Community Forums

Clicker1943 · 11-07-2018, 10:58 AM

Looking for a little advice on a slow draining shower. Started to drain slow about a week ago and I tried pouring hot water in. Helped for a day or so but no more. Sink drains fine. I don't want to put anything harmful in there so looking for what may have worked for others.

ThePowells · 11-07-2018, 11:03 AM

I'm sure that you have checked your gray tank level. Start with a long set of tweezers and make sure that there isn't hair at the strainer, and then there are several long plastic pieces that can be inserted in through the drain that will catch hair and pull it back out.

weredoingit · 11-07-2018, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clicker1944

Looking for a little advice on a slow draining shower. Started to drain slow about a week ago and I tried pouring hot water in. Helped for a day or so but no more. Sink drains fine. I don't want to put anything harmful in there so looking for what may have worked for others.

Like the POWELLS said, it's probably hair. Go to ACE hardware and buy that long plastic thing. It pulls hair out of your drain.

MSHappyCampers · 11-07-2018, 12:17 PM

This should do the job! Don't pay any attention to the warning that it is for one-time use only. That's just a lawyer thing! Just be careful with the barbs, they are sharp!

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Zip-It-B...0400/100665735

beenthere · 11-07-2018, 12:50 PM

why do you think some drain cleaner is bad?? they come in plastic bottles and your tank is not metal..

charliez · 11-07-2018, 12:54 PM

The seals in the valves are rubber and the sensors are ??? Just get a piece of wire and bend a hook in it. Not so much that it catches and won't come back out. L shape is usually fine. Push it down just past the drain top and start twisting. I'll bet you'll be grossed out as to what comes out.

Old-Biscuit · 11-07-2018, 01:21 PM

Zip-It.....

Then after you get the hair out buy a shower drain hair catcher\MANY to choose from

https://www.google.com/search?q=show...iw=911&bih=400

winniman · 11-07-2018, 03:03 PM

Get an old fashion toilet plunger, and put it over the shower drain. Fill the shower about half way up the plunger. Pull the plunger away, wait about one second, then plunge like crazy. You might be amazed at what comes up the drain. As stated, a piece of coat hanger with a small hook on the end will help pull hair from the trap as well.

traveler of california · 11-07-2018, 07:21 PM

The Zip It will do the job but Tiffin does not suggest its use. What I dois run a hose to the shower, wrap a small towel around it at the drain and hold it there while someone turns on the water. That will clean the drain.

Dutch Star Don · 11-07-2018, 10:47 PM

On many RV drains, there is a double strainer. Typically, they have a chrome strainer that has a center screw. If you remove the chrome strainer, there is often a second built in strainer under it. Remove the chrome one and clean out the second strainer.

Gary RVRoamer · 11-08-2018, 08:59 AM

You can use any septic-safe drain cleaner in the RV - don't worry about the plumbing.

However, shower drains are nearly always hair clogs and the hair-removal gadgets to pull it out are usually the quickest and most effective solution. Drain cleaners help breakdown the soapy residue that makes hair into a solid plug, but are very slow to dissolve the hair itself. You often end up using drain cleaner every week or two to keep the drain running adequately.

SuzanneH · 11-09-2018, 08:50 AM

I just want to WARN YOU....you have had some great suggestions here for clearing the drain but we don't know what kind of RV you have. Montana's use a duckbill rubber HepVo valve, and if you put one of those plastic barbed drain uncloggers down them, you risk pulling the duckbill valve inside out or worse, destroying it. Other RVs use them too, but I know for sure Montana uses these valves in their showers.

Using a plunger GENTLY is a better choice, if you still have a slow drain following hair removal at th drain entrance.

You can guess why I know what using one of those zip cleaner plastic thingys can do....

MSHappyCampers · 11-11-2018, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzanneH

I just want to WARN YOU....you have had some great suggestions here for clearing the drain but we don't know what kind of RV you have. Montana's use a duckbill rubber HepVo valve, and if you put one of those plastic barbed drain uncloggers down them, you risk pulling the duckbill valve inside out or worse, destroying it. Other RVs use them too, but I know for sure Montana uses these valves in their showers.

Using a plunger GENTLY is a better choice, if you still have a slow drain following hair removal at th drain entrance.

You can guess why I know what using one of those zip cleaner plastic thingys can do....

Good info!

steve11669 · 11-11-2018, 10:05 AM

My kitchen sink started backing up last year. My son is a plumber and told me not to use chemicles. He said get a small snake which I did and I ran it probably about 8 feet in. Its been great ever since. My kitchen is on a slide so there is a acute bow in a flex pipe but the snake worked.