What do you use to unclog a shower drain if you have a septic tank?

Question

I usually shave my head in the shower. I let my hair grow out quite a bit and I hated it. It was too hot and too much trouble to deal with so shaved my head with a hair shaver. Most of the time it works, because there is not enough hair going down the drain to matter. This time, however, there was enough to clog it. It's not totally clogged, but drains really, really slowly and backs up a little when it finishs draining. Is it safe to use Liquid Plumer or something similar to that to unclog my drain if I have a septic tank?

Answer 1

Just unscrew the trap and pull out whatever's in there. Right there is usually where the problem occurs.

Answer 2

Hello, I am not sure about the septic tank being able to handle "uncloggers," but I would like to strongly recommend a very good drain clog remover. It's called "Instant Power" and it says "Hair & Grease" on the front of the bottle in big, red letters. The only place Ive see this sold (where I got mine) is at Home Depot.

Ask an associate where the drain clog remover things are, and when they tell you where they are at, look for a black bottle in a big, clear, zip-lock style bag. It works extremely well AND it doesn't have a strong smell either! It's about $11 a gallon, and you every application is only 1-2 cups of liquid.

Answer 3

Main Line Cleaner
available at WalMart $10/gallon
I believe it's ok for septic tanks (check the label)

although it says use the whole thing - I would use 1/2 gallon.
cover overnight with a plate

then use a container to catch a gallon of water to get it HOT
and then take the gallon container away (oh yeah - pick up the plate) and let the hot water run through for 5 minutes - then pour
the gallon of water in to really flush it out

best of luck (used four gallons in two houses)
one quart went down a leaf filled rain downspout - and the stuff
cleaned out the leaves! W O W

given up on liquid plumper

Answer 4

Plumbers helper from Home Depot, the commercial stuff. It has sulfuric acid in it and will eat or dissolve the hair in the drain. Make sure you be careful and use HOT water to flush it down.

To prevent this from happening again get a cover from Home Depot for this purpose, it will prevent the hair from going into the drain. Most shower plug ups are from hair being washed in the shower.

Answer 5

a .410 shotgun usually works best under these circumstances: Use bird shot as that will leave the least damage, then follow it up with Drano.
Or a .22 with the same load.
Ask Vince Foster.
If Bill doesn't carry a gold plated .22 revolver derringer, as all American Presidents do, a gift from North American Arms?

Answer 6

carefully remove the strainer cap.
bend a coat hanger and make a small hook on one end and push down the drain hole and bring the hair back up.
suggested in another response: cut your hair somewhere else than over a drain.
You may wish to call Dick Cheney to come over with his gun and just shoot it out! I would suggest hiding your wife children and pets and get behind something thick.

Answer 7

LOL :-D now I've heard it all!!
use caustic soda, it's ok for septics.
If it does cause a problem for the septic, you can buy enzymes to rectify it for not much. But has never been an issue for us.

Answer 8

(Rolling eyes at silly men & their ideas!)
Hair doesn't dissolve in water or septic tanks.Do it over a bucket next time,or the trash can!
Get a plunger & work it real hard or call the sh*t sucker truck!