Clogged drain question- help!?

Question

Is there a type of strainer with smaller holes that I could put over my shower drain? Maybe some sort of mesh? We are constantly having to put Drain-o down it no matter how clean we keep it, and it's starting to get costly. Or maybe there are some other solutions?

Does Home Depot or Lowes carry these types of things?

Answer 1

I just saw something like that at Walmart actually, in the plumbing section.

I'm presuming if Walmart has it, then Lowes and Home Depot would too!

Good luck!

Answer 2

my daughter had the same problem, long hair. we could not find one. so  we made one out of metal screen. like for windows. cut big enough to make like a tight bow.shape it buy putting it in drain hole. it has to be a pretty tight fit. you have to empty it. it may slow the drainage down some. but in the end it will save money.  

Answer 3

The problem is likely hair which does not rot and draino will not get rid of it. You can buy or rent a small machine to put down the drain (some people call it a snake, i don't think this is the real name though) It will drain the entire thing depending on how many feet you get the machine, and take everyhting out or drain it away. Do not waste your money on those liquids, they do not work. They sell the machine at homedepot and lowes. It comes in a coil shape, similar to what a rotary saw looks like.

Answer 4

A coat hanger may work but it's pretty disgusting digging that stuff out.  They do sell strainers that mainly collect hair.  and can be cleaned on a regular basis. Don't ask me where. You can make your own from aluminum or stainless screen  

Answer 5

I feel sure that the "strainer/catch-all" plate that was first-installed over the drain in your shower was designed to keep the 'normal' types of cloging materials, such as; hair and loose paper products from entering and eventually restricting the proper draining flow of water.  I DO believe that your installing an even SMALLER mesh of strainer over the drain outlet would *INCREASE* your slow drainage problem.

*I* believe that over some number of years of usage of your shower, the content of minerals in your water supply -- combined with various soaps and shampoos and inevitable small hair invasion has caused a restrictive build-up in the inside of the drain piping, which can only be completely cleared out by removing the protective catch-all screen over the drain and running a plumbers' 'clean-out snake' through the drain piping clear through to its tie-in to a larger sewer pipeing.

Please call a recommended, GOOD & HONEST Plumber to come out and help you restore your *faith* in your shower to do its job!

Answer 6

You can buy a hair strainer, I saw one today at the drug store of all places.  Drain-o only works with metal pipes, what it does is causes a reaction with the water, which causes agitation, and it stirs up tiny metal shavings, which in turn cuts up your clog.  You may want to try a plunger next time it clogs.  If the clog is a pretty solid clog, if you can get it to move through the pipes to your sewage pipes (which are wider diameter, they have to be in order to draw the stuff away from the toilet), then you'll be in the clear.