I have a problematic bathroom sink which gets clogged a few times each year. I tried some of the store brands to limited success. I've tried Pequa opener (got at Home Depot) which seems to work a bit better. I've tried augers but can't get the wire completely down into the pipes.
I am still looking for ideas on a better/best liquid/crystal drain opener for hair (and whatever else is in a bathroom sink) clog and where I can purchase it.
Ideas welcome. Thanks. Walter
"Walter Cohen" wrote in news:%zZBb.46347$ snipped-for-privacy@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net:
I pour 1-2 cups of bleach down the drain, let it set for 30 minutes, then follow it with a kettle full of boiling water. Works every time.
Dee
I've had good results with sodium hydroxide crystal products. Drano comes to mind.
I have had success with this product
Why don't you just open the P trap and clean it up manually. Do it once, and you won't have a clogged drain for years. I hate to think of all these chemicals (most of the time useless) being poured down drains.
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----------------------------- Agreed. It's very easy to do and works better than any chemical.
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I've never had much luck with any of the mechanical or chemical home cures. The quickest, easiest solution is to call a drain cleaning firm. $75 and 2 hours later it was open.
I had drains that I put a lot of liquid down. Let it set overnight. Hot water flushes. Cold water flushes.
Then I took off the P trap and found the hair causing the problem. Hair gone. No problem. And if there is a problem farther in than that, get one of those inflating thinguses you put into the pipe and it inflates to seal the pipe and blow the blockage away. That pipe will drain into a larger one, so when the blockage reaches the larger pipe, it should be on its way.
If'n that don't work, call a pro. They will get your pipes moving again.
Steve
It's called "elbow grease". Most sink traps are trivial to take apart and unclog. Just do it a couple times a year or when it slows down.
is what i did.. bought one of those $12.00 ones of 25 ft.long 1/4 inch diamater cable, its in a plastic case that has a handle to turn or you attach it to an electric drill ( i always used the hand ones and would always have trouble getting it down the drain..) the one with the thing to attache to an electric drill worked great. the spring cable turns and shoves itself down the drain... it took me about 10 minutes to do it the last time in the bath sink... used to take me over an hour playing around pulling it out and trying to get it back in to go down.. no more, its easy now.....think i got it at homedepot??? cost about $12 to $15 at most......... never use chemicals in your drain.. i had a $4800 plumbing repair bill where they had to dig under my concrete slab to repair the pipes that were all eaten up after a local plumber used some chemicals on my drain after using an arger to clean it out... he said it would clean all the other stuff the auger did not remove.. boy was he right, it removed the metal pipe.....
I bought one those infommercial gadgets !! it looks like a BIG water gun - you put the appropriate rubber thingy (for sink, bathtub, commode, shower, etc.) on the end , then pump it up like a garden sprayer, stick the rubber thingy over the drain, cover up the vent(s), pull the trigger, and BAM the commpressed air clears the drain. It REALLY WORKS (unlike most gadgets I buy).
It might work too good one of these days. DWV isn't intended to withstand being pressurized. The chrome waste pipes under my sink are just hooked together with those wimpy compression fittings...
-Mike
I used to use this stuff called Liquid Fire. Very effective. Immediately after pouring it in you could hear it working and sees little wisps of smoke coming out of the drain. Wouldn't use it in my house, but didn't seem to have a problem using it in the apartment we were renting at the time :)
Not sure if they sell it anymore or not. Bought it at a "mom & pops" hardware store.
-Chris
Real Nice???? no problem using it in someone property, but would not use it in MY HOUSE?? bet you would not mind trashing the persons property either????
At the time we did not even think about damage to the pipes. Guess you could say I didn't know any better at the time. But, with that landlord I would say, yeah... I'd do it again now. Heck, I'd pour battery acid down it this time :)
-Chris
I have to agree with cleaning out the drain mechanically, rather than with chemicals that could damage parts (including body parts). I found that a gallon of boiling water down the drain will quickly clear it out. Or, block the overflow tightly with a wet rag and use a plumber's helper, followed up with hot water.
BTW, plumbers *hate* it when you call them after dumping a bunch of chemicals down the drain. "Dissolves grease and hair" is an advertising ploy, not a reliable solution.
Yeah, they are the best. Available in several sizes for different size drains. The product is called 'Drain King' and is manufactured by G.T. Water Products -
I use Liquid Fire in my home. It's the only thing that works. It eats hair and other "stuff". Won't hurt your plumbing if you use as directed.
It is a strong solution of sulfuric acid. Battery acid as someone mentioned.
WLW
weirdly enough. ive heard they arent available in LA county. something to do with people "blowing up" their drain lines?
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