What prodcut(s) do you all recommend for dissolving organic matter in slow drains?

I know there is no replacement for a snake. However, there are several products out there that advertise "won't harm pipes." What's the best active ingredient to look for? Some use chemicals which reportedly only dissolve organic matter (and not the plastic or metal of the pipe). What's the best chemical: sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, or ?? Others use enzymes or bacteria which do essentially the same thing. I am not on a septic system.

XenoSapien

There actually is somewhat of a replacement for the snake. Take apart all the pipes you can and manually clean them. Unless the slow-drain problem is deeper in the line, you'd be surprised how cleaning out the pipes that you can see and work with helps.

XenoSapien

ptnoble

Well, I am specifically trying to find out about products that you pour into the drain.

Partly, just for the knowledge. Partly because one of my slow drains is a bathtub.

iamgrowler

I'm one of those Plumbers who won't dirty his hands chasing 'Brown Trout'.

That's kind of a crude way of saying I don't do service work, btw.

OTOH, I've had very good luck with the 'foaming Liquid Plumr' product when doing prep work for re-pipes and remodels.

Just my two pence.

XenoSapien

Liquids generally only do so much. Cleaning it to the point where it's like a brand new pipe will do better than any liquid product, period.

XenoSapien

iamgrowler

Sure, but your advice is contingent upon the pipes accessible for removal and cleaning -- Which pretty much narrows the scope down to the p-trap and tail piece of a sink (lavatory, laundry tub, bar sink or kitchen sink).

And that covers what, about a foot and a half of piping?

Don't get me wrong, Xeno, manually taking those pieces apart and giving them a thorough cleaning is a great place to start -- But there is a great deal more to cleaning out a drainage system than removing and manually cleaning the trap and trap arm.

The Poster is speaking directly about a bath tub drain -- Exactly which parts of the drain would you recommend he remove to manually clean?

If the tub is on the first floor with a crawlspace below, then the answer is obvious -- But what if it's on the first floor with a finished basement below?

Or on the second, third or fourth floor with a finished ceiling below?

Y'know, I *do* honestly feel bad for picking your advice apart -- But it's going to take awhile for you to live down that 'piece of paper' bit.

XenoSapien

Right. But the level of where the bathroom is located has never been mentioned by the poster. Second, the poster says, "partly because one of my drains is a bathtub" which clearly insinuates that he is also talking about two drains: a tub and a sink. The sink should be accessible, and I'd s*** a brick if that wasn't accessible.

Again, you are right. It is more than cleaning out the pipes that are able to be cleaned, but let's look at the facts: most clogs are hair and hair products that love to build up on the stopper assembly, then migrate to the p trap, that only houses these undesireables. Take all these things out, take a paper towel and twist it around a large regular screw-driver, and shove it through every accessible pipe a plumber can access.

XenoSapien

ballengerb1

Probably the real plumbers will laugh at this one but I swear by it and its cheap. Mix 1/2 cup salt with 1/2 cup baking soda, dump dry mix in the drain. Add a cup of vinegar and stand back and watch the foaming. Allow to sit over night and flush with a bucket of the hottest what available.

XenoSapien

Ya' know, ballengerb1, I heard about doing that. Baking soda is a remarkable product...

XenoSapien

ballengerb1

Yep, just don't stand over the drain when you add the vinegar. I don't know the ins and outs of the reaction but it really cuts the crap loose and the hot water doesn't hurt the next day.