Drano or Liquid Plummer?

[Jack_Dawson]

Poll question: Drano or Liquid Plummer?

Hair clog...shower. So far Liquid Plummer Gel hasn't done crap. Should I buy more or switch to Drano? Or...God Forbid...call a plumber? Please don't say plumber...I'm broke.

BTW, the shower/tub DOES drain, it just takes awhile and leaves soap scum/residue all over the place.

[seriousstan]

1. Use a snake. The chemicals are temporary and then will burn

you when you have to really deal with the problem.

[happyslug]

2. Get a snake

And snake that drain, it will drain better afterwords. I have used hand snakes that work for minor clogs, but from what you say rent a 40 foot plus power snake from a rental place and snake that drain.

[Jack_Dawson]

5. No kiddin?

How much is a rental? What do I have to remove besides the plate?

[happyslug]

22. Depends on the drain

I have had some problem getting a snake around the elbows of a drain but unless you have elbow on elbow on elbow the snakes basic flexibility will turn around those elbows.

I would first try a cheap hand snake, about $10 in your local hardware store. push it through and "twist" it. The twisting helps the metal snake bend around the elbows and cut into any obstructions. If the hand snake does not work go to the local rental store last time I rented one I believe it was about $20 for a day.

Over the years I have found the best snakes are often the cheapest and the most expensive. The cheap one for if you kink the snake you only lost $10-15 dollars, the expensive because they really do a GREAT job (Right down and through your local storm sewer if you buy a big enough one.

From what you say try one of the cheap ones first and than look in your local yellow pages for a rent a tool place and rent one for a day.

One comment if you do rent one, snake all of your sewers with it and than return. Makes the job an all day job but the drains drain until something else clogs them up again.


Here is a site for a hand drill snake:
http://doitbest.com/shop/product.asp?mscssid=FXSPH4UM6F969JBJT6UF5P270RV57KN6&mbrid=5129&dept%5Fid=1701&sku=433691

And for a hand operated Drill Snake (25 feet long) $9.99

http://doitbest.com/shop/product.asp?mscssid=FXSPH4UM6F969JBJT6UF5P270RV57KN6&mbrid=5129&dept%5Fid=1701&sku=408017


http://doitbest.com/shop/product.asp?mscssid=FXSPH4UM6F969JBJT6UF5P270RV57KN6&mbrid=5129&dept%5Fid=1701&sku=407964

[happyslug]

24. One last comment

remember your pipes bend around in your walls, so the pipes may go 50 feet in a two story house (which is only 20 foot tall).

I have even snaked around traps right from the sink, shower or tub, through I would recommend you remove the trap first and enter the rest of the pipe through the trap (two less bends for the snake to get around).

Remember the twisting of the snake is to get the metal snake to go around the elbows, just keep on twisting and forcing the snake down the drain. The snake will go around MOST elbows and cut through MOST blockages. The power snakes work best in that the drill does the twisting and you just have to keep feeding the snake down the drain.

[grasswire]

3. I've found that...

...the Drano in the red bottle works better than Liquid Plumber, even the Xtra Strength LP. It's called "Professional Strength Gel" and I think it's great!

[Jack_Dawson]

8. DAMMIT!

You're right. It worked for me once too. But the LP had an extra 5 ounces for the same price so I went with that.

D'oh!

[grasswire]

16. I did the same thing

I used TWO BOTTLES of LP. Then in desperation, I tried the Drano.

Never again, LP.

[Jack_Dawson]

18. Hilarious

Do you still have working pipes?

[hippiechick]

4. Check your pipes first ...

Make sure they're not plastic.

I made the mistake once of using a whole bunch of Liquid Plumr in my bathtub, and it dissolved the pipes as well as the clog, and my bathroom ceiling ended up in my downstairs neighbor's apartment.

:wow:

[MrScorpio]

6. Either one will kill you DEAD!

Seek counseling NOW

[DulceDecorum]

7. Read Post # 4 and then consider Red Devil

but be very careful about handling it.

It woun't explode or anything
but you can get some nasty burns if you take it for granted.

It looks like Comet. Just pour it down carefully, and stand back for a while while it burns the crap out of the clog.

It is some serious stuff.
That drain will never misbehave again.

If you have little kids, consider getting rid of it after it has done the job. Red Devil consists of the stuff they put in Liquid Plumr and Drano except that Red Devil has not been watered down so that you can afford to be stupid and survive.

[Jack_Dawson]

10. WTF?

And in what aisle is this? Mexico?

[DulceDecorum]

11. Nope.

Grocery and Hardware stores.

Many craft stores carry it too. It used in dyes.

[grasswire]

19. Red Devil is lye

That's what it is. Gotta be careful handling that stuff.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. I would be terrified to mix Drano and Liquid plumber

I'm no plumber, so can't tell you what to do, but I will say this: I would be terrified to pour Liquid Plumber into a drain that already has Drano in it.

Just making the assumption that, since the chemicals are very different and both very caustic, that the mixing could be dangerous, and possibly fatal.

Or, it might make delicious ice cream topping. Who knows? I don't.

But you should never mix chemicals like drain openers, solvents, cleaners, and of course the big boogie man of no nos, bleach and ammonia.

No, better to be really careful.

[Merrick]

12. I like Drano on eggs, but prefer LP on things like nachos and soup

[Jack_Dawson]

14. Great Advice! Thanks!

:eyes:

[Taverner]

13. Drano just tastes better

:shrug:

[NYC]

15. Salt and boiling water.

After you have used all the Drano & Liquid Plumber that you own, keep pouring salt and boiling water down the drain. This is good for dissolving soap scum, not for dissolving hair. Since your water does eventually drain, this may help a bit to clear the pipes of what is coating them (though do nothing for the hair).

Repeat this about once a week, even when you feel there is no need.

Pour a small amount of boiling water into the drain. Pour about 1/2 cup to 1 cup of salt, followed by half a cup of boling water.

Wait 15-20 minutes, then flush with boiling water.

This is a cheap way to maintain an open drain.

Hair is a problem. Drano contains lye, but even lye doesn't easily dissolve hair.

[n2mark]

17. Baking soda and white vinegar

[-..__...]

20. "Foaming Pipe Snake"

(Liquid Plumr" makes it)

I'd buy it just because of the name alone (what were the marketing people thinking of when they came up with that name?)

:evilgrin:

[Jack_Dawson]

21. LMAO!

Way to have a picture of it. LOL

[Zuni]

23. snake or plunger first. Only if they do not work use corrosives

I have had decent luck with drano crystals on an ever clogging shower drain

[Jack_Dawson]

25. I'm going w/ Drano

cause LP totally sucks.