How to unclog a shower drain.

There are many simple ways to unclog a shower drain and for the most part can be done yourself. You may also want to prevent it from happening again, tips for this will also be included in this blog.

Here are a few ways that might help unclog your drain.

Pour boiling water down the drain

• Boil water in a kettle or on the hob
• Pour water down the drain
• Use a funnel e.g., to contain the water as you pour.

This may clear a small blockage; however, larger build ups probably won’t be cleared just using this method. But it may start the process and give other methods a starting point.

Use a plunger

• Try adding Vaseline to the rim of the plunger for a better suction
• Add water to the shower so the end of the plunger is submerged
• Plunge!

This tends to have a low success rate in shower clogs especially if they are deeper into the drain, however, could be worth a try.

Baking soda and vinegar

• Pour 100g of baking soda down the drain
• Wait a few minutes
• Pour the same amount of vinegar down the drain
• Wait for a few hours to see if the hair begins to dissolve
• Clean the drain out by pouring boiling water down it

This method is an alternative to chemicals and wont damage plastic pipes, but you may still have to resort to using chemical products.

Chemicals

• Follow the packaging and its instructions
• Wear protective gloves and goggles
• Don’t mix chemicals as it can produce toxic gases

This should be a last resort as it can damage plumbing and in future may become a larger issue if this method is repeated. You can minimize this happening in the future and avoid further blockages.

Call a plumber

If these methods don’t work, it may be best to call a plumber. We are always here to help and can provide quick service to prevent further damage to your drainage system. Contact us today for our swift service.

What can be done to prevent this happening again?

A clogged drain is often due to a clump of hair, dirt or soap. Less common cause of clogged drains is mineral build-up and main drainage being blocked by tree roots or simple decay.

Prevention is the next step after having your drain cleared to stop it from happening again. Firstly, you can invest in a drain protector, these catch hair and other debris to prevent future blockages for these reasons.

A secure soap dish can help too, since soap contributes to clogging by acting as an adhesive for the hair to create larger clumps and clogs.