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Greg · Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 1

My shower drain keeps clogging up and turning it into a bathtub.I have tried all the drain cleaners and they only work for a little while.I have even ran a snake down the drain but i am not sure if it is getting stuck on a bend or the clog.Is there anything else i can try on it before i try to take appart the pipes?

ChrisR · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2003 7:05 am Post subject:

It's worth trying a "wet" vacuum cleaner. As you probably know the centre part of the shower waste usually comes out to make things easier. The usual culprit in showers is hair, mixed with soap residue.
Really hot water is quite effective - I mean like half a gallon of boiling water. Most of the "foaming" supermarket-available drain cleaners will work but are designed to be safe as a priority.
Usually you CAN get the right sort of snake down - keep twisting as you push.
As a last resort, Sulphuric Acid (as in plumber's merchant's drain clearers) dissolves just about everything, but be careful, use a funnel, gloves, eye protection, old clothes, old skin... A ring of putty around the chrome bit will stop the stuff getting to your bath/shower tray, which are likely to be marked otherwise.

Just Bill · Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2003 11:33 am Post subject:

I am not a big fan of caustic drain openers since I am often the one that is called when they fail. I recommend the more friendly bio-enzyne type drain openers. Follow the shock treatment for the first week the once a month after that. They have worked for me. Products that I have used in the USA are from ZEP, not sure elsewhere.

A drill motor powered auger may get around that bend more easily, check rental places.