Dumb Plumbing Question…?
Our shower drain is clogged, and it’s getting worse. At first Drano worked, but it doesn’t anymore. I know if I call a plumber all he’ll do is snake the drain, and charge me $200 just for coming out. So, I went to Home Depot and bought a $15 drain snake. Now, here’s the dumb question: how do I remove the metal grate covering the drain? It looks like it’s in there pretty solid, and the snake won’t fit through the grate. Do I have to chip away at the plaster surrounding it? Then, how do I replace it? Will I need to re-plaster, or is there some sort of special adhesive to use?
Also, if there are any other solutions aside from Drano or the snake, I’m open to that as well. Thanks!
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You should have what is called a “Clean out” somewhere in the yard along the path of the sewer line. if you can find it, you open it and run the snake towards the house and then away from the house.
The drain grate you are talking about some of them screw in and some of them simply pop off. So if you don’t see screws then I would try to pop it off and run the snake from the inside.
You can also purchase a stronger drain cleaner at any plumbing shop.
Usually if there are no screws visible, the top of the plate will pop out if you pry it up with a flat screwdriver. But before you do that, the snake will not usually go around the trap. If you have a raised foundation you can get to it via a cleanout from below the house. If you have slab, you can go in from a roof vent or an outside cleanout. You might also be able to dislodge the clog using a stiff wire coat hanger through the shower drain. Use a twisting motion to get it to “snake” around the trap. Good luck!
If you don’t have slow drains anywhere else in the house, then the problem is probably a combination of hair and undissolved soap. Once you remove the screen from the drain(more than likely pressed in) you should be able to remove the wad of hair and soap with needle nosed pliers. Get ready, It looks like a dead rat coming out of the drain. No drain cleaning product I know of will cut through hair or soap. All it does is burn the person that ends up taking the drain apart. By the way, the only dumb questions are ones that aren’t asked.
below the shower in the bath tub there is a silver circle unscrew that you will find a hole snake it thru that hole
I agree the only dumb question is the one not asked!!
get needle-nosed pliers… open them and stick the ends in the holes on the drain cover as wide as possible… then use the pliers to turn the drain cover….be sure to UN tighten it!!… when you go to replace the drain cover, you may need to have plumber’s putty handy to make sure the seal is replaced right…..
if the clog is ‘getting worrse’, I’m betting you have a ‘roots’ problem out there…. watch for what comes back to you when you drag the snake back out… inspect closely to see if there’s roots tangled in the tip end…. if so, you’ll need that plumber after all…. or roto-rooter, at least…