Keep sand out of the drains

The procedure

1. Stop sand at the door. Use the outdoor shower or a foot tub before anyone walks in. It is the simplest fix there is.
2. Lift the strainer. Pull out hair and sand caught under it with a hook or pliers.
3. Flush with water. Run the shower hot for a few minutes. Sand moves when there is enough flow behind it.
4. Plunge gently. Block the overflow on a tub with a wet cloth and plunge in short strokes.
5. Skip chemical openers. They don't dissolve sand, and they make the trap dangerous for whoever opens it next.
6. Plumber's step: if two or more fixtures are slow at once, or water backs up into a tub when a toilet flushes, the main drain needs a plumber with a drain machine.

Why does sand clog drains faster than at a home inland?

Sand is heavy. It settles in the bend of every trap instead of washing through, and hair and soap bind it into a firm plug. Rental weeks bring a lot of it in.

Where does outdoor shower sand end up?

If the shower drains to a pipe rather than a gravel bed, sand collects at the first bend. Clear it at the start and middle of summer.

Questions owners ask

Will a chemical drain cleaner dissolve sand?

No. Sand isn't organic, so chemicals don't break it down.

How do I keep guests from bringing sand in?

An outdoor rinse, a foot tub and a clear note in the house rules.

Can sand reach the sewer lateral?

Yes, over years. A plumber can camera the line if several drains slow together.