• Sewer pipes can be unclogged with a variety of tools.outside toilet image by green308 from Fotolia.com
  
  When you have a clog in your sewer pipe, you need to figure out where the clog is located. Once you have determined this, it will determine your choice of sewer line tools to use. If the clog is near the toilet, this will make clearing the clog easier. However, you might have to access the sewer pipe through the floor cleanout or through a roof vent or finally a septic tank near the back of the house.
  
  

Snake

• A snake is also known as a cable auger. These tools can be anywhere from 25 to 100 feet long. A snake will work well for a clog in the sewer line that's located near the toilet. To use this tool, you should remove the toilet from the floor, which will allow you easy and unencumbered access to the sewer pipe. Feed the snake into the sewer pipe, then advance it down the pipe by turning the handle.
  
  

Sectional Machine

• The sectional machine is a mechanical snake. This machine gets its name from the fact that you can add on sections to make it longer as needed. The first section has a power head that is effective in removing the clogs from the sewer pipe. This machine works well if you need to access the sewer pipe through the vent in the roof.
  
  

Drum Machine

• A drum machine gets its name from the shape of the machine: a drum that contains up to 150 feet of cable. The machine can be moved easily because it's mounted on a frame on wheels. As the drum turns, the cable feeds out of the machine and down the pipe. When you use this machine, you will need to help guide the cable as it goes down the sewer pipe. You should wear rubber gloves that have a gritty plastic covering to protect your hands.