So, how did it go? Are you a cold shower convert now?
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So far so good, had a lovely hot shower this morning. We have 2 geysers, one for one part of the house and the other is for the kitchen and my bathroom. And I did dishes last night and this morning, and a shower and there is still boiling hot water left. So yay. We are literally turning all plugs off at night that doesnt need to be on, the only one I leave running when I go to bed is the router.
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I have a blocked shower drain and honestly don’t know how to unblock it. Considering getting fish tape or pull-through to try and push down through to break any blockage up. I’ve tried a few techniques but nothing is getting past the gooseneck. Suggestions anyone?
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Have you tried drain unblocker? Either the granuales they sell or the liquid you pour down. Jacks Hardware sell some really strong stuff, I’m sure you can get at other places also. Pick n Pay also has a selection.
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I have tried, but the problem is getting past the water that is backlogged, the stuff just fizzes and floats and mixes with the water. I’ve tried to get as much water out as I can.
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Tried a good old fashioned plunger? 🪠 Might take a bit of work to build up a bit of movement in the pipe, but could help loosen things up.
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lol actually no, that’s something I don’t actually own 
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Can also look on the outside of the house where the pipe exits the wall. Should have an inspection cap you can unscrew. I’ve pushed a hosepipe up the pipe with the water turned on just a little to break up and wash out blockages.
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Amazing idea! I ran the hose from inside and turned it up full tilt, which did nothing. Hopefully being an apartment I can find and have access to something like that.
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It’s old school tech that you always forget where you’ve left it until you need it again, but it works. I live with two women with long, thick hair. Plunger suction over the shower drain and a little bit of muscle power is a fairly regular thing done here.
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You could also try taking one of those old wire coat hangers and pull it apart and try stick it through. I’ve never had to do it at the shower though.
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haha this was the first thing I asked the wife for but sadly we got rid of all those years ago. I can’t see or find any external pipes, apart from downpipes from the gutters.
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And then you get me, who once a month uses a long wire, with a bent end, and pull out all the hair.
Plus i use caustic soda once every six months to get rid of the gunk build up. Or if its not bad, vinegar and bicarb of soda
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I just gagged
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Dude I worked in a hotel in housekeeping for 6 months, trust me, my bathroom is clean 
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I bought really really strong drain unblocker fluid. It was a white and green bottle. I was told to run extremely hot water down the drain, but my geyser wasn’t hot enough so I boiled the kettle and poured some boiling water down the drain at a moderate rate. Then left it for an hour or two. Then poured hot water again. Left for an hour or two. Poured hot water a third time. Left it for at least 6 hours, no using the shower or tap.
The buildup is often held together by fats and oils and greasiness. The boiling water helps to melt that a bit and soften up the clogged masses of hair. The 6 hour wait (or longer if you can manage longer) is to give the built up water a chance to slowly drain away past the blockage through the softened hair and reduced grease, and give it time to dry a bit.
Then you use the drain cleaner, and (if I recall correctly) shortly afterwards you blast hot water again to cancel out the acid and protect the pipes from getting damaged. It worked like magic.
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I haven’t considered the hot water 
Thanks, will take extra precautions and do that over and above.
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Yeah the dude at the hardware store gave me this advice, the bottle just had general instructions about using the cleaner and rinsing the pipes afterwards. His brother used to work with a plumber hence the hot water tricks. It does take a bit of patience and extra effort but it worked pretty well!
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Yeah, I’m so stupid, this is a standard practice I apply to the kitchen drains to counter the fat and grease buildup. I didn’t think there would be a similar thing in the bathroom.
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