better liquid drain cleaner than Liquid Plumber? edit: Cleared!

[crypticlogin]

I've noticed that my bathroom sink is draining much slower than usual and even after a few separate treatments with Liquid Plumber, it hasn't gotten much better. Are there any better products any of you can recommend that would be available at the usual retailers? A drain clogs once, maybe twice and year and LP has always done a decent job but now that's it's failed a few times, I'd like to try something else.

Thanks for the help.


edit: LP replaced Drain-O. Bad head colds will make you swap brand names.

edit2: Well I took a chance with brxndxn's suggestion for the Liquid Plumbr foaming stuff and that seems to have done the job. It took two applications about 45 minutes apart but now the sink drains like... well, <insert witty analogy about drains here>. Thanks again for the suggestions!

 

[YingYang]

try getting a bucket and using channel locks unscrew your U-trap and cleanout your u-trap.

 

[yellowperil]

I've found that the powder Drano (or at least the thicker kind) works better than regular Drano.

 

[crypticlogin]

I checked the U-trap and it's clean. The clog's somewhere further down the line -- I tried a 8ft long snake (is that what it's called?) and that didn't help either.

I've found that the powder Drano (or at least the thicker kind) works better than regular Drano.

Cool, I'll keep that in mind.

 

[Kaervak]

Well if you really want to get the job done right away, there is acid that you can use. But you've got to be careful with it otherwise you'll burn a hole through your pipe.

Give that gel based liquid drano/plumber stuff a try first.

 

[sharkeeper]

Two Words:

Mule Kick

Cheers!

 

[MikeMike]

yea there is another one out, um but i cant remember the name. its basicaly acid. at my dads plumbing wholesale place that he works, they have a sticker that says, to be sold to professionals only. its basically is acid. gimme a minute and i will find out what it is.

MIKE

 

[brxndxn]

Get the Liquid Plumr foaming stuff.. It's a container that has two compartments with chemicals that you mix together. It foams, cleans, rinse, test..

It says to leave the foam in the drain for 15 minutes.. but I find it works better to leave the foam in the drain for an hour or two. At my condo (I rent the other rooms out), I do a lot of drain cleaning for my roomates. Here in Gainesville, we have horrible mold (humidity) so I have to clean the drains out about 4 times a year.

Try the foam before you burn a hole in your drain with the acid.

 

[Iron Woode]

I have used a very strong drain cleaner that I got at the hardware store. This stuff is covered in warnings like use in well ventilated areas and use thick rubber gloves while handling the product.

This stuff reeks big time but it sure does clean that drain.

An alternative would be 1 Second Plumber that is advertised on TV.

 

[crypticlogin]

Originally posted by: Kaervak
Well if you really want to get the job done right away, there is acid that you can use. But you've got to be careful with it otherwise you'll burn a hole through your pipe.

Well, if it'll improve the draining.... j/k. I guess I'd like to stay away from those strong acid-types -- if it resorts to that kind of clogging, I'll leave it to the professionals.

Give that gel based liquid drano/plumber stuff a try first.

The liquid plumber I usually use is in the grey bottle and pretty gloppy (this stuff). Is that the gel stuff you're talking about?

to be sold to professionals only.

That rules me out, obviously.

Get the Liquid Plumr foaming stuff.. It's a container that has two compartments with chemicals that you mix together. It foams, cleans, rinse, test..

Interesting... I've never heard of this stuff before but sounds promising.


And thanks for the tips and suggestions, everyone. I'll keep an eye out for these things when I hit the store tomorrow.

 

[Kaervak]

Originally posted by: tenchim

Give that gel based liquid drano/plumber stuff a try first.

The liquid plumber I usually use is in the grey bottle and pretty gloppy. Is that the gel stuff you're talking about?

I think it might be.

 

[bentwookie]

do this you pansy

 

[ViperXX]

Sometimes Bleach works.