Whether you’re starting a new productive routine or wanting to have a peaceful sleep, showering is a part of it. Imagine that you are taking a shower, and as soon as you jump in, water collects itself up to 2ft. We’ve all been there standing and thinking that how can I unclog my shower drain, and nothing is worse than this. It’s not easy to deal with a clogged shower drain, especially when the stuff causing the blockage is present deep down the pipe.
Well, then how can a person unclog it? In this article, you will get to know precisely how. Let’s begin!
What causes Shower Drains to clog?
While taking a shower, many things don’t come to our attention in these minor drains. Even our hairs which fall off causse clogging of these drains and if not solved, they get tangled inside the pipe.
The soaps that we use contain grease, oils, and even dirt that is cleaned inside the shower area, all follow the path towards the shower drain, and this debris increases in size with time.
If you have a garden outside your house, small plants can have their roots inside your shower drain and lead to clogging.
How can I prevent my Shower drain from clogging?
The most basic and conventional method to prevent a shower from clogging is placing a drain cover. These are little covers with holes inside them, and this contains bigger particles from entering the drains.
Also, the debris which gets stuck and would eventually lead to clogging of the shower drain is easy to pick up from here.
You can easily find drain covers online according to the size of your pipe.
My Shower drain is clogged. What now?
Following methods are tested and carried out by plumbers to unclog an already clogged shower drain:
Hot water:
Pouring down hot water inside your drain is by far the most common and do-it-yourself method in practice.
Take a bowl filled with hot water and gently pour it down the drain. This makes the adhesive materials fall off, and then you can easily pick up the stuff from there.
You don’t need to use boiling water for this purpose as it will damage your pipe and increase the problems.
Using a Plunger:
A plunger is a suitable tool for unclogging your shower drain. The suction quality of the plunger helps with those materials which are present beyond the reach of your hand.
Although it may not sometimes work for even deeper clogging, giving it a try is worth it because of its low cost.
Combination of baking soda and vinegar:
If you want to avoid using any artificial products, the natural combination of baking soda and vinegar can clear your shower drain. It is not harmful like the chemical products used for unclogging a shower drain.
The steps you would need to carry out are:
- Pour down 1 cup of baking soda
- Wait for 15 minutes to let it coat the debris and hair
- Pour a cup of white vinegar
If done the right way, it will dissolve the hair and debris present inside the drain. After carrying out the process, add water to clean off this mixture.
Baking soda and vinegar are readily available in supermarkets and online.
Unclogging by hand:
This may seem weird, but using your hand is the easiest and the most conventional method for unclogging.
It only works for debris and hair, which is present around the drain or a level a little lower. Using rubber gloves makes it less gross and clear all the mess away!
A hook is a suitable instrument if you cannot insert your hands or fingers. A plumber’s snake is another instrument that helps break more challenging clogs.
Chemical products for unclogging:
You can use several chemical products as a last-ditch effort to unclog your shower drain by yourself. Plumbing companies also use these products to clean the drain.
Mixing the chemical products and adding them inside the drain makes the debris and hair fall by dissolving them.
However, keep in mind that these products may produce harmful gases such as chlorine which is dangerous if inhaled.
When should you call a plumber?
Using chemical products or trying more than one or two methods is sufficient but taking things in your hands is not suitable. I suggest that you contact a plumber and leave the matter to the professionals.
Need a professional? Contact Gray Plumbing
If you have any clogged shower drains but want to enjoy an early morning or late night shower, call Gray Plumbing.
You can get our services by contacting Plumber Albany CA or Plumber Benicia CA.
We are responsive 24 hours and can quickly solve your basic plumber need. Our team is fully experienced and is one of the best options available.
You can reach out to us through:
