Home Repair: More Drano Gel Max?

[Pam]

I used Liquid Plumr Foaming Pipe Snake on a tough shower clog. Once it had been flushed with water I used a plunger. That did the trick.

[Plumbking]

kap I just reread your post. You mentioned gal pipes. Rust could also be your problem. Using a snake with blades will clean out your pipes. Most snakes sold to homeowners have retreiver heads. Won't scour the sides of the pipes.

A wet dry vac will suck out the trap and anyting in it. You might have to adapt the hose to go down the drain, make it smaller. You can use an old garden hose and duct tape.

As gross as it sounds examine what you find in the vac

Good Luck

[malfunction]

http://www.theplumber.com/faq.html

I've used the zip-it things Harry is talking about and they work great. I don't think the chemicals work all that well...
Old galvanized pipes probably have half the cross section they started out with (due to rust).

[cassie]

Crystal Drano always does the trick at our house. First, remove the integral stopper if you have one. Lots of stuff gets trapped around it and the cleaners usually just trickle by it on their way to the trap.

If that doesn't work, it may be time to face a plumbers butt.

[testcase]

Consumer Reports tested drain cleaners last year. Thumbs down on all chemicals. Thumbs up on the Zip-It device already mentioned.

[Grateful11]

I'm going to have to get some of these Zip-It thingys.

[kap]

I can't find it at neither HD, nor Lowes nor Rite Aid nor ACE

[kap]

UPDATE:
The combination of Wet/Dry vac, Draino and boiling hot water dissolved the clog! Thanks everyone for the helpful suggestions.