No Toilet, Sink or Drain Can Defeat "The Plunger of Doom"
Written: Apr 01 '04
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: A true workhorse, inexpensive, can be found almost everywhere.
Cons: Doesn’t work well with low flow toilets unless you use some real muscle.
The Bottom Line: The title says it all … this is the plunger of doom.
|
|
|
| Freak369's Full Review: Chicago Specialty Samson Force Cup Plunger |
If you could imagine a chore less appealing then plunging a toilet, it would have to be climbing into the tub to remove clumps of hair from the drain. Neither are at the top of my list when I clean but they are an inevitable task with a house full of boys. The up side to all of this is that I can still embarrass them at the drop of a dime when I start telling people the amazing things that have been plucked from the toilet after someone decided to bury treasure, hide toys or try to find out exactly what would and wouldn’t flush. Over the years I have used a number of different plungers; from the small cute but totally ineffective ones to the larger beasts that I am sure build up so much pressure that they’d remove skin if you slammed it on someone’s back. I didn’t purchase this specific plunger; rather it was a gift from Chris after he grew tired of hearing me swear like a drunk trucker when trying to unclog the kitchen sink for the twentieth time. Some women get roses, jewelry and perfume – I get hockey shirts, pen sets and plungers. Hey, it beats getting a last minute gift from 7-11 doesn’t it?
Chicago Specialty Force Cup Plunger
Before I get into the bulk of the review, there are some pretty important things that you need to know up front. If you have a low flow toilet [less than three gallons per flush], chances are this specific model won’t be as effective as those that are designed for such a bowl. You will have to use some serious muscle to create a seal to force the air and water down the pipe but if it is just a clog of toilet paper you should be able to clear it with a few good jabs. Unlike some plungers that have a tiered internal cup, this is flat – but – very thick so you can get a nice tight seal around the drain or sink. Toilets, well, every toilet is the same but if you are determined to clear the clog without the use of chemicals or calling a plumber then this beast should clear out most clogs.
If there is one thing I truly hate about standard plungers is that they threading on the rubber cup and on the wooden or plastic handle often don’t create a solid bond. They are designed to come apart for easy cleaning however if you are really working a clog, you might end up seriously hurting yourself if the thread gives out and you jab yourself with the handle. Trust me, I have done this more than a few times and it really hurts – not to mention the possibility of chipping a tooth, hitting your jaw or poking yourself in the eye. The threading on this is deep, about eight grooves, so when you tighten it in to place, unless you are The Incredible Hulk, it isn’t going to come apart – if it does – you better start counting your pennies because chances are the clog is too deep and you’ll need to call a plumber. This worked great on double sinks in the kitchen if you have a light to medium clog but to be most effective, you will need to plunge out most of the water from one side then stop it up so you can force the air and water down to the clog. Because of the wider than normal lip on the sides of the plunger, you can create a tight seal which means less work, effort and swearing.
The wooden handle is basic, no grooves or finger indents to grip on to but at the same time, I’ve never gotten a single splinter from this either – and I use this with some real force. The threading has never lost its grip on me when using it and as I said, I do use some serious muscle when plunging; I’d rather waste fifteen minutes working on a clog than to have to use a harsh smelly chemical to try and break it up. Besides, I like a challenge and let me say this – getting stuffing out of a drain is a real challenge. “Someone” dumped some dry stuffing mix in the sink [the side with the garbage disposal] and didn’t turn on the water to flush out the pipe – nor did “someone” flip the switch for the disposal unit. I am assuming that when the water hit the dry stuffing mix it expanded in the pipe and created one hell of a clog. Who would think that some dried up bread and some herbs would create such a mess? Regardless, it wasn’t a match for the plunger of doom. After about five minutes of working the clog, I heard the telltale signs of it starting to break up and the oh-so-familiar air bubbles rising up from the clogged pipe.
So, can you really put a price on a plunger that doesn’t fall apart or get that nasty funky white film in it? Well, if you looking for a new plunger and can find this at your local hardware or retail store, I highly suggest picking up this brand over others. It costs about $7.99 but trust me, those few extra dollars are well worth it when you consider the price of the drain opening chemicals that are currently on the market. Not to mention that it is top of the line quality – not that I spend every waking moment checking out the specs of plungers – but I have gone through my fair share and know a “top of the line” model when I see one … however the true test is in its use and this one has far surpassed what I expected it to do. Even with the low flow toilets, all you need to do is get the right angle and put some weight behind it and you will clear the clog [unless it’s a toy or Mr. Ed has been using your bathroom].
The Bottom Line
Plungers aren’t the most glorious thing to write about but, you know, it’s something that eventually you will need. You could skimp and pay a few dollars for one of the el cheapo models but after a year or so the rubber will start to break down [regardless of whether or not you use it] and the first good hard pull you give it – BAM – it’s going to come apart then you are going to be stuck without a plunger. I’d say that this is easy to use, but come on, it’s a plunger – it doesn’t matter if it’s made of space age polymers or has an ergonomic design to it, what matters is if it creates a good seal and doesn’t come apart in mid plunge. I’ve used this in the bathroom [sink and shower drain], kitchen [both sinks and mini bar] and in the garage [two drains] and it hasn’t let me down once. Out of about thirty or so clogs, there was only one that I couldn’t get undone that required the assistance of a plumber and even he had a hell of a time getting it unclogged. In my books that says a lot about a product – if it can be used for a variety of circumstances, gets the job done and doesn’t fall apart in the process!
As always, thanks for the read!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2004 Freak369
Related reviews …
Red Devil Large Hydra Sponge
Easy Off Heat Activated Microwave Wipes
Clorox 1 Gallon Lemon Bleach
Casabella Grippee Fish Sponge
Clorox Soft Scrub Cleanser
Clorox Soft Scrub With Bleach
3M O-Cel-O Utility Sponge
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.