How to Unclog a Shower Drain?

The drain line may be clogged if water collects at the bottom of your shower or drains slowly. A clogged shower drain is uncomfortable and ugly. The cost of repairs may quickly add up when a plumber is needed to unclog a clogged drain. You’re lucky since you can unclog a clogged shower drain quickly and easily.

Although unclogging a clogged shower drain is impossible, you should start with the most basic drain cleaning equipment. In this article, you will learn how to unclog a clogged shower drain in decreasing order of difficulty.

Why Does a Shower Drain Become Clogged?

The most frequent reasons for slow or clogged bathroom drains are soap scum, dead skin, foreign objects, and human hair. Over time, these substances build up naturally until they solidify and stick to the pipes’ inside. This process continues until a blockage gets so large that stops the water flow appears.

When the drain is plugged, the water drains slowly. Your bathroom sink or bathroom drain may be clogged due to a significant blockage. Shower drains rarely experience this, and it also means the bathroom sink is clogged. When this happens, the water drains more slowly than usual, sometimes causing puddles or standing water at the base of the bathroom.

A Clogged Shower Drain: How to Unclog It?

First, make sure your drain opening—also called a drain strainer or drain cover is clean. Hair is the main cause of clogged drains. A build-up of soap scum can attach to hairs and will accumulate on top of the drain opening. This would be a clear indication and an easy problem to solve.

Simply wear hand gloves or take a paper towel and collect the accumulated hair from the top of the shower drain cover. Check under the lid and down the drain to see if there is anything unusual on the outside. Remove anything you see blocking the drain.

After that, double-check the drain to make sure it’s still not clogged. If hair removal does not improve water flow, or your shower drain is still slow or clogged. So possibly the clog could be below the drain line. Check out the following methods for unclogging a shower drain below the drain line.

Easy Steps to Unclog a Blocked Shower Drain

These techniques may be used to clear the clog partially or completely.

Unclog a Drain by Hand

Sometimes a clog may be detected close to the surface; it is easy to clear. Use plastic gloves to clear the clog as quickly as possible. You may buy tiny plastic hooks for this purpose. Although using a wire coat hanger would seem like a good option, you shouldn’t since you risk harming your drain.

Use a Drain Snake

A drain snake, also called a plumber’s snake, is a flexible tool used to remove clogs from drains and pipes. It consists of a long, flexible cable or coil made of metal, usually steel, with a handle at one end. Drain snakes are readily available at your nearest home improvement store or hardware store.

Extend the cable or coil of the drain snake and insert it into the shower drain, applying gentle pressure until you meet resistance. Begin turning the handle of the drain snake while pushing it forward into the drain. Once you reach the clog, slowly pull the snake back out of the drain while continuing to turn the handle. If the clog persists, repeat the process by reinserting the drain snake. The drain snake must be cleaned each time it is used.

Use Boiling Water

Boiling water may remove soap scum and other soft build-ups off the edges of the drain if no obvious blockages are blocking the water from flowing. Even if a drain snake effort has been made and failed, this is still a true method. For optimal results, you should practice the method at least twice.

Try Vinegar and Baking Soda

Drain cleaners occasionally overstate their efficacy, and their chemicals may harm your health. Homemade natural cleansers may work just as well as professional cleaners for small obstructions. Combine the baking soda and vinegar in a cup for easier handling.

The most effective kind to make use of is distilled white vinegar. Pour hot water down the drain to clear the obstruction first. Pour a solution of vinegar and baking soda down the drain after 15 minutes. After that, rinse with hot water.

How to Keep Shower Drain from Clogging?

A blocked shower drain makes your bathroom look unsightly and can cause damage to your property, which can lead to expensive repairs. So the best solution to a blocked shower drain is prevention. Below are some simple ways to prevent your shower drain from becoming clogged:

1. Use a drain cover:

Hair is often blamed for blocked shower drains. A cheap and simple shower drain hair catcher made of rubber or plastic may be used to catch any stray hair after each shower.

2. Clear hair after each shower:

After showering, remove any visible hair from the drain cover or strainer and dispose of hair properly instead of flushing it down the drain.

3. Avoid excessive use of hair products:

Hair products like oil, gels, and sprays can contribute to clogs. Minimize their usage or consider rinsing off excess products before showering.

4. Make a routine for cleaning:

While doing your routine cleaning, remember to clean the drain to remove accumulated debris. After every few showers, flush a little baking soda or pure white vinegar down the drain to maintain everything in working order. Follow it up with hot water to clear the drain.

Conclusion:-

Are you still facing issues? Now It is time to hire a professional plumber. Clogged drains in showers can be frustrating and expensive to repair. To unclog a clogged drain, start with basic drain cleaning equipment. The common reasons for slow or clogged bathroom drains are soap scum, dead skin, and shoulder-length hair. Over time, these chemicals build up and form a barrier that stops the water flow. This can cause water to drain more slowly, causing puddles or standing water at the base of the bathroom.

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