Advice requested to unclog a shower stall (75 or 100 foot snake?)

[Danny D]

Since it was an emergency, I didn't have the time for anything more than to fire off the original NNTP request. It turns out, I had to learn on the job, due to the nature of the emergency.

However, *now* I have time to learn where I erred.

Googling, I find this nice YouTube video that shows how to clean out a shower drain using the same Cobra drum snake that I have (mine is branded Brasscraft because Home Depot asked for their own differentiating brand).

I had always thought that you run the motor continuously; and that the reverse was for rewinding the cable; but both those assumptions are wrong.

Apparently the forward position is only used *at* an obstruction; and the reverse is only used *momentarily* to get out of a bind.

Of course, they don't tell you how to rewind all that 75 foot of cable *back* into the drum. I called Cobra today and they said you push the cable forward and rewind it always without the motor running.

The only time you use the motor is when you can't push or pull anymore. Then you only use the motor momentarily they said.

So, in this case, even the professional YouTube videos are lacking in the detail needed to actually perform the job properly. You only know enough to ask the questions if you've already done the job itself.

[ChairMan]

Good for you and thank you. That is the way to learn, but are you sure he is/was a friend at $300 a day

Not all teachers are *good* teachers I can tell you the secret to keeping a pool clear is removing phosphates. Use PhosFree, PoolPerfect or any commercial available phosphate remover and your chemical usage will decline. No phosphates = NO ALGAE = clear water. I stop putting chemicals in my pool in about October and just use a remover through the winter and start up in the spring with clear water

There are lots of hotshot "drain" cleaning services that do just that. Even though I have an electric drain cleaner, a closet snake and assorted drain clearin stuff, when my kitchen drain backs up and its cold, rainin and down right shitty outside, I'm calling them!!!

[Danny D]

I hope you also noticed that, while I don't know anything at first, that I research & report back findings on most topics - and - that I update with lessons learned - and that I not only *do* the tasks and take *most* of the advice, but that I also *document* the process, both the good and bad, via numerous photos.

How many other posters you complain about who are clueless do all that?

Anyway, now that I have the luxury to research how to clean a drain, I see a *lot* of mention of chemicals, which I always deprecated as miracles in a jar - but apparently they must work:

WikiHow: How to Unclog a Slow Shower Drain

Synopsys: Use Dawn dish detergent

eHow: How to Unclog a Shower Drain

Synopsys: Start with baking soda + vinegar

Lifehacker: How to Unclog a Drain

Synopsys: Start with boiling water

Howtounclogadrain.com: How to Unclog a Shower Drain

Synopsys: Start with dish soap and hot water

theunclogblog.com: How to Remove Hair that?s Clogging Your Shower Drain

Synopsys: Use baking soda and vinegar if other methods fail

This guy took "The Drano challenge (or it's free)":

[DD_BobK]

DDD-

Ever hear of Occam's razor? Do you believe in its value? Or the KISS concept?

When you hear "hoof steps" think horses not zebras. The simplest effective solution is usually the best.

Most drain clogs (esp showers & sinks) occur at VERY short distances.

[hrhofmann]

-Slow-Shower-Drain

shower-drain.html

I think that following this thread and seeing how much you have learned should be a lesson for all of us to admit our shortcomings and learn from those around us who have been there and done that. And for the "teachers", remember this is a student who wants to learn and be respectful of that while showing off how much you do know.

[TomR]

Yes, I agree. I forgot to add part when I responded earlier. I have found that when the snake is advancing easily, that's fine. But, when it encounters a restriction, blockage, or sharp turn in the pipe that it cannot navigate, I have to keep the handle of the snake no more than about 6 inches away from the drain and then turn and push on it at the same time. That keeps the snake from acting like I am pushing on a string (where it just bends and buckles). The rest of the snake is inside the pipe and that helps keep it from bending. So, the idea is to only be pushing on about 6 inches of exposed snake near the drain so that 6 inches is too small for the snake to bend at that point.

[TomR]

I doubt that there are any additional traps in the drain line for the shower. Usually, there is one trap near the drain opening and that's it. The purpose of the trap (which I'm assume you probably already know) is just to trap some water in the line so the sewer gases cannot come back up through the drain and stink up the joint. So, all that is needed is one trap for each drain. After that one trap for each drain, the line should be continuous, with no additional traps, all the way out to the main sewer line that goes out to the street or wherever. I think there is usually a trap at or near the street or curb, probably right after a vent that comes up to the surface of the ground.

I guess the only solution for that would be to use tarps or some type of covering over the carpets etc. But, you're right, it can be a mess. That, of course, is for the snake you have that does not have a drum where the snake stays coiled up. I don't have the drum kind (except for those short hand-operated snakes that come with a drum and a hand crank), so I usually have to figure out how to deal with the mess.

[Dan Espen]

Movie was okay.

Book was a lot better IMO.