Will Drano Max solve my issue?

[MalfunctionProne]

Slow drain. I noticed this when filling up water: (*also that the water from kitchen sink is brown and sink is cloudy..)

I hate Newark.

So... Drano Max? And do you let it "sit?"

 

[Bandito440]

Have the landlord deal with it.

 

[Rick in PA]

We have a tub that was chronic for stopping up. I use to take the filter out of my wet & dry vac. Then wrap a wet washrag around the vacuum hose to seal to the drain. Then take another wet washrag and cover the overflow drain (under the drain control lever). Then go at it with the vacuum. Maybe refill the drain a couple of times and vacuum out as much gunk as possible.

Since then I've got a sink strainer and put that in the tub drain. It has to be cleaned once a day, I use a waste Q-tip swab after I shower. The drain hasn't clogged since.

I'm leery of harsh chemicals. If they don't work, then you have a stopped drain plus caustic chemicals to deal with.

 

[skyactiv]

Try the commercial strength Drano in the yellow bottle. Try using a proper rubber toilet plunger first. Try using it on the drain lever, too. You might need to remove the drain lever.

 

[chiefsfan1]

Originally Posted By: Rick in PA
We have a tub that was chronic for stopping up. I use to take the filter out of my wet & dry vac. Then wrap a wet washrag around the vacuum hose to seal to the drain. Then take another wet washrag and cover the overflow drain (under the drain control lever). Then go at it with the vacuum. Maybe refill the drain a couple of times and vacuum out as much gunk as possible.

Since then I've got a sink strainer and put that in the tub drain. It has to be cleaned once a day, I use a waste Q-tip swab after I shower. The drain hasn't clogged since.

I'm leery of harsh chemicals. If they don't work, then you have a stopped drain plus caustic chemicals to deal with.


Great idea!

 

[Cujet]

I had a chronic drain issue at the washing machine trap in an older home with cast iron pipe. Nothing worked. Except,,,

One day, I put Draino max in there and forgot I had done that. 2 days later, the drain was 100% clear and has never clogged since.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Assuming you're an apartment dweller, it's a maintenance issue. If it's your own home then you can buy an inexpensive snake and run it down the drain to clean it up-it's something any homeowner should have in their toolbox.

 

[Corvette Owner]

Buy one of those cheap, plastic rippers, which is a long, flexible piece of plastic, with barbs on the sides. You insert it and pull it out a few times. They work great when physical items block drains.

http://zipitclean.com

 

[Chris142]

My tub looks like yours and clogs often. Ilast time I removed that vent thing about a ft up and plugged it with a rag. I then hammered on the drain hole with a plunger. Got a bunch of hair and rust out.

Flows again.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Have the landlord deal with it.


+1. Unless you have a drain snake (which is what you need), don't mess with it.

 

[demarpaint]

For less that $5 you can buy a plastic drain snake like the first two in the picture.

https://www.google.com/search?q=plastic+...mp;ved=0CEMQsAQ

Home Depot sells them. What's nice is you shove it straight down the drain, and don't have to mess with the trap. You'd be amazed at what comes out. Try that, then add the Drano, that's if you don't feel like calling the landlord.

 

[andyd]

A side effect of going bald is clogged drains. Every few yrs, I go after a slow tub drain. I unscrew the lever and the drain screen. Then I straighten out a wire hanger. Usually, a few minutes yields a soapy , hairy mess of hair. I call it a rat. That's it. A flush of water proves it,I put the drain lever back in place and done.

I'm not a big fan of lye.

 

[Plumber]

If you do put it in the drain, and it does not work, PLEASE OH PLEASE tell the guy who is coming to snake the drain as to what you did!

That stuff causes burns, headaches from fumes...bad news.

 

[georgemiller]

Instant Power 33.8 oz. Hair and Grease Drain Opener.


I own several rentals and have used this product with great success. Worker at Home Depot recommended it to me.

For 8 bucks it's worth a shot.

Also has great reviews on Amazon.

 

[3800Series]

It might work iv always liked the bleach and plunger method.

Plunger new of course. Fill full of water and bleach. Let drain alitte, plung, drain, plung, drain. Etc.

When waters all the way gone pour a decent amount of bleach into drain and let it sit for awhile.

My house is over 100 years old. In the 100 years its had countless owners and renters. The patch's have caught up. It works for me tho.

 

[Kira]

Hello, Good posts all.
I just want to point out another cause of drain problems.
This happened in my mother's house. It stymied my brother and me.

A run of drain pipe in Mom's bathroom sink was made of cheap iron. It was packed with rust flakes.

A snake twisted its way through the flakes. Then the flakes would all fall back against each other.
They were too heavy to rinse away. There is no chemical for that.

Disassembly was required. Does the OP have a snake? Good luck, Kira

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: MalfunctionProne
Slow drain. I noticed this when filling up water: (*also that the water from kitchen sink is brown and sink is cloudy..)

I hate Newark.

So... Drano Max? And do you let it "sit?"


Not sure what Newark has to do with it. If you're living un a tenament because that's what you can handle, well, tenamets are all over the country.

And doesn't matter where it is, it's a landlord issue, so I'd have them come fix it.

One might argue that it's your hair and dirt clogging e drain close by, so a modest attempt to fix it is prudent. If you're willing to go that route, I'd use one of these

http://t.homedepot.com/p/BrassCraft-Zip-It-Bath-and-Sink-Hair-Snare-BC00400/100665735

Home Depot and lowes sells them. I'm know I bought one in theLowes in east Rutherford on 17 not too long ago.

Clean the local trap and anything beyond that $2 attempt is on the landlord.

 

[Mr Nice]

Yep, try the $2 plastic zip. You pay rent and landlord needs to resolve this problem.

Is your wife's hair seen in the tub after she takes a shower ?
Mabye remove the long hair before it goes down the drain.

 

[Rand]

While drinking the Drain-o Max would solve your problems, I'd advise against it.

Being a renter just call the landlord.

 

[Papa Bear]

Try a toilet plunger first.
Remember that it is the "pulling up" of the plunger that does the work, not he pushing.