We’ve all been faced with it before: a clogged shower drain. It starts slow and builds up, but most people won’t recognize there’s a problem until the problem worsens. You go into your shower to wash up and you suddenly notice your feet are now submerged underwater.
The water’s draining but it’s draining slow and you now know you have a clogged shower drain. Shower drain clogs aren’t only a nuisance, but they could also cause other problems in the future if not corrected. Once you notice it’s draining slowly, you should begin to think of different methods to unclog a shower drain.
When you find yourself standing in water that refuses to drain, don’t panic. There are several ways to clear a shower drain clog. Continue reading below to learn more!
1. Plunge the Drain
When you discover a clogged toilet, what’s the first thing you think to grab? You go straight for the plunger. When you discover a clogged shower drain, what’s the first thing you think to grab?
You might not think to grab your plunger. However, the shower drain can be unclogged in the same way your toilet drain can be. Grab your plunger and start plunging.
This is a great method for small clogs and is always worth a try as long as you have a plunger close by. Use a plunger as your first step before looking into other methods. If there’s no standing water in the tub or shower, then turn the water on until it covers a small portion of the plunger.
This will give you the suction you need to get a good plunge in. After a forceful plunge, the water should quickly begin to drain. If the water still isn’t draining, then it’s time to look into another method.
2. Mix With Baking Soda and Vinegar
It’s always a good idea to keep baking soda and white vinegar in your home. There are many great uses for this combo, including unclogging your shower drain. When you combine the two together, it’ll create a fizzing action.
The mixture will then stick to the sides of the drain and will help clear away minor clogs. This method might not work on major clogs in your drain, but it’s worth trying before you move on to other methods. You can use equal parts of white vinegar and baking soda to create your mixture.
Once you pour it into the drain, allow it to sit for about 15 minutes. You can then turn the water on to flush the drains out.
3. Remove What You Can by Hand
It’s gross, but most times your shower drain is clogged with soap scum and hair. As you shower, loose hair will find its way down the drain and become tangled with soap build-up from your body wash, your shampoo, and your conditioner. Once all of these things begin to mix together, it creates a goop of slimy hairballs.
Put on your rubber gloves and prepare to get your hands dirty. Removing the clog by hand is one of the best ways to free your drain of trapped hair. Remove the drain cover and then reach your hand into the drain to grab the hair and pull it out.
You might need someone to hold a flashlight so you can see where to clog is. Otherwise, move your hand around the drain until you can feel any hair, and pull it out.
4. Use a Plumbing Snake
Although removing the clog with your hands works well, you can only reach so far down the drain. If you can see a clog in the drain too far to reach or if the water is still draining slowly even after removing the clog by hand, then you might want to use a plumbing snake. A plumbing snake is a thin, long piece of plastic with small hooks along the sides of it.
As you send the snake down the drain, it’ll pass by the clog. When you pull the snake back out of the drain, the hooks will grab the clog and pull it out of the drain for you. Make sure to use a heavy-duty plumbing snake if you believe it’s a major clog.
5. Purchase Drain Cleaners
There are many drain cleaner products you can purchase at your local home improvement store. All of these products work differently, so it’s important to read the directions before using them. Most cleaners will require you to pour them into the drain and let them sit overnight.
Keep in mind that chemical drain cleaners can have a negative effect on your drains when overused. It’s always a better idea to try natural methods before resorting to chemical drain cleaners.
6. Contact a Professional Plumber
When all else fails, don’t hesitate to contact a professional plumber. If you’ve attempted to unclog your shower drain yourself without any success, then a professional plumber like Plumbing Pros DMV can save the day for you. The professionals will address the issue and unclog it successfully.
They can then explain to you the cause of the drain and how to prevent it from happening again. It’s beneficial to have a good plumber on call at all times in case of not only a clogged drain but any other plumbing emergencies as well.
You Can Start Preventing Shower Drain Clogs Today
No one wants to be faced with shower drain clogs. However, they do happen at times. When you notice your shower drain is draining slowly, use all of the helpful information given above to unclog it with ease.
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