What’s an alternative to those harsh chemicals for a clogged drain?
Like most home owners who have a drain problem, I don’t like using chemicals in my home, but my hair clogged the shower drain before I could get a screen to stop it. Anyone know of something else that will work?
The water will not soakaway and I think the shower drain is blocked after the waste trap.
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How can I clear the kitchen sink drain without using chemicals. I live by a lake and the water goes into a lagoon so I don’t want to contaminate the ground. The last thing I want to do is clear the drain and ruin the environment. The drain seems to block regularly, are there any tips?...
Hot water.
Basically all the chemicals do are heat up the pipes and thus breaking up the clog.
I use a little baking soda and then a splash of vinegar in my drains to help keep them clear. I don’t know if will tackle a major clog like hair, but it’s worth a try.
Other than that, just keep plunging and flushing with hot water.
Use a plumber’s snake to pull the clog out (these are available at any hardware or home store). Here’s a site which shows how to do it.
Try using a plug to loosen the hair then run hot water down the drain, That usually work.
You don’t have to use chemicals at all–you can clear a clog using a hand snake. This is a simple mechanical tool that slips into the drain to break up the clog. Good tool to have around. In a pinch you sometimes can also fish out the hair with a bent piece of wire. FYI clearing a shower drain is sort of like clearing a sink drain.
Here’s a primer on clearing clogs of any sort, anywhere:
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Another way to clear drains is to take a hose up on your roof and insert it in the air vent and turn the water on full force. This is good to do on all your vents to clean drains. Some of the other suggestions will help too.
I had the same problem. I put a wet rag over the vent and vacuumed out the drain with my wet/dry shop vac. It worked!!
a drain snake,you can also buy drain strips,they are 3ft.long pieces of plastic with barbs on either end,push it down the drain and pull it back,when it comes back it will pull all that hair back with it.they come in a 3 pack,not expensive at all,maybe 5bucks,they can be used over over too.
I agree with all the above that say you should try a snake. An alternative that might work is a zipit, if the clog is in the trap. I have seen drain cleaning chemicals – used on a regular basis – eat holes in cast-iron pipe.
Clogged drains should be cleared with a snake. Drains that clog repeatedly should be repaired, IMHO.
Like others have said try azip-itt, find at home depot,Lowe’s. Vinegar,and baking soda is a good alternative to chemicals.It works wonders on sinks or tubs were people shave.