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Is water pooling at your feet during your shower? If it is, you’re probably wondering how to unclog a shower drain.
The thing about shower drain clogs is that it all depends on what is clogging the drain. And how far down the clog is.
A ball of hair near the drain might not be hard to remove. But a combination of soap scum, grease, and hair that’s lodged deeper down your pipes will be trickier to unclog. Regardless, there are some steps you can take to try and unclog your shower drain before calling a plumber.
Here’s how to proceed if you’re ready to unclog that shower drain and ensure water flows freely down the pipes.
1. Check for hair
It’s common for hair to clog shower drains. To see if you have hair near the drain that’s blocking the flow of water, remove the drain cover or strainer. If you have a stopper that pushes in, you can usually just unscrew it.
Now look down the drain. Use a flashlight if needed. Do you see a glob of hair? If you do, put on a pair of latex gloves, reach down, and pull it out.
In the event you don’t see much hair but suspect your clog is due to hair that has collected inside the drain, do this:
- Grab a wire coat hanger and either unwind it or cut it and straighten it out.
- Use a pair of pliers to bend one end of the wire into a very small hook.
- Insert the hook end into the drain and spin the wire around.
- Pull the wire out of the drain and see if you grabbed any hair.
This can be a good way to fish for hair that has balled up in your pipes. Just be careful not to drop the wire down the drain!
2. Pour boiling water down the pipes
If there wasn’t any hair in your drain or the clog is still there after you remove a bunch of hair, you can try pouring boiling water down the drain.
Many people wondering how to unclog a shower drain are successful with this method because boiling water helps dislodge accumulated soap scum and grease. When something other than hair is the reason for the clogged drain, this is the method to try.
3. Dissolve the clog with vinegar and baking soda
Did boiling water not work? The next thing to try is a vinegar and baking soda solution.
First, drop a few heaping tablespoons of baking soda down the drain. Then pour about a cup of vinegar on top of it. You’ll probably hear a sizzle, and that’s good! This is how vinegar and baking soda interact with one another. Iif that sizzle is happening on top of your clog, it could mean the baking soda/vinegar solution is dissolving whatever gunk is down there.
This method often works well in conjunction with the boiling water approach. After the boiling water dislodges the clog a little bit or otherwise weakens its “hold” on your pipes, the vinegar and baking soda can help finish the job.
What about chemical drain cleaners? These products can work well as a maintenance solution for slow draining pipes. However, we don’t recommend them for most clogs. The goopy drain cleaner will sit on top of the clog itself. Then, if a plumber has to remove or cut a section of pipe to fix the problem, the drain cleaner can spill out into your home and cause damage.
4. Plunge your shower drain
If the clog abides after trying all of the above, grab your sink or drain plunger. Sometimes, brute force will be the best solution to your clogged shower drain.
Run some water in the tub or shower so that the plunger cup is partially covered. Then plunge up and down several times. Be sure to form a good seal over the drain. If you allow water or air to enter under the plunger, your efforts won’t be effective.
In some situations, plunging can help unclog a shower drain by forcing the stuck object down your pipes. If this doesn’t work, there are other tools to try.
5. Remove the clog with plumber’s snake
For deeper clogs, this is the way to go. A plumber’s snake can travel deep down in your pipes and help you bust up or remove whatever item or accumulated gunk is blocking the flow of water.
Some people aren’t comfortable using this kind of tool themselves, and that’s ok! If you want to call a plumber at this point, it’s ok to do so.
Whether you have a manual or electric plumber’s snake, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use. The idea is that the snake will travel down your pipes and hook onto whatever is blocking them. Then you can slowly reel the snake back in and dispose of the debris that was clogging the drain. Sometimes, the snake itself will break up the clog and you won’t have to remove anything.
6. Have your plumbing system inspected
If none of the above remedies are unclogging your drain, the problem may reside deeper in your plumbing system. The best course of action is to call a plumber who can perform a camera inspection.
By sending a camera down your pipes, a plumber can pinpoint the exact location of the clog and determine the best method for removing or destroying it. Sometimes, the clog will be in your sewer line, which is a lot more serious than having some hair in the drain!
Sewer line clogs can cause sewage backups in your home. They’re super inconvenient and potentially hazardous to human health. While one clogged shower drain doesn’t usually indicate a sewer line problem – multiple clogged drains would point to a sewer line issue – it’s still a possibility. When the remedies described above don’t work, it’s a good idea to have your plumbing system inspected by a professional.
Now you know how to unclog a shower drain! But if you’re still having problems…
We’ve got your back! If you live in Metro Atlanta and are struggling with a clogged or slow draining shower or sink, our team can help.
Just give us a call at (470) 231-0076 today or fill out the form on this page to get in touch!
