We have been living in our new house since March 2015 and installed the shower and bathtub ourselves. However, for the past few weeks, the water drains very slowly or not at all. What could be the cause? Which drain cleaner would you recommend? Or is it better to call a professional right away?
My recommendation: With a Kärcher pressure washer and the accessory "pipe cleaning set PC 7.5, length 7.75m (25.4 ft)" costing about 75€, you can manage the problem.
Remove the hair strainer and the trap bell, insert the high-pressure hose, turn on the device, and slowly feed the hose in centimeter by centimeter. It would be helpful if you open the cleaning access in the basement and use a piece of strong thick plastic sheet or similar to collect the draining water. This way, you can see why the pipe was clogged. In a new build, you have to expect such blockages because paper plugs or construction debris can accidentally or intentionally get into the drain pipe.
Remove the hair strainer and the trap bell, insert the high-pressure hose, turn on the device, and slowly feed the hose in centimeter by centimeter. It would be helpful if you open the cleaning access in the basement and use a piece of strong thick plastic sheet or similar to collect the draining water. This way, you can see why the pipe was clogged. In a new build, you have to expect such blockages because paper plugs or construction debris can accidentally or intentionally get into the drain pipe.
Clorix or similar chlorine cleansers properly break down saponifications when used in the correct dosage. Hot water also helps and should be used regularly as a preventative measure. Today’s showerheads simply deliver too little water. The municipal water suppliers also have a hard time dealing with this.
Be careful when using chlorine on colored items! The color can disappear faster than you can blink.
Be careful when using chlorine on colored items! The color can disappear faster than you can blink.
Don’t forget to check or research beforehand what has been installed: what drainage capacity the shower channel has (manufacturer’s specifications), how the trap is constructed, and with what pipe diameter and slope the channel is connected to the drainage system. Sometimes only DN 50-40 (approximately 2–1.5 inches) and a minimal slope of 0.5–1% are possible to work with the existing build-up heights/connection heights. If the maximum connection length to the soil stack according to DIN is exceeded, a separate pipe vent may also be required.
In this situation, I would generally be cautious with aggressive pipe cleaning methods (high-pressure cleaning/flushing). Level-entry showers are sensitive components in terms of waterproofing and drainage installation, especially when installed as DIY. Pipe cleaning should not cause hidden leaks.
In this situation, I would generally be cautious with aggressive pipe cleaning methods (high-pressure cleaning/flushing). Level-entry showers are sensitive components in terms of waterproofing and drainage installation, especially when installed as DIY. Pipe cleaning should not cause hidden leaks.
Bauexperte schrieb:
Any kind of chemical attacks the pipes; so avoid using them.
The commonly used PVC pipes installed for decades are very resistant to acidic chemicals! If anything, it’s the seals themselves that can be affected, but even they last for years if they are not in direct contact with acids.
xxx.mcm-Systeme.de/Chemische-Bestaendigkeit-von-PVC-PE-und-PP
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