USOB

Hello,
My main drain line is starting to back up when draining large amounts of water into it (washer or bathtub). Is there an effective drain cleaner I can pour into my basement floor drain? I'd like to save the cost of a roto-rooter house call.

Thanks,
Jim

Redwood

Chemicals? NO save your money...

As for saving money on a Roto-Rooter call yes...
Lots of legitimate companies charge way less than they do....

USOB

I have some muriatic acid, which I'm told can work. The question is; how much and how do I use it? I recently had family visit, and no drain problems before they came, so a house full of women and half dozen rolls of toilet paper later, I'm thinking a heavy duty drain cleaner could do the job.

Redwood, I meant roto-rooter in general. It'll cost about $100 for a house call from a reputable company.
Thanks.

havasu

Muriatic acid might work, but a hand grenade may work as well. Imagine what it would do to your pipes, especially if you have any ABS pipe. The chance of damage IMHO is not worth it. It is also not worth the risk of damage it would cause to your septic/sewer system.

After your pipes are clear, I recommend a little household bleach every month to keep the pipes clean and fresh smelling.

kok328

Acid will work but, don't let it sit too long without running water afterwards.
If the real problem is tree roots in the main drain then an auger is the only way to unclog. The problem could be coincidental.