Liquid Plumber or Draino

[Crmzendrgone]

Which one of these product is the better to clear clogged sinks and shower drains. Keep in mind there are three females in this house and one boy that likes long hair so if you can imagine the clog.

[BernieB]

How about "none of the above"?

If you're having problems with hair clogs the cheapest and easiest fix is a gallon of bleach from the dollar store. Just pour the whole gallon down the affected drain, let it sit for a few hours (or all day while you're at work, or overnight) then run cold water down the drain. The bleach dissolves the hair, can't damage the pipes, and doing this once a month or so keeps the drains clear.

A word of caution though, DO NOT, EVER use bleach either before or after using any other drain cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, etc. as it will create chlorine gas that can be deadly. Only use this if you know that no other cleaners have been used on that drain, or that it's been completely flushed with water.

(BTW, my hair is down to my belt, and the g/f's is to the back of her knees, so we know about hair clogs here.)

[Kennyray]

I agree with Bernie, But I don't have the hair to worry about , just a big shiny spot on the back of my head.

[leolkfrm]

plunger and plastic traps!

[silverhairdeere]

if you use bleach you will kill the enzymes in your septic system , better to us a bio diegrable treatment in the drains once and awhile

shd

[BernieB]

Originally Posted by silverhairdeere

if you use bleach you will kill the enzymes in your septic system , better to us a bio diegrable treatment in the drains once and awhile

shd

If he has a septic system, yes, use something that's safe for septic systems, but you can still use the bleach, just not the whole bottle. Use a quart at a time (just enough to fill the trap) and it won't hurt the septic system at all.

[gmctrucks]

Originally Posted by Kennyray

I agree with Bernie, But I don't have the hair to worry about , just a big shiny spot on the back of my head.

Kenny that's funny........ Also Bernie I have heard that beach down the drain will also keep the plumbing clean from tree roots is it true?
Thanks! GMC
PS-Bernie has a good point at my moms house when I was married with my ex-wife our kitchen drain had clogged up so the ex added some acid to the sink while water was in it and it melted the PVC pipes under the sink which in turn ate out the bottom of a can of oven cleaner well my daughter must have been three years old and we were asleep when she heard a noise in the kitchen so she went over there and there was a fire under the sink I got the water hoses and turned it off I will never forget that and it taught the ex a good lesson and our daughter saved our lives as well. Also I will never forget that clog it turned out to be the pipes had collapsed in the foundation bad............it was a big job.

[BernieB]

You'd have to use an awful lot of bleach to really affect tree roots and, if they've already penetrated the line it's too late anyway. The line needs to be replaced or relined.

That being said, there are better products on the market for removing tree roots, and they do work quite well. But the line is still going to need work to fix the breaks.

[bradrhale]

i dont use anything for sink drains. P traps are too easy to remove and clean out by hand. shower drains are usually stopped up with hair but can most of the time be cleared by using a doctored up clothes hanger. only drain opener i have ever put in was when i know there is no possible way to get the clog out. of course, at that point usually involves an excavation. i despise people that throw brown paper towels into the toilets handfuls at the time.

[Kennyray]

For clogs that cant be reached ( generally Little White Mice, if ya know what I mean) I have always used a power auger