Clearing blocked bath waste

daveyjp

One shot drain cleaner - i.e. concentrated sulphuric acid.

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=one+shot+drain+cleaner&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&rlz=1I7GGIH_en-GB&safe=active&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=4181198691868306346#

Never failed me yet.

Dognobs

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-Velcro-snake-drain-cleaner/ works better than you think!!

pinkteapot

I use those chemical drain cleaners you talked about OP for bathroom wastes as well as the kitchen one and they do work.

Mr Muscle Sink and Plughole Unblocker works. I also use another one that I can't remember the name of - it's in a silver bottle which has two separate halves in it. When you pour it down the drain, the two different liquids mix and form a foam. That one's good; the foam fills the whole pipe. (EDIT: Love Google - it's Mr Muscle Sink & Drain Foamer)

On our main wastes (kitchen sink and shower cubicle) I use one of these cleaners every couple of months to keep it clear. Stops it becoming slow-running.

We have chrome wastes everywhere and they've never been damaged. I used to live in a flat that had had a really cheap bathroom put in. The waste had a thin chrome film which was peeling off and the cleaner did make that worse, but that was a very cheap fitting. All the ones in our current house are fine. I don't even rinse them straight away as the stuff needs to be left to work for a while. If in doubt you could apply a teeny bit to the chrome with a cotton bud and see if it causes any problems.

manda1205

The Buster bathroom sink unblocker (in a black bottle) works well for me. I leave it overnight and the rinse in the morning with hot water. Has worked every time, though I've no idea if it damages chrome or not. Mine has slightly gone brown in places, but i think it's because it's getting old and was with a cheap bathroom suite rather than anything I've put on it.

torbrex

I used to use chemicals to clear the drains in my house but I was recommended to buy the Kilrock Drainblock Buster instead, it has saved me a lot of money over the 5 years that I have had it It acts the opposite to a plunger in as much as it fires a powerful jet of water down the drain, breaking up and pushing the blockage ahead of it.

Link to Amazon

I got mine from my local Plumcentre, it was about £7 when I got it.

jhe

i use the bathroom chemical unblocker, it took the surface of my old chrome waste . i now pour it carefully through the holes avoiding the chrome then leave overnight

micmac22

measure from plug hole to the wall where your outlet waste pipe goes through add 3 ft to measurment lenth, get ladders out if needed go to waste pipe exit outside, you will see elbow joint on pipe, to remove pull and twist on elbow joint while holding steady the waste pipe comming through wall ( DO NOT pull on the waste pipe comming through the wall or push on it) it will pop off and you can push it back on. use some old electric wire make a hook on end to measurements taken. rake the pipe and hold your breath (smelly) job done.
the problem is hole through the wall is to high or you have a long lenth of waste pipe under bath not supported and its sagging so the water is not flowing down the pipe quick enough to remove debries.
while your their the pipe hole in the brick wall will of been sealed up with foam / cement can you remove a good 5-10mm from the bottom of hole to drop pipe lower this may stop it from happening again. Ps to your hubby for this reply (sorry mate)

Hugbubble

micmac22 wrote: »

measure from plug hole to the wall where your outlet waste pipe goes through add 3 ft to measurment lenth, get ladders out if needed go to waste pipe exit outside, you will see elbow joint on pipe, to remove pull and twist on elbow joint while holding steady the waste pipe comming through wall ( DO NOT pull on the waste pipe comming through the wall or push on it) it will pop off and you can push it back on. use some old electric wire make a hook on end to measurements taken. rake the pipe and hold your breath (smelly) job done.
the problem is hole through the wall is to high or you have a long lenth of waste pipe under bath not supported and its sagging so the water is not flowing down the pipe quick enough to remove debries.
while your their the pipe hole in the brick wall will of been sealed up with foam / cement can you remove a good 5-10mm from the bottom of hole to drop pipe lower this may stop it from happening again. Ps to your hubby for this reply (sorry mate)

Thanks- but I live in a flat so this wouldn't be possible for me

Thanks to everyone for all the replies. I'm going to give Mr Muscle a go!

27col

Any one who has a non accessible bath waste is just asking for trouble. Fixed, tiled bath panels are a glaring example of appearance before practicality. The people who design and install them know that they are never going to be involved in their maintenance.
This problem would never occur in a self build house. Because you know that if there is problem, you are the one who is going to have to clear it, and you take the appropriate precautions to ensure that all traps can be accessed.

Ben84

Taking apart the drain might be a problem anyway, it could be very old metal plumbing or it might be modern plastic and not go back together again properly. I'd try using a coat hanger to hook out the hair, or if you decide to put some chemicals down there use a plastic funnel to stop it getting on the bath and metal plughole when you pour it down.