Clogged shower drain -advice wanted

[MrScott81]

So the combination of SoCal's notorious hard water (calcium buildup, etc) and my wife's long hair leads to a slow shower drain. It just gets worse and worse until it the shower starts filling up shortly after being turned on.

This can be remedied by Drano or other horrendous chemicals that can't be too good for the environment.

More recently I started using a vinegar + baking soda solution along with some boiling water.

However, it's kind of a pain in the butt. The shower will be good for a week or two and then it starts getting bad again.

A friend of mine mentioned getting a drain snake to help remove any hair clogs. I searched on amazon and home depot and there seem to be tons of options. I have no idea. I have a 2" pipe if that matters. Does anyone have any suggestions?

P.S. I was interested in buying a water softener to help deal not only with this problem, but just for overall better water in the house.

 

[GasX]

You are only cleaning the first few feet and the problem goes a lot farther. Personally, I would get a good enzymatic cleaner and start using frequently. Over time it will clear out your drains a lot further down than you are getting.

Also, the baking soda helps agitate the vinegar helping it to dislodge the hair, but it also neutralizes it so that it does nothing to the calcium deposits.

Good luck.

 

[coolpurplefan]

The 7 minute Liquid Plumber Pro is pretty powerful. (Maybe 30 minutes though, not 7.)

 

[zinfamous]

You need a drain snake. should be able to get one from HD or Lowes or wherever.

It's a horrid, messy affair.

After that, install a hair trap on the drain. Sucks to have to dig out the hair after each shower, but saves you from further misery.

 

[MrScott81]

The 7 minute Liquid Plumber Pro is pretty powerful. (Maybe 30 minutes though, not 7.)

Yeah I've used it. It does work well...for a week or 2. It's pretty costly to have to do this 2-4 times per month...and like I said earlier, it's probably not good for the environment.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Put a screen over the drain to catch your wife's hair. It won't stop all of them and eventually you'll have to unclog it again, but it should maybe the time between "uncloggings" much longer.

I put one over mine and it helps quite a bit. I still have to use Liquid Plumber but not as frequently as I'd have to use it without the screen.

EDIT: Like these:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=drain+screen

 

[Drako]

Hot water every week to wash the wife sludge down the pipes.

 

[highland145]

Yeah I've used it. It does work well...for a week or 2. It's pretty costly to have to do this 2-4 times per month...and like I said earlier, it's probably not good for the environment.

The hard water and your wife's hair started it.

Kinky.


Metal drain pipe?

 

[jaedaliu]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000CBIWC

Enviromentally friendly and easy to use.

Though, you can also consider putting a mesh thingy down to collect your wife's hair.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Lye or buy a snake.

 

[brainhulk]

I have to take a wire hanger made into a hook to pull out hair every so often to keep it running smoothly. Then I do a combo of boiling water followed by drano. Been working excellent so far

 

[smackababy]

Lye or buy a snake.

I was under the impression most of the drain cleaners were Lye. Perhaps, I am wrong.

 

[Jaepheth]

I just clear mine with a coat hanger with a cork-screw bent into one end.

I've heard tell that liquid plumber type products can corrode your pipes over time and eventually you'll need very, very costly repairs. So go with a snake of some sort.

Prevention is easiest, just get a drain basket to collect hair before it goes into the drain.

 

[feralkid]

I have to take a wire hanger made into a hook to pull out hair every so often to keep it running smoothly. Then I do a combo of boiling water followed by drano. Been working excellent so far

That's a good idea; this works even better:

In a shower or bathroom sink, the vast majority of clogs are from hair in the trap.


I'd avoid the boiling water, however, especially if you have PVC or ABS drain lines.


If you can remove the shower drain grate, these can sometimes do wonders clearing a line.

And OP, you are right to question using "Drano" or any other chemicals.

Even as a last resort, they are a poor choice.

 

[surfsatwerk]

I was under the impression most of the drain cleaners were Lye. Perhaps, I am wrong.

Buy the powder straight, very potent.

 

[OCGuy]

Manscape regularly, so your drain doesn't get hit with the equivalency of a medium sized woodland creature every 4 months.

 

[BoomerD]

That's a good idea; this works even better:

In a shower or bathroom sink, the vast majority of clogs are from hair in the trap.


I'd avoid the boiling water, however, especially if you have PVC or ABS drain lines.


And OP, you are right to question using "Drano" or any other chemicals.

Even as a last resort, they are a poor choice.

Those zip-its are fucking great. They're pretty short, (16-18") but for most of us, the clog will be within a foot or so of the drain...so they're perfect for the job.

 

[TwiceOver]

http://www.amazon.com/Thrift-T-100-A...+drain+cleaner

I'll stop back for the thank you.

 

[WackyDan]

That's a good idea; this works even better:

In a shower or bathroom sink, the vast majority of clogs are from hair in the trap.


I'd avoid the boiling water, however, especially if you have PVC or ABS drain lines.


If you can remove the shower drain grate, these can sometimes do wonders clearing a line.

And OP, you are right to question using "Drano" or any other chemicals.

Even as a last resort, they are a poor choice.

These are awesome. I used to use a 12 ga wire with a hook and this thing reached deeper and got all the hair out without need for a snake. Most of the time your issues are in the first 12-18 inches of drain and pipe and these things are cheap.

 

[Fritzo]

Get one of these zip-line things from Home Depot. They work great and they're under $5:

Also put some kind of hair trap over your drain. I specifically had our showers built with 2" drains for this reason. My wife loses more hair than I've had on my head in a lifetime.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Stop being a grapenut and pour some Drano down it

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Was it on this forum where some guy took a dump in the shower and tried to stomp it into the drain out of embarrassment?

 

[smackababy]

Was it on this forum where some guy took a dump in the shower and tried to stomp it into the drain out of embarrassment?

I once threatened that very same scenario to a friend who was very particular about reminding everyone not to pee in his shower. Well, minus the embarrassment, ofc.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Just use Drano. And do it 2-3 times. Your problems will disappear for years till you need to do it again.

 

[MrScott81]

Thank you all for your suggestions!

I probably went overboard, but I bought some lye, a drain snake, and one of those gadgets you hook your hose up to. Better to be prepared