clogged shower drain?

[chiefswife]

I recently moved into my cedar creek 5th wheel for full-time living. It is parked at a park so it does not move often.

Currently I am experiencing an issue with a clogged shower drain. I am sure that this is due to the fact that I have long hair and it sheds.

I was wondering if I can use a standard home drain cleaner (i.e. Draino) or if it is too harsh for the RV and I need to do something else.

Thanks

[ependydad]

I have no idea what is/isn't safe.

But my family is a bunch of wookies (myself included- I have a long flowing mane that many women have killed for trying to simply touch).

We use a stainless strainer in our shower in the camper. I took the shower stopper out and set this in its place. We have to clean it out after every shower, but it keeps the hair out of the drain and out of the tank.


Hopefully someone comes along and posts what to do to get it unclogged.

[chiefswife]

Thanks for the strainer idea, I will certainly use it. Now just to get the thing uncloggged, it has certainly shortened my showers in the meantime.

[Arefbee]

Not sure how Drano will affect the sensor probes so that would be a last choice for me. Plumbers plunger has always worked for our clogs - just use it vigorously and remember that it works best with a couple of inches of water in the basin (tub) and the drawing action really loosens the clog, not the plunging action. A snake would be the next choice.
I have used a shop vac to unclog a drain. It was not pretty, but it worked.

After that the screen is an excellent choice to keep the issue from returning.

[Dave_Monica]

As you have a 5th wheel, you should be able to see and remove the shower drain trap and clean. It should be accessible near the ceiling in the storage basement.

Dave

[Duckogram]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

As you have a 5th wheel, you should be able to see and remove the shower drain trap and clean. It should be accessible near the ceiling in the storage basement.

Dave

X2

Also the strainer will work but you can't step on it as it will fold. They are available at Wally Mart for under $3. We use them in the sinks as well. They come in many sizes and are stainless steel.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Duckogram

X2

Also the strainer will work but you can't step on it as it will fold. They are available at Wally Mart for under $3. We use them in the sinks as well. They come in many sizes and are stainless steel.

I use mine upside down (with the nipple pointing into the drain). No worries about stepping on it.

Now, if I could keep my son from thinking it's a playtoy, that'd be great...

[KyDan]

Try fishing the hair ball out of the trap with a wire.
Just a bent piece of wire or a hook made from a wire coat hanger.
You might get lucky and just pull the clog right out.
I've done this many times on our 2nd floor shower drain in our home.
Only access to that trap is by cutting a hole in our kitchen ceiling

Good Luck!

[R Whitlow]

You can take a water hose place it the drain with a rag around it. Turn the water hose on and let the pressure unclog the drain. Chemical free solution that will unclog most drains.

[ependydad]

Good point, Dan. We have these at home for our bathroom sink drains (remember, wookies):

As Seen on TV - Turbo Drain Snake

They really do work.

[Archicamper]

They also have plastic zip strips at Home Depot that you can run down the drain. I have not used them but they may work for what you need.

[Kaadk]

Haven't had any clogs in the TT, but I use something like this for the ones at home:

Flexible Grabber Tool | Toolmonger

Couple of bucks at most hardware stores. (I got mine at Canadian Tire.)

[38FLCamper]

Just remember most of the newer CC have a Waterless Valve instead of a P trap...

Hepvo Waterless Valve