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My shower drain backed up. I tried using my manual crank snake but it didn't do the trick. I called for a drain opening company ($350.00!!!).
He took a half hour to get the job done. He used a drill driven unit. He said it was the galvanized pipe closing up. The pipe was in good shape, but needed to be snaked, and it was probably good for 5 years or so.
Harbor Freight has this unit for $120.00 (but on sale for $99.00). I'm thinking of buying one to keep on hand. Any thoughts? This one most closely resembles the one that the plumber was using.
https://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsea...rain+snake
![[Image: 64063_I.jpg]](https://shop.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/6/4/64063_I.jpg)
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$350 for a tub drain? Did you pick the largest ad in the yellow pages or something?
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Around here everyone wants $99 to unplug drains I know 3 people that had different companies and each was only $99. I had to have my drain done in the winter when it froze up and they only charged me $99 to use there pressure wash unit to clear the ice. That was only the second time in 42 years that I had it freeze up the first time was when the house was new and I worked for a builder that had a lot of them freeze. the ground at that time froze over 4 feet deep most time it never freezes 3 feet deep
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(09-21-2018, 07:44 AM)Phil Thien Wrote: $350 for a tub drain? Did you pick the largest ad in the yellow pages or something?
Angie's list. This was probably considered "emergency service". He came the same day at 7:30 p.m. I got him to knock $50.00 off by paying cash.
But what about the HF electric snake?
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If you have any money left, by all means.
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I have an older version of this Rigid unit. It's tricky to use, as the drum rotates and can catch clothes or skin. But it's saved my bacon a few times. Maybe a wash between calling a drain service for each of those times or buying and using the snake. But I've had to use it late at night, before an event like Thanksgiving with a ton of family, so there's that . . .
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-115-V.../202826624
Tom
“This place smells like that odd combination of flop sweat, hopelessness, aaaand feet"
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(09-21-2018, 11:02 AM)TDKPE Wrote: I have an older version of this Rigid unit. It's tricky to use, as the drum rotates and can catch clothes or skin. But it's saved my bacon a few times. Maybe a wash between calling a drain service for each of those times or buying and using the snake. But I've had to use it late at night, before an event like Thanksgiving with a ton of family, so there's that . . .
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-115-V.../202826624
That would not seem like a cost-effective solution.
I think I will get the HF unit and use it when the shower drains slower, but is not backed up. Hopefully I can extend past the 5 year cycle that way. (My house was built in 1953, and it appears that the shower has a 2" drain pipe leading to a 5" cast iron pipe.
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I'd certainly spend $10 on a small 'hook it to the water hose' expandable bladder thingies.
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I don’t think that would work on corrosion blockage.
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(09-22-2018, 01:14 PM)Cooler Wrote: I don’t think that would work on corrosion blockage.
I missed that part.
