View Full Version : Remove grout from shower drain
DCLoya
Mar 29, 2009, 05:47 PM
Hi. I recently put tile in my shower. I put it on the wall and on the floor. I took showers in there before it completely dried. So the grout went into the shower drain. Does anyone know how to take grout out of the drain?
21boat
Mar 29, 2009, 07:32 PM
The thought here is how much went into drain/
Do you have Pvc Pipe or cast?
DCLoya
Mar 29, 2009, 08:29 PM
I am not sure. It's the shower that is in the basement. I don't know if that would be any help
21boat
Mar 29, 2009, 09:18 PM
No it wouldn't help.
Are you on septic system and how much grout washed down the sewer line?
DCLoya
Mar 29, 2009, 10:08 PM
I'm not sure how much went down it was clogged whenever I turned the water on. Do you know if muratic hydrochloric acid will eat it up and solve my problem? Thanks
speedball1
Mar 30, 2009, 06:35 AM
Any tile distributor should carry sulfamic acid crystals.
You dilute them in water as directed.
I believe even home depot carry's them in the same
Section of the tile dept. that has grout sealers etc.
Sulfamic acid acts in much the same way as muratic,
Attacking cement based products, but is milder and
Safer. Muratic acid is like asbestos insulation...
There are too many safer alternatives to warrant it's use
In the tile business. I;m concerned that you also clogged the weep holes in the shower drain.and I would also snake and flush the line after to remove any grout remaining. Good luck, n Tom
21boat
Mar 30, 2009, 06:36 AM
There is a product called Shurkleen that we use to acid wash brick down that has Iron in it. Muratic acid rust steel.
I would use the ShurKleen for the simple reason that Muratic acid attacks metal more
http://www.prosoco.com/ProductDetail.asp?ID={ABD70407-F9C2-49FC-BB14-0866655A70B6}
DCLoya
Mar 30, 2009, 06:07 PM
Would vinegar work?
speedball1
Mar 31, 2009, 03:40 AM
Would vinegar work? To eat up tile grout? I doubt it very much. Acid or perhaps Shur Kleen would be much more affective. Good luck, Tom
DCLoya
Apr 1, 2009, 02:18 PM
I only found virgin sulfamic acid. I put it down the drain and it didn't do anhthing. Where can I purchase shurkleen?
21boat
Apr 1, 2009, 04:37 PM
I get it at the masonry supply house. It comes in a gallon jug. Its mostly used in the commercial end of cleaning brick on buildings. Not really a home owners thing. I would use it full strength. It van be mixed 3 parts water to one part cleaner like muriatic
Muriatic acid would be the last product to use but its so caustic
http://www.chasephipps.com/Est%20Charts/Masonry%20Cleaners/Masonry%20Cleaners.htm
http://www.chasephipps.com/documents/Prosoco/600%20Detergent/600%20Detergent%20Data.pdf
Milo Dolezal
Apr 1, 2009, 06:03 PM
This happens when you wash new grout from just grouted walls and floor, and allow water mixed with grout to enter drain... Common problem with tile setters...
I would not recommend using any chemicals.
I hope you have plastic drains...
Take long screwdriver. It must be long enough to reach bottom of the trap. Gently tap on it several times. It will pop loose in one large. Take shop-vac and vacuum it out.
If you have Cast Iron trap, do the same..
Key word here is "gently". You don't want to punch hole in your trap.