The house: early 1950s on slab in Tucson with the original clay sewer lines.
Problem: Shower floor drain shower keeps backing up. It’s been doing this for about 1.5 years. For the first year, it was about every three or four months. It was never a full blockage, but a serious slowdown. I would clear it with a hand snake and it would be good to go another three or four months.
In November, I had a license plumber (independent, in business since 1940s, no “rooter” in the name. You guys would approve) clear the drain thinking that would take care of it once and for all. He snaked out 40 feet and said he didn’t find much except some hair. Two weeks later, it backed up worse than ever but I was able to clear with a hand snake again.
About a month ago, and on the advice of my father-in-law, who’s a retired plumber, I did a treatment of Drano Buildup Remover (this one surprised me b/c he’s always taken a dim view of liquid drain cleaners, but may the buildup remover is different?). Now, the drain backs up almost immediately when we turn on the shower every other day. But two to four hits with a floor plunger clears it.
So the bottom line is every time I do something to fix the problem there’s either no effect or it gets worse. Any thoughts?
We’re not having any other problems and the P-trap in the shower was replaced in July, 2008.
Thanks, Tim
Problem: Shower floor drain shower keeps backing up. It’s been doing this for about 1.5 years. For the first year, it was about every three or four months. It was never a full blockage, but a serious slowdown. I would clear it with a hand snake and it would be good to go another three or four months.
In November, I had a license plumber (independent, in business since 1940s, no “rooter” in the name. You guys would approve) clear the drain thinking that would take care of it once and for all. He snaked out 40 feet and said he didn’t find much except some hair. Two weeks later, it backed up worse than ever but I was able to clear with a hand snake again.
About a month ago, and on the advice of my father-in-law, who’s a retired plumber, I did a treatment of Drano Buildup Remover (this one surprised me b/c he’s always taken a dim view of liquid drain cleaners, but may the buildup remover is different?). Now, the drain backs up almost immediately when we turn on the shower every other day. But two to four hits with a floor plunger clears it.
So the bottom line is every time I do something to fix the problem there’s either no effect or it gets worse. Any thoughts?
We’re not having any other problems and the P-trap in the shower was replaced in July, 2008.
Thanks, Tim