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

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

eHow: How to Unclog a Shower Drain

Lifehacker: How to Unclog a Drain

Howtounclogadrain.com: How to Unclog a Shower Drain

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

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

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.

-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.

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.

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.

Movie was okay.

Book was a lot better IMO.