A strange conversation...

[susandennis]

So my bathtub drain is starting to drain slowly again.  Last time I thew chemicals down there and it worked kinda but the chemicals are scary.  So this morning I went down to our strange new condo manager - the one who keeps putting 4 and 5 used Bibles at a time in the free book box - and asked him for a recommendation.

I said 'so should I get some chemicals, buy a snake, call a plumber... what would you recommend?' 

Without even a thought he said:

"Well, I wouldn't pour chemicals and I'll tell you why. If you do and then you pay someone to come fix it and they get burned in the face by the chemicals they will sue you."

????  I shouldn't worry about their face but I should worry about my lawsuit...  Nice.  Really nice.

I ordered a three pack of these to start with http://www.flexisnake.com/ - I'll see what they do first and then go from there. 

Saving plumber faces every day here...

Comments

[aellia.livejournal.com]

You make me smile...lots!!
xx

Stranger Advice.

[s00zi.livejournal.com]

Though the price will undoubtably be steep (couple hundred), you should call roto-rooter and have them snake your pipes for you.

Those little pipesnakes are really only good for small clogs (between the kitchen sink and the disposal).

Slow drains from tubs are often MASSIVE hair/blahblahblah clogs that need to be snaked professionally. (You will thank me for this later as I have seen what comes out of mine every few years.)

Additionally, sometimes the cause of slow drains is really in the main line OUT. In this case, you will also want to use someone like roto-rooter.

=)

Re: Stranger Advice.

[susandennis]

I KNOW you are right and I actually do have a good plumber I can call and I will if I need to. But right now, it's just a slow drain and not even very slow. I could get lucky and grab that hair clog myself. If not, professional snake is my destiny. Good advice and not strange at all :)

Re: Stranger Advice.

[s00zi.livejournal.com]

A couple years ago, my Father taught me to Snake Pipes.
Really it was in preparation for me to take over his duties as "house man" - but I learned well.

I *hate* snaking pipes.
It's gooey and black and sometimes stinky.

One thing that might help would be an ecologically safe mixture that essentially 'eats' organic materials in your piping.

Yeah.
I'm craving Beef Stroganoff (sans the Mushrooms.)

[vasilatos]

We went to the plumbing department of the local hardware store, and the guy told us the thing to buy, and it worked, totally. I was kind of surprised. Not a chemical thing, more in the mechanical category.

Your condo manager sounds like a freak-a-deak.

[susandennis]

yeah, it's probably just me... it's been about 6 years since i've had anything pulled out of that drain. and the other people who live here would be raising holy hell if their drains were slow.

[legalmoose]

Does your condo not keep maintenance folks around for such tasks?

[susandennis]

nope... just Bible Guy and he does some building maintenance but not individual unit maintenance...

[legalmoose]

Hmm. We have a staff that does that kinda stuff. Must be the difference between condo and co-op.

[susandennis]

Now that is a funny story.... My friend, Lee, takes them and give them to her Mother's church!! She can't stand to see them in the box and she can't bring herself to throw them away so every time she sees one she grabs it!

[mtnkodiak.livejournal.com]

Your condo mgr really has that whole faux-christian thing going on, doesn't he? And maybe a little misanthropy thrown in for good measure. Priceless...

[jsher.livejournal.com]

An alternative to drain chemicals: pour some white vinegar down the drain, then pour in 2 crushed Alka Seltzer tabs, and wash them down with a little more Vinegar. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, and then run hot water for a minute or 2. If the drain is really bad, you may need to repeat it.

[susandennis]

Now, that's just too much fun NOT to do!

I love using denture tablets to clean stuff like my coffee thermos.

But, Alka Seltzer and white vinegar is not one I've heard of. I must try it. Thanks!

[jsher.livejournal.com]

Yep, it's fun alright (well, as much fun as one can have cleaning a drain).

Besides, after seeing your tip on the mini-muffin-papers-under-the-SonicCare, I owed you one.

[susandennis]

That may well be the greatest idea I have ever had. It makes me happy first thing every morning and last thing every night. It's not going to bring whirled peas but I'm proud anyway.