the bathtub and they work perfectly: they create a good vacuum in the drain and unclog easily by activating the plunger and the trigger (even if there is an overflow).

During the testing, I tried it in the bathtub after having bathed my dog ​​and having left numerous hairs both outside and inside the drain. With five or six presses the water was already flowing correctly. The larger rubber adapter is very useful for exterior drains (terraces or patios). I also did the test on one of the ones I have on the terrace and the accumulated water from the last rains disappeared in minutes. The instruction manual comes in 24 languages ​​and although it is very simple to use, the instructions are well understood.

Its weak points: it is made of ABS, PVC and polypropylene plastic but it is not one of the most resistant guns I have tested, so I think that over time some of the parts that make it up may break.

Technical sheetDimensions: 28 x 9 x 28 centimeters.Material: ABS plastic, PVC and polypropylene.Weight: 854 grams.

Other models of interesting unblocking guns

If you are looking for guns with different adapters: Relaxdays

It includes four rubber bands of different sizes to adapt them to different drains: 20, 11, 3, 6 and 5 centimeters.

If you are looking for a gun with good pressure: Jadeshay

Made with PVC and ABS plastic, this compressed air pistol for unclogging pipes provides a pressure of 12 bars.

If you are looking for a very light pistol: Ducomi

With three suction cups of different sizes, it is available in three different colors and is very light, only weighing 650 grams.

How we have chosen and tested the products

All the compressed air unblocking guns that I have tested have in common their operation, size, and that they include different types of rubber adapters for different drains. They are a homemade option to eliminate blockages that was recommended to me by one of the plumbers who came to my house a while ago, when one of the many blockages I have had in the bathrooms occurred. And they happen frequently in both bathrooms in my house.

The position of the pipes does not help (as different professionals have told us) while the accumulation of soap and hair, especially in the bathtub from frequently washing my dog ​​in it, does the rest. I usually have a clog in the bathtub or sinks every five or six months, so I have already tried different solutions to get rid of it: from using chemicals (which haven’t helped much) to calling a professional in more than one occasion.

The main features I look for in a plunger gun

Ergonomics: it is important that unblocking guns are easy to handle and not weigh too much. Accessories: the adapter rubbers are responsible for creating a vacuum in the drain; Thus, it is most recommended that they include different types, for different drains and with a standard size. A good user experience: they have to be very easy to use, achieving results quickly without having to use too much force.

*All purchase prices included in this article are current as of October 4, 2023.

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