Blocked shower drain - what REALLY works?

[RigidRaider]

Been cleaning out the under-shower trap regularly for years but recently it's still sluggish so reluctantly I've concluded that the hair and scum have now accumulated further downstream. I built the pipework so that it could be dismantled (long run with a very gentle fall through wall and under adjacent bath) but really can't face the arris-ache of taking it all apart and cleaning out the disgusting slime and hair, which makes me heave.

Is there an easy fix? What miracle product can I pour down?

 

[stem]

I've not found a product that works really effectively, probably because anything really strong would either damage the plastic pipes / seals, or contains chemicals that shouldn't be discharged into the public drains.

A decent plunger works well when I have this problem. The waste pipe doesn't have to be completely blocked for it to work.

 

[texasholden]

I'm not sure there is.

Most of those strong disolving solutions need time to work, so they're great for disolving the hair etc that gets collected by shower traps - because you fill up the shower trap with them and leave them overnight to work.

In your case I'd imagine that the solution will pretty quickly drain away, and so won't have time to disolve all the crap in the pipe. Can't you get a drain rod, or pipe cleaner down there?

 

[Porque223]

I run a hose from a faucet and force hot water down the drain for a minute or so. You can make a gasket from rags.
Depending on where the restriction is dirty water may come out of other drains or vent pipes on the roof so have helpers standing by.

 

[hazetimesfive]

jeys dizolve

 

[HERTS P&D]

Wickes wet n dry vacuum clears all sink/bath/basin and shower trays.



Andy

 

[Slugbabydotcom]

Try this
I suggest you take note of the safety instructions as this stuff can be nasty in a confined space

 

[RigidRaider]

Thanks. Will borrow a suction cup then try the caustic, got some of that in the labs here at work I think.

 

[stem]

Make sure that the "suction cup" is one of these

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• stem
• 21 Jun 2013
• 2

and not one of these cheap DIY shed items

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• stem
• 21 Jun 2013
• 2

If there's an overflow on your shower tray then you will need to cover it up during the plunging operation to stop the pressure escaping.