Best drain cleaning product?

[Praetor]

Does anybody have a preference for the best drain cleaning product? I usually buy professional strength Liquid Plumber and it seems to work, for the most part. I just didn't know if there was anything better out there, aside from calling a professional plumber.

 

[IGBT]

Costco sells something called liquid snake. It's a binary fluid that foams like crzy. And works well. Cleared a few really bad pluggers with the stuff.................

 

[MichaelD]

"Mister Plunger" always works well for me. When it comes to the art of drain cleaning, there is no substitute for brute force.

 

[Praetor]

Sweeeeeet. I'll look for the liquid snake then. As for the plunger, I wasn't sure if it would work on a shower drain. I'll pick one up too and give it a whirl.

 

[T2T III]

Keeping this kind of "on topic" - what is the best cleaner to use as a preventive to clogs? Is there a good pipe scouring chemical that will not harm PCV pipes, but still be effective?

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Go rent one of those electric snakes to rout out all the crap in your shower drain. Otherwise you will just have to keep buying the liquid stuff every 6 months or so.

 

[Zebo]

Unfortuantly they are no longer allowed to sell Magnesium hydroxide, that was the best. A snake is your best bet today.

 

[Fausto]

There's already a thread on this.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
There's already a thread on this.

bahaa

 

[Praetor]

Originally posted by: yamahaXS
Go rent one of those electric snakes to rout out all the crap in your shower drain. Otherwise you will just have to keep buying the liquid stuff every 6 months or so.

Yeah, that's what I've found out. But as this is an apartment, I don't want to run the risk of doing something stupid and rupturing a pipe with a snake. (is that even possible? I don't know, but I'm sure as hell not going to try)

 

[Praetor]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
There's already a thread on this.

So true, so true.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
There's already a thread on this.

LOL

yeah somehow I think that the shower would be needed after eating that stuff.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: Praetor

Originally posted by: yamahaXS
Go rent one of those electric snakes to rout out all the crap in your shower drain. Otherwise you will just have to keep buying the liquid stuff every 6 months or so.

Yeah, that's what I've found out. But as this is an apartment, I don't want to run the risk of doing something stupid and rupturing a pipe with a snake. (is that even possible? I don't know, but I'm sure as hell not going to try)

No, there isn't a risk of rupturing the pipe.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: yamahaXS

Originally posted by: Praetor

Originally posted by: yamahaXS
Go rent one of those electric snakes to rout out all the crap in your shower drain. Otherwise you will just have to keep buying the liquid stuff every 6 months or so.

Yeah, that's what I've found out. But as this is an apartment, I don't want to run the risk of doing something stupid and rupturing a pipe with a snake. (is that even possible? I don't know, but I'm sure as hell not going to try)

No, there isn't a risk of rupturing the pipe.

*BUZZER* Wrong. Thank you for playing. Have a nice day. Next contestant please.

There is a very real possbility of rupturing the pipe, especially if it's a newer structure and uses PVC pipe. If you don't know what you're doing, do not mess with a snake. Call the office, that's what you pay rent for.

Also, NEVER combine DRANO (or other caustic substance) and the use of a plunger. You will suck the solution up, and spray it all over your face.

No offense, but any one who doesn't already know how to use a plunger should call the office and let them fix it.

I can see your next thread: "HELP! I have a plunger handle in my nose and lye in my left eye! ACK!"

 

[43st]

Just purchase a simple 30' snake with a crank. It should cost $10-15 and you'll be able to use it for many years. If there's a woman in the house one MUST always have a snake handy... for long hair reasons. You wouldn't hurt the pipes with a snake (a small snake, not an industrial that's a different story).

Chemicals on the other hand are bad for the waste system, environment, your nose. Just go all natural and snake that bad boy.

A simple one will do for apartment usage. Link

 

[lukatmyshu]

Try a teaspoon of Dave's insantiy sauce ... it usually clears up my drains.

 

[RayH]

Originally posted by: Thera
Just purchase a simple 30' snake with a crank. It should cost $10-15 and you'll be able to use it for many years. If there's a woman in the house one MUST always have a snake handy... for long hair reasons. You wouldn't hurt the pipes with a snake (a small snake, not an industrial that's a different story).

Chemicals on the other hand are bad for the waste system, environment, your nose. Just go all natural and snake that bad boy.

A simple one will do for apartment usage. Link

I had a kitchen drain clogged in a horizontal section of pipe in the basement and after trying drain cleaners for a couple days I finally went out and bought a snake for ~$10 and unclogged it in a few minutes. Used a pair of pliers to widen the end of the snake a bit and then just clamped the other end in a cordless drill.

If you've got a grease clog I think the drain cleaners can make it worse by dissolving sludge on the walls of the pipe before the clog and pushing it up against it.

 

[Praetor]

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a plunger stuck up my nose!!!!!!!!!! :Q

j/k. No, what I'll do first is I'll give the plunger a try for a while. If it doesn't come up then, then I'll do the drano thing.

Wish me luck!

 

[xuanman]

drano always works for me

 

[YetioDoom]

Originally posted by: Praetor

Originally posted by: yamahaXS
Go rent one of those electric snakes to rout out all the crap in your shower drain. Otherwise you will just have to keep buying the liquid stuff every 6 months or so.

Yeah, that's what I've found out. But as this is an apartment, I don't want to run the risk of doing something stupid and rupturing a pipe with a snake. (is that even possible? I don't know, but I'm sure as hell not going to try)

My shower drain kept clogging, even after using liquid plumber stuff, so I called my landlord, and they came and used the snake thingy and didn't charge me. I'd try calling your landlord.