Slow shower drain

[TimmyB]

Having a very minor issue with the shower drain. Living full-time and we know what it was since new. Not a huge slow-down but just enough to be annoying while taking a shower.

We have tried the baking soda and vinegar trick and that has actually worked well in the past. Seems like it's not helping much any more. Someone suggested Dawn liquid; that didn't seem to do much either. We tried two doses, once for 15 minutes the other for an hour before hot water on top of it.



In the pic, you can see the shower drain is on it's own pipe with a waterless trap in line before it connects at the "Y" to the pipe coming in from the washer and bathroom sink. No problems with either of those two draining. And trust me with that, because with that wonderful Whirlpool washer, the drain pump sensor would be going crazy if water were having ANY difficulty getting out of the machine. It goes off when it's empty and not even running, for pete's sake!

My guess is that waterless trap is the problem (or just in front of it). Unfortunately, there seems to be no realistic way to get to it to remove it without special tools. (This pic was taken by removing the heater vent, which is only about a 5" circle. By the time I could actually get my hand on the trap, I was elbow deep in that hole and no leverage whatsoever to try to loosen it.)

So, my questions are:

1) Are there any "safe" solvents out there to maybe bust up whatever the problem is? I've seen some RV'ers using a product using an enzyme-based product called Green Gobbler, but I've seen several people say even this is not safe.

2) If there are not any safe solutions, what would I need to remove this trap so I could take it out and inspect/clean it? I'm sure someone with plumbing experience would know exactly what kind of wrench this would take but I'm not that person. Yet.

Thanks for any helpful suggestions and advice.

[Lt Dan]

Liquid Plumber, Drano and other drain cleaners are safe to use in the HEPVO waterless traps. I have to occasionally use some LP in our shower drain. Main thing is do not use a drain snake or one of those zipper drain cleaners as it will tear up the membrane in the trap.

[TimmyB]

Originally Posted by Lt Dan

Liquid Plumber, Drano and other drain cleaners are safe to use in the HEPVO waterless traps. I have to occasionally use some LP in our shower drain. Main thing is do not use a drain snake or one of those zipper drain cleaners as it will tear up the membrane in the trap.

So, this won't hurt other things? They always scare the you-know-what out of you that you're going to destroy seals and you'll have water everywhere, etc! Definitely won't use one of those mechanical devices. There's a big sticker right on the front face of our shower telling us that's a big no-no.

Thanks for the quick reply!!!

[bwanna2016]

i don't have a waterless trap. my drain was really slow also. unscrewed the shower drain screen and i made a small hook at the end of a piece of bailing wire and pulled out gobs of soapy, scummy hair. problem solved.

[TimmyB]

Originally Posted by bwanna2016

i don't have a waterless trap. my drain was really slow also. unscrewed the shower drain screen and i made a small hook at the end of a piece of bailing wire and pulled out gobs of soapy, scummy hair. problem solved.

Unfortunately, not an option with our setup.

[Onyrlef]

Your options seem to be limited, the simplest being a drain cleaner and the extreme being removing the anti-siphon device and cleaning it out. You could scope the drain easily enough just to be sure the device is where the problem is occurring. Otherwise, if it comes to removing the device, I can’t imagine doing that without gaining access directly underneath. I’ve done a good piece of plumbing over the years and never come across any type of tool that’s going to enable you to remove and then reinstall your device from that angle and distance.

[Tskadberg]

Might you be able to disable your existing waterless trap and install another one at a more accessible place? Just brain storming.

[Dutch Star Don]

I haven't seen this mentioned and unknown if you're aware. The chrome cover on the drain of many motorhomes has a screw in the center to remove it. Often, there is a second set of cross bars to keep large items from going down the drain. Remove the cover and check for hair.

[TimmyB]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

I haven't seen this mentioned and unknown if you're aware. The chrome cover on the drain of many motorhomes has a screw in the center to remove it. Often, there is a second set of cross bars to keep large items from going down the drain. Remove the cover and check for hair.

Yeah, that's the first thing I looked for. Just a solid piece of brass with a cross in the middle to prevent anything from getting too far down there. Using just a screwdriver and needle-nose pliers, I was able to get a pretty good chunk of disgusting hair and gunk out. Not perfect but it was better today than yesterday.

Thanks for the help!

[DanleyFarm]

I had the slow shower problem as well. This is what I did. I had a small plunger “yes I know you are not supposed to use them on those drains”, but if you do not let it pull back up you’re fine. So what I did was put water In shower push down on plunger then take my other hand and break the suction. Now remember not to pull back up or it will invert the membrane. It worked for me the first time. It pushed the clog down and into the tank. Then I found this great hair stopper at Walmart. It works perfect as I have long hair. You do have to take the screw out and remove the grill. I also did that before I used the plunger. Hope it works for you!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/ShowerShr...less/683585727

[TimmyB]

Originally Posted by DanleyFarm

I had the slow shower problem as well. This is what I did. I had a small plunger “yes I know you are not supposed to use them on those drains”, but if you do not let it pull back up you’re fine. So what I did was put water In shower push down on plunger then take my other hand and break the suction. Now remember not to pull back up or it will invert the membrane. It worked for me the first time. It pushed the clog down and into the tank. Then I found this great hair stopper at Walmart. It works perfect as I have long hair. You do have to take the screw out and remove the grill. I also did that before I used the plunger. Hope it works for you!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/ShowerShr...less/683585727

I had heard to not use a plunger but no one whom I asked seemed to know why. Thanks for explaining it. Makes sense. I wonder if you did invert the membrane, would you be able to correct it by repeating the process, but doing it correctly the 2nd time?

Thanks for the help!

[DanleyFarm]

That I could not tell you. Just made sure to break the suction.
Didn’t want to chance it. Mine is as hard to get to as you to replace or clean.
The $20.00 hair strainer has done the trick since I used the plunger.

[TimmyB]

Originally Posted by DanleyFarm

That I could not tell you. Just made sure to break the suction.
Didn’t want to chance it. Mine is as hard to get to as you to replace or clean.
The $20.00 hair strainer has done the trick since I used the plunger.

Sounds like a great idea.

[astrnmrtom]

From the manufacturer's website: "HepvO is resistant to standard caustic-based drain cleaners. It is also resistant to acid-based cleaners with concentrations up to 10%. When flushing with higher concentrations of acid based cleaner, the valve must be removed before the operation."

As a preventative, we picked up a TubShroom. You'll see them in many stores, especially Walmart. I passed it over for a while because of the cost, but wow, does it work. Should have bought one a long time ago.

Now, if I can only figure out who's shearing grey haired sheep in the tub. Either that or we're shedding worse than our Siamese cat. =8'O