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Clogged Drain

5 Simple Ways to Fix a Clogged Shower Drain Fast and Effectively

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If you’ve found yourself searching “how to fix clogged shower drain,” you’ve come to the right place. A clogged shower drain can be a frustrating issue, but it can be fixed with the right tools and techniques. Regular maintenance is key to preventing clogs and keeping your shower drain flowing freely and can be performed routinely on your own outside of hiring a professional drain service. In this article, we will explore the causes of blockages and provide effective DIY methods for clearing them, such as drain snakes or baking soda and white vinegar mixtures. We will also discuss the importance of regular maintenance and provide tips for preventing future clogs. By following these tips, you can keep your shower drain clear and avoid the need for costly repairs and learn how to unclog a shower drain without chemicals.

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Causes of Blockages

Signs you may have a blocked drain in your shower include water not draining quickly from the shower basin or tub, gurgling noises coming from the pipes, and water backing up into the shower. Before attempting to unclog a shower or tub drain, it is important to know what sort of clogs you will likely be dealing with and how you might be able to prevent them from creating dangerous blockages in your drain.

  • Hair clogs can be the most common type of plumbing clogs in a shower drain.
  • A buildup of soap scum on the sides of your shower drain pipe can also cause a blockage over time.
  • There can be blockages deeper within the pipes, where hair, grease, soap scum, and other debris bind together to create large clogs.
  • Mineral buildups within your pipes from standing water can also cause blockage issues, as well as tree root intrusions that can break into your sewer pipes or wrap around them and cause a clog.
  • Some issues can go beyond a clog in your drainpipe, such as ventilation issues, where air pressure within your pipes is not able to be released properly because of a debris buildup in the vents.
  • It is possible you may have the wrong drain line or trap size. If the sizes of these fixtures are mismatched, it can cause a water flow problem.

How to Unclog a Shower Drain

Be sure to wear gloves and eye protection when working to unclog a shower drain, and review the manufacturer’s instructions carefully with any item you use. Here are 5 effective methods you can use to troubleshoot a clogged shower drain:

Visible Debris

The first thing you can do is pull out any debris buildup by hand if you can clearly see it gathered high up in your shower drain or on your drain cover. This can take care of many basic hair or debris clogs.

Drain Snake

You can purchase a drain snake from most hardware stores and use it to insert it into your shower drain and try to dislodge and pull out the clog within. You must use extreme caution with this method, since mishandling a drain snake can actually cause extensive damage to your drainpipe if you do not know how to properly handle the plumbing tool.

Plunger

Using a plunger can be a good solution to unclog a shower drain. The plunger cup is perfectly designed for creating suction and dislodging clogs in your shower drain. It is sometimes wise to use a drain snake and plunger together. A plunger can help loosen the clog, while the snake can pull it free. Be sure you use a shower-specific plunger for your shower drain.

Drain Cleaner

While the drain-clearing methods mentioned above can be useful ways to clear a clogged drain, using drain cleaners can provide a more long-lasting solution, since they can clear away clogs as well as flush other forms of buildup within the drain. Store-bought drain cleaners can be useful, but you should make sure not to use any with chemicals in them. Chemical cleaners can cause massive damage to your drain walls with how abrasive they are. Enzyme cleaners are generally better for your drains since they do not contain harmful chemicals. Be sure to pour only chemical-free drain cleaners down your clogged shower drain if you are thinking of trying this method.

Baking Soda, Vinegar & Boiling Water

A great alternative to store-bought drain cleaners is a homemade baking soda and vinegar solution that can dissolve clogs and flush out your drains. Pour one cup of baking soda and one cup of white vinegar down the shower drain, letting the mixture sit for roughly one hour to dissolve the clog. Prepare a pot of boiling water. Next, pour the hot water down the drain to flush away any remaining debris. You can use this technique for any slow drain in your home. The baking soda and vinegar solution should break down the clog enough so when you pour boiling water down after it, it cleans away the residue.

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Preventing Future Clogs with Drain Maintenance

In order to prevent clogs from happening regularly in your shower drain, toilet, sinks, etc., it is vital to perform regular drain maintenance on your own, as well as keep up with annual drain maintenance from professional plumbers.

Keeping Out Hair

Since hair clogs are one of the most common types of shower drain clogs, it is important to try to manage them as much as you possibly can. Brush out your hair before showering, and make sure you have a drain cover over the shower drain opening to catch the majority of hair during your shower. After, make sure to clear off the drain cover of hair to prevent it from sinking down into the drain.

Use Non-Oily Products

Check the ingredients of the products you use in the shower to make sure you don’t use hair products, face soaps, or body scrubs with too many oils (essential oils, coconut oil, etc.), since this can cause buildup to form on the walls of your shower drain and solidify.

Shower Water Only

Don’t pour out buckets of dirty water, wash bathroom mats, or wash your pets in the shower basin. All of that dirt, pet dander, and debris can cause large blockages in your shower drains, so it’s best to keep it all out and away from your shower in the first place.

Let Shower Water Run

Let hot water run down your drain for a moment after you are done showering. The hot water can help move along any residual soap and other material that has gone down the drain during your shower. If enough water runs down the drain afterward, it could be enough to wash away any debris that might be lingering in the drain and prevent a clogged shower drain.

Flush out the Drain Regularly

Perform a regular drain cleaning and flush out using either a store-bought drain cleaner or a natural baking soda and vinegar solution with boiling water. This can dissolve soap scum clogs, hair blockages, and other debris buildups, preventing frequent blocked drains in your bathtub.

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Professional Drain Cleaning

Though DIY methods are extremely helpful, a good way to be certain that your drains are remaining healthy year-round. Having professionals inspect your drains is a good way to get ahead of any potential issues, and having a full drain cleaning from a service like hydrojetting can guarantee no clogs in your drain for a year.

Licensed drain-cleaning plumbers, like those at John Owens Services, Inc., have specialized training and top-quality equipment to deal with blocked drains. With drain snakes, rooter machines, and flex-shaft machines, they can pull away debris in any clogged drain and even clean the walls of your pipes from grease and soap buildup. Hydrojetting can be one of the most effective services plumbers can offer, since the strong stream of water can blast away tough clogs and debris buildup in moments, leaving you with clean, free-flowing shower drains.

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