Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sallymonster]

I just came back from vacation to find that my bathroom drain is clogged. I nearly flooded my apartment taking a shower!

Do they sell Draino, Liquid Plumbr, or the equivalent here in Korea? If so, what is the Korean name and where do you find it? I'd really like to get this problem taken care of ASAP.

[nathanrutledge]

Sure, they do, but the best method is the old method. Physically take the train apart and clear it out by hand.

You probably have hair in the drain and cleaners don't do squat for hair. The chemicals run around the hair and down the pipe, and you've wasted time and money for nothing. Your best bet is to take everything apart and clean it by hand. Get a coat hanger and make a nice little hook in the end, shove it down there and pull the junk out.

[chris_J2]

Same thing happened in my officetel bathroom. I removed the grate & used a wire coathanger to remove all the hair & soap. Also found a few other things like toothpaste caps, plastic disposable razor shields & paper clips. You might want to get some disposable plastic gloves to remove the black sludgy mess.

[Missihippi]

they sell it a lot of places -- kim's club, emart, GS 25 -- u pick! Anyway, it's in a yellow bottle and it has a picture of a drain or plumbing on it. not sure what it says, but it shouldn't be too hard to find. Use the whole bottle on a drain, then wait at least an hour and put Hot water down the drain afterwards.

[chris_J2]

I wouldn't bother with Draino. I initially looked at both caustic soda (baking powder) & acid, (apple vinegar) but eventually managed to remove the grate & clean it all out by hand. No problem since. Then again, I don't have long black hair!

[Globutron]

My drain has been clogged in the bathroom since I came to this place. The water goes down so slowly. I used some draino equivalent when the water stopped draining entirely and it's now back to it's original slow draining self.

I can't shove anything down it because there is a protecty thing over the hole. I probably could take the pipes apart from below the sink but it looks so gross and rusty. I have a thing about that stuff.

[nathanrutledge]

[chris_J2]

[jrwhite82]

As has been mentioned the best way to unclog it is to get in there with your hand. Buy those thick rubber cleaning globes. Use something sharp (and strong...like a knife) to flip the grate open because it's probably gunked shut. Once that drain lid is off, reach down and grab all the hair.

Another you could try if you don't want to get yourself too close is one of pipe snakes. They cost about as much as a bottle of draino but are far more effective.

I found one in Homeplus in the same isle as the plumbing supplies. It looks like a long thin piece of metal that you can slide into a drain and it will take itself through the "trap" (the bendy part of your pipe) and grab all the hair. Pull it out and be prepared for the dry heaving that will occur when you see what is on the other end....

[nathanrutledge]

[toniyellow]

They sell plungers for 2000 won in the Daiso. I can't get the plastic protective cover off my drain no matter what sort of leverage I apply, so I have resorted to plunging it when it goes slow. Works really well.

Its not baking soda and vinegar that had a bad reaction in drains - they actually advise those together may bubble the right amount to clear drains.
It's bleach and ammonia based cleaners that you should be careful not to mix.

[Ruthdes]

I second (eighth?) that you shouldn't bother with draino. Useless.

I just want to add that you probably have a trap at the top of the drain, then one about 30-40cm down. I cleaned my top one, and couldn't understand why the drain was still blocking up. Then I discovered the existence of the bottom one (which I could gladly have been ignorant of forever).

You definitely need the gloves, and it will be a particularly nasty job, but once you clean it, your shower will probably drain beautifully for the rest of the time you live in your apartment. It's doesn't take long and it's not hard, it's just really really disgusting.

[chris_J2]

[IlIlNine]

I went through this last week - did it the manual way - and I'm still having nightmares. That said, when I wake up in the morning and take my shower, I'm amazed how quickly the water goes away - totally worth doing.

Yeah, get in there and rip all that gunk out.

[NSMatt]

The liquid Drano available here is useless.

I bought some Drano crystals in China and they work really well. The crystals boil upon contact with water and tiny metal shards in the mixture eat through the clog. So if you can find that here then you are all set. Just make sure you don't breathe it in!