Slow Shower Drain

[Pete Masterson]

The drain opening chemicals are based on Lye and are highly caustic.
(The powdered form of Draino is lye with bits of aluminum added. When
water is added, the lye interacts with the aluminum creating heat --
this helps "boil out" the clog.)

Personally, I'd avoid using Drano (or other chemical drain openers)
in an RV. Once it passes through the drain into the holding tank,
you've effectively made a very nasty brew that you then have to
drain. (Dilute with LOTS of water.) Inadvertent contact with the
holding tank contents might damage clothes -- or you...

What I'd suggest is first try a mechanical snake. One with a small
diameter (and not very long) should reach from the shower into the
holding tank. A hand-crank model or one driven with an electric drill
should be more than sufficient.

There are also water pressure based devices. Essentially, you hook a
hose to a rubber thing that expands in the drain, sealing the
opening, then water is forced behind the clog. If it doesn't open up
the pipes, it will clear the clog. If the clog is beyond a junction
with other pipes, it will cause water to come up the other drains,
unless you can adequately seal them. (I don't really recommend this
one either, but sometimes desperation comes into the equation.)

If you have some flow, I'd try a mixture of very hot water with a
generous amount of washing soda (Arm & Hammer brand in a yellow box
near the borax and other washing aids in the laundry detergent
section of a store -- NOT baking soda, but WASHING soda). It's a
little weaker than trisodium phosphate, that's often suggested as a
cleaning prep for painting. If a couple of shots of the washing soda
doesn't clear the clog, then try the trisodium phosphate (get it at a
paint store or a good hardware store that has a paint department).

Since most clogs in a sink or shower are hair, and they often 'hang'
a short way down from the drain opening, usually at the trap, a short
snake may be all that's really required.

===============================================
Pete Masterson, Author of
Book Design and Production: A Guide for Authors and Publishers
Aeonix1@...
Aeonix Publishing Group http://www.aeonix.com
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On Nov 30, 2008, at 2:13 PM, Scott Forman wrote:

> Is it safe to use a regular drain cleaner like Drain-O in my shower
> drain?
>