PHOENIX—DrainFunnel, a bathtub clog prevention device, has launched on Kickstarter. In addition to preventing clogs, DrainFunnel inventor Justin Hillsten says users will also enjoy saving time and money, avoiding hiring an expensive plumber to unclog their drain and trying to pull out gross hair balls on their own.
“The number one cause of clogged drains is hair,” Hillsten says. “Hair and soap scum build up on the drain’s crossbars and around the tub stopper or grate. The majority of these clogs are superficial and able to be cleared with a pair of pliers or metal coat hanger.”
In creating the DrainFunnel, Hillsten designed the device to fit in all standard bathtub drains and act as a waterslide for loose hair and debris.
“The DrainFunnel funnels hair and water toward one quadrant of the drain, thus bypassing the crossbars where hair usually starts to build up,” Hillsten said. “The idea is to give hair a smooth and direct path to your plumbing pipes so it can make its way out of your home and into the sewer.”
Other Devices Slow Down Water Flow
In the past companies have made hair catchers to catch loose hair. The problem with these solutions is that they slow down the water flow and require constant cleaning. “DrainFunnel is the first device of its kind that requires zero maintenance,” Hillsten said.
Co-founders, Justin and Holly Hillsten are siblings who grew up sharing a bathroom and constantly had a clogged tub. They spent two years designing and testing prototypes until they came up with the perfect product. “We sent out DrainFunnel prototypes to 100 friends and complete strangers,” Holly said. “We got valuable feedback from our beta testers and are ready to implement it in our final design for manufacturing.”
The brother and sister duo have turned to the crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter, to raise funds to cover the tooling costs associated with large volume injection molding. They have spent the past year in Arizona State University’s business development program: Venture Devils. “During our time in Venture Devils we created and refined our business plan while competing in pitch competitions for grant money,” Hillsten said.
