Why should you consider the Milwaukee M12 Airsnake? If there's one thing any plumber doesn't love, it's cleaning clogged drains. It's dirty and smelly, and sometimes makes you lose faith in humanity when you see where clogs come from. It will make you question how some people get so far in life without a step-by-step guide to everything they do.
Carrying a drain snake is a must for a plumber. Yes, they are big and difficult to get into the house for a service call. There are more and more size-friendly drain cleaning options on the market, though, thanks to Milwaukee, who just launched a tool designed to keep snakes from getting bigger and denser clogs. Still, working with dirty, rusty metal cords isn't exactly part of my day.
Allow me to introduce the Red Corner fight, a 7.1-pound, 20.9-incher representing Brookfield, Wisconsin. Please welcome the newest member of the Milwaukee drain cleaning family, the Milwaukee M12 AirSnake.
So what's the deal with this new heavyweight hitter? Well, for $399 on the most comprehensive kit (Milwaukee 2572B-21), here's what you get:
Milwaukee M12 AirSnake 2572B-21 Kit Contents
- big bold red suitcase
- M12 REDLITHIUM 2.0 COMPACT BATTERY PACK
- Air Snake Drain Cleaner
- Convenient 10-inch extension
- M12 battery charger
- 1″-2″ Drain Plug
- 2″-3″ Drain Plug
- 3″-4″ Drain Plug
- (3) Straight connector
- Drain Cover Accessories
- Toilet Seal Accessories
- 15 Degree Offset Attachment
And the partridges on the pear tree!
Sounds cool! But what is it?
Let's say you have a clogged drain (sink, toilet, floor drain, it doesn't matter). In order to break the clog, you need to remove the p-trap, which, by the way, is a joy in itself if you've never done it. You then run a dirty cable into the elbow arm of the drainpipe (this is the part of the drainpipe that connects to the main chimney) to run out of the house to get to the clog. If that doesn't work, you'll have to find the next closest spot to clear (usually on a wall) and try again until you find the source of the clog. Even better, after every failed attempt to clear the clog, you'll have to deal with that filthy cable when you need to get it back.
Now, imagine you could avoid the whole song and dance. You can? That's where the Milwaukee M12 AirSnake comes in. This baby works by using pressurized air into the drain to flush out blockages. The burst of air doesn't just pressurize the lines. It creates kinetic energy that pushes against the clog, using the water in the line to move it like a tidal wave. This pneumatic drain snake can even take care of partial clogs—just make sure there's water in the pipes.
It is designed to clear slow drains, grease clogs and any other "non-retrievable" clogs. If you've seen any of Milwaukee's marketing, you'll know they claim this handy dandy tool can clean up to 3 inches of drain from 35 feet away.
So, how do you use this puppy?
Well, like most tools these days, you don't need a master's degree to do it. Having said that, it is very easy to use.
First, choose the best adapter for the job at hand and load it into the quick-disconnect loading mechanism. You can choose from 5 attachments, including the toilet trap attachment. Next, all you have to do is set the barometer to your desired pressure, press and hold the power button until it automatically shuts off, place the adapter on the drain and pull the trigger. That's an oversimplified version, so allow me to explain.
When you first open the box there is a big white sticker covering the air gauge telling you to always start at 5 PSI to try and clear the clog and to increase the pressure by 5 PSI with each unsuccessful attempt so that the minimum The amount of air used needs to clear the blockage. Why? Well, depending on the age and material of your drains, 50 PSI could damage them in the form of potentially burst fittings or compromise the integrity of the pipes.
Therefore, the thinner the wall, the less pressure you will be able to use. For example, PVC drain pipe is usually much thinner than ABS plastic pipe, so you can technically release more air into the ABS line.
So how does it work outside of new product workshops?
Beautiful! Does it work every time? No, but the times I've had to pull the snake out is when I have to physically go in and retrieve what's causing the clog, or when the clog is too far away. I'll also note that Milwaukee says this tool is primarily for grease-based clogs, but as I've discovered, it's much more than that.
a short test
Before I used the Milwaukee M12 AirSnake in a service environment, I tested it on a stack I did at my new house at work. I tested the effectiveness of this tool by placing a clog (rag) in the middle of a 5' 1.5" ABS trap arm and filling the pipe with water to simulate a real backup. I tried again on the 2, 3 and 4 inch pipe with 100% success in clearing the clog – until I got to the 4 inch pipe.
Once the diameter exceeds 3 inches, the air pressure is no longer as effective. It still works on 4" pipe, but the cleaning range is significantly shorter.
I'll also say that I also don't have to set the tool to the 50 PSI max setting to clear any clogs. After using this tool for a while, you can judge whether it's worth your time to keep raising the pressure or just go hunting for the wire snake. If it doesn't clear after a few bursts of 45 PSI, then 50 PSI is unlikely to work.
get down and dirty
For the past few weeks, I've been using the AirSnake to clean up everything imaginable, from clogged basement drains to clogged toilets — which, by the way, are still a nuisance to deal with. I recommend a generous dose of Lysol to sanitize all accessories. On a side note, get the kit with the 10" extension, as it will keep you from having to submerge any part of the tool, making cleanup easier and protecting your investment.
Having used this tool on a variety of different fixtures, here are my thoughts on each one:
Bathroom Sinks (Residential/Commercial)
First and foremost, remove the drain plug but replace the packing nut before attempting to clear the clog. If the sink is equipped with an overflow, use a rag and hold it over the opening throughout the cleaning process, debris can — and likely will — be squeezed out, especially if you have to use higher air pressure to clean during blockage.
toilets and urinals
My suggestion – use the extension bit. There is less bending, and the affected area is kept away from the tool itself. Use the trap cleaning attachment or the drain guard attachment, whichever is more appropriate for the application, and work the tool in 5 PSI increments until the clog is cleared.
Kitchen sinks (commercial, residential), laundry tubs and cleaning sinks
Plug and play with this tool that comes with a single compartment kitchen sink, laundry tub, and cleaning sink. I haven't had a single instance of needing to use more than 30 PSI to clear clogs, grease, or whatever. For a two-compartment sink, just use a tight rubber plug or the sink plug itself in the second compartment, hold it firmly in place (especially if you use higher pressure) and pull the trigger. I have an oddly shaped 60 lb weight that fits perfectly on my rubber stopper. So for the most part, I just use it to hold the plug.
Shower/bath and floor drain
For showers and tubs, I find myself using different attachments depending on the type of drain I'm dealing with. That means juggling all the accessories except the toilet trap plug.
For floor drains, I pretty much only use the guard attachment unless I can't seal in the surrounding floor (eg: uneven concrete floors). When this happens, I move to a properly sized drain plug. If that doesn't work. Time to pull out the cable snake.
Laundry vertical pipe
Use the 2-inch tube plug and start charging. The couple I unclog need 20 – 30 PSI. However, start with 5 PSI and increase in 5 PSI increments.
Pro tip: Remember to water test every fixture you unclog with this tool. First, let it not just be re-jammed further down the line. Also, make sure air doesn't expose bad glue joints.
pros and cons
My question about Air Snake?
- I wish the attachment was made with an antimicrobial coating
- The light would be more useful if it could be turned on independently as needed
- Best to have a suction setting as well as general drain maintenance
What do I like about it?
- extension bit. you need it!
- easy to use
- Easy-to-read barometer
- Recoil is very manageable when you start using higher pressures
- Fairly quiet for an air compressor
- Can be operated with one hand if desired
- It is not necessary to wear gloves when handling.
- No dirty cable retraction
- minimal cleanup
- Can turn an hour's work into a few minutes' work
final thoughts
Without the need to set up buckets and rags to dismantle traps, or to deal with messy cleanups, the Milwaukee M12 AirSnake makes clearing certain clogs easier and faster. As a plumber, I can safely say that any plumber needs to have this tool in their van. Now, that being said, you should never throw out other drain cleaning equipment.
The Milwaukee AirSnake sells for $329 bare. Get the complete kit for just $399. Use this tool for preventive maintenance on slower drains. Milwaukee designed it as the first line of defense. If it doesn't work, you'll have to pull out the wire snake and get to work.
The Milwaukee M12 AirSnake will make our plumbers' lives easier, faster and cleaner. This is a tool we need to embrace…unless you like doing extra work where it isn't needed. Did I mention this puppy will pay for itself quickly because it saves you time?
Milwaukee M12 AirSnake Key Features
- Using Powered Air to Clear Drain Caps and Traps
- Immediate Reach Clogs 35' OUT
- Removes grease and sludge from pipe walls
- Rugged clogs up to 50 PSI
- Ability to clear blockages from past vent chimneys
- Variable pressure control selects the proper PSI for compression fittings and older drain lines
- Optimized accessories for sinks, toilets, floor drains
- Over 25 pressure cycles on a single charge
- Interchangeable accessories optimized for 1”-4 drains, permanent drain plugs and seals on toilets
- 15 degree offset connector for securing under-spigot drain
Milwaukee M12 AirSnake Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 2572B-21
- Power source: Milwaukee M12
- Clearance distance: 35'
- Pressure: 0 – 50 PSI
- Drainage Capacity: 1" – 4"
- Length: 20.9″
- Height: 7.5″
- Width: 5.3″
- Weight: 7.1 lbs.
- Warranty: 5 years
- Price: $329 (bare), $379 (kit A), $399 (kit B), $369 (bare plus accessories)