I have a clog

[bahua]

As I understand it, if I pour liquid plumr or the works, or any other plumbing chemicals down my drain, the general idea is that the highly corrosive chemicals will dissolve the clogs and scum in the pipes, and whisk it all away to the ocean, leaving me with a clean-running shower drain, and the Missouri River with several more ounces of hazardous corrosive chemicals to mingle into a toxic stew with what's left of the marine environment.

Obviously, this is not what I want.

But I do want to fix this clog. Is there a way to do it without the use of highly dangerous chemicals?

[scooterj]

Is it a sink or a shower?

[AJoD]

May be too obvious, but you can try plunging.  We actually keep a separate plunger for sinks/showers than toilets.

Also, boiling water sometimes does the trick.

[bahua]

It's a shower. Chef just PMed me to go and rent a snake. I was really hoping it wouldn't come to that, but maybe it has.

[ignatius]

I thought you meant you found just one of these...

[scooterj]

Have you unscrewed the drain cover and lifted out the mechansm that closes the drain for tub mode?  99% of the time shower clogs are caused by hair caught on that mechanism and you can remove it really easily.


Hmmm... I just realized who posted this question, though, so I guess it must be the other 1%. 

[bahua]

Yeah, I've done that. I think I have a deep clog in there.

[KCMax]

It's a shower. Chef just PMed me to go and rent a snake. I was really hoping it wouldn't come to that, but maybe it has.

Straighten out a wire coat hanger and that may work.

[staubio]

Plunging really does work at times. I have a smaller plunger intended for sink and shower drains and it tends to ease the situation slightly. You are welcome to borrow it.

Other than that, the snake is the only way you can really do anything. The chemical solutions aren't just bad for the environment, they are loathed by plumbers who have to deal with their aftermath later -- and they don't really work that well.

Now, who wants to help me move a 220 outlet 5 feet to the left?

[MidWestSider]

Yeah, I've done that. I think I have a deep clog in there.

I had a shower clog.. I went to home depot and bought a  snake for 6 or 7 dollars (the smaller ones that you hand crank).  worked perfect!

I would say you can borrow mine.. but i'm not sure if thats something people usually borrow. lol

One of these

[LenexatoKCMO]

Bahua - how did you wind up clogging your shower with hair?    Hopefully the answer involves sharing the shower with someone with much longer hair than yourself. 

[PumpkinStalker]

There are various enzyme products that are safer for the environment.  Most require you pour warm water down, add enzymes, pour more warm water, and the little things much and eat away at the clog.  You can also buy a gadget that uses water pressure to blow the clog through the system.  It threads onto a garden hose and you stick this rubber bladder in your drain.  When you turn the water on, it starts filling with water until the bladder is so full it blasts water down your pipes at high pressure.

Those are the two I can think of that doesn't involve harsh chemicals.

[AJoD]

It's a shower.

Yeah, okay, maybe not so obvious.  I've plunged my shower, usually all a clog needs.  Do it when you have enough standing water to help the vacuum.

[bahua]

Bahua - how did you wind up clogging your shower with hair?   :lol:  Hopefully the answer involves sharing the shower with someone with much longer hair than yourself. 

That's enough out of you!

[dangerboy]

Chemicals are our friends.  We shouldn't be afraid of them.

[scooterj]

There are various enzyme products that are safer for the environment.  Most require you pour warm water down, add enzymes, pour more warm water, and the little things much and eat away at the clog.  You can also buy a gadget that uses water pressure to blow the clog through the system.  It threads onto a garden hose and you stick this rubber bladder in your drain.  When you turn the water on, it starts filling with water until the bladder is so full it blasts water down your pipes at high pressure.

Those are the two I can think of that doesn't involve harsh chemicals.

I remember using clog guns years ago.   The ones we used were self contained, used pressurized air or something.   The downside was that someone had to be stationed at every other drain in thge house, covering every drain and holding them down with a wet towel with all the strength we had, so that raw sewage wouldn't blast out the other drains when the clog was blown free.

[bahua]

I just filled the tub with water and jacked away with my plunger. Mental image!

It appears to have possibly worked, though nothing came out of the drain.

[KCMax]

I just filled the tub with water and jacked away with my plunger. Mental image!

It appears to have possibly worked, though nothing came out of the drain.

[bahua]

Plunging definitely worked. Thanks!

[mlind]

For future reference, I've found that using a snake and then a plunger alternatively also works.