How to Unclog Shower Drain

Have you ever had the unpleasant experience of standing in a shower with a clogged drain? It’s not only frustrating but can also ruin your day. To avoid this inconvenience, it’s essential to comprehend what causes clogs and how to clear them effectively. This comprehensive guide on how to unclog shower drain covers the most common causes of clogs, temporary clearing options, deep cleaning techniques, prevention methods, and frequently asked questions. Let’s begin by delving into the root of the problem.

Table of Contents

Common Causes of Clogged Shower Drains

There tend to be a few usual suspects when it comes to clogged shower drains. Here are some of the top offenders:

Hair, Hair, Everywhere

If Rapunzel was real, her golden locks would wreak havoc on plumbing! For us common folk with normal hair lengths, our mane can still cause main drain pain. Each time we wash our hair, some strands get left behind. Individually, they’d pose no problem, but collectively, over time, they can create quite a tangled mess.

Soap Scum

It starts innocently enough as you lather up, but the soap and shampoo residue left behind can build upon itself. Over time a lot of that slick gunk solidifies, sticking to the pipes and reducing water flow little by little.

Random Debris

Ever accidentally knocked a bath toy down the drain? Or scrub a little too vigorously with that loofah only to see pieces breaking off and getting sucked away? It’s surprising what can end up getting washed down our drains unintentionally. Small items can catch passing hair and soap scum, upping the odds of getting stuck and accumulating a blockage.

Pipe Issues

Sometimes it’s not what goes down the drain, but the drain itself that contributes to clogs. Rust around the drain trap cracked or uneven piping, and other issues can create small obstructions for things to pile up behind. Tree root infiltrations or a sagging vent pipe are also common shower drain offenders in homes.

Now that we know why shower drains get clogged let’s go over some quick fixes before we dive into the deeper unclogging methods.

Temporary Drain Clearing Options

Notice the water starting to take longer to go down after your shower? Or see a few lingering bubbles here and there? Catching an impending clog early can sometimes reverse the issue before it gets out of hand.

Here are a couple of quick things to try:

The Baking Soda and Vinegar Approach

This classic DIY drain cleaner couldn’t be easier to pull together from basic kitchen ingredients. Simply pour 1 cup baking soda down the drain, follow with 1 cup vinegar, and let the resulting chemical reaction work its fizzy magic! The bubbles help dislodge debris stuck to the pipes so things wash away easier. Flush thoroughly with hot water when done.

Attack It with a Plunger

That trusty plunger you only think about when the toilet acts up can work wonders on a shower drain too. Make sure to sufficiently plug the overflow holes first with rags though. Otherwise, you’re pushing water down one set of openings while sucking it up another – zero progress made! With the overflows blocked, vigorously plunge away. The suction can help pull up gunk stuck in the pipes below. Finish by running hot water to wash the freed debris away for good.

Deep Cleaning a Persistently Clogged Drain

How to clean drains and unclog shower or sink drains

But what happens when quick fixes fail and your drain remains distressingly clogged for days or even weeks? More drastic action will be needed to remove the likely sizable obstruction.

Be prepared to get your hands a little dirty (and wet!) with these more intensive unclogging methods:

Remove the Drain Cover and Pipe

The first step in any thorough drain cleaning routine involves taking the decorative drain cover off and pulling up the horizontal pipe leading into the wall outlet (called the “P-trap”). This gives direct access to the problem area rather than working through a small opening blindly.

To take it apart:

Unscrew and remove any screws or rim holding the drain cover in place with a screwdriver. You may need needle-nose locking pliers to get a good grip and twist stuck covers loose.
Once removed, slide any hair catcher out and set aside. Loosen the slip nut connecting the curved P-trap pipe with locking pliers or a wrench.
Twist the P-trap gently side to side while pulling up to disconnect. Remove any tubing clamps if present.
Inspect the pipes and clean out any hair or debris before replacing them. Consider replacing the P-trap if cracks or rust damage are present.

Send Through the Snake

With the pipes now exposed, it’s time to send in the secret weapon of plumbers everywhere – the flexible drain snake! Feed its coiled metal length down the drain opening and into the pipe elbow. Crank the handle as you gently push to extend the snake deeper in search of the clog.

Once the snake meets resistance and stops advancing, crank the handle the opposite way to bring it back toward you while spinning. This helps ensnare any hair or debris present and pull it out.

Repeat pushing the snake deeper and retracting several times until water starts running freely again when you flush with a bucket. Victorious!

Apply Caustic Chemical Cleaners

If you’d rather not deal with the hands-on hassle of drain snakes, chemical drain cleaners offer an easy alternative. They typically come as thick gels or crystal-containing liquids. When poured or squirted down the drain, they work to dissolve organic buildup like hair and soap scum.

However, take care of these strong chemicals and always wear protective gloves! Avoid splashing them on bare skin or eyes. Never mix chemical types as dangerous reactions can occur.

To use:

Carefully review and follow all label safety precautions first. Check that the product is safe for your pipe type before using it.
Remove drain cover and block overflow holes as previously described.
Measure out the recommended cleaner amount and pour/squirt into drain openings.
Let sit for a specified time length to work dissolving magic.
Flush with hot water for 5+ minutes to rinse pipes thoroughly. Foam and bubbles will release – keep water running until completely clear.
Repeat as needed for severely clogged drains, allowing proper intervals between treatments.
Freshen stagnant water left sitting with baking soda and vinegar before attempting to drain.

The chemicals break down residue coatings and break down buildup over hours or days depending on severity. Follow up occasionally with a drain snake to pull out loosened debris.

Boil Some Water

Here’s a more natural unclogger to try – good old-fashioned hot water! Heating some water to a rapid boil helps dissolve soap scum and also softens hair accumulations to get things sliding freely again. The agitated bubbles also help knock debris loose.

Carefully pour the freshly boiled water slowly down the drain. Caution is extremely important to avoid injury from dangerous steam or splashing water. Wear protective hand gear and eyewear when pouring. Check first that your pipes can withstand hot liquids too.

Follow up by sending a drain snake down while things are still warm and loose. The hair and gunk should release fairly easily at that point if the boiling water did its job!

Enlist a Powerful Plunger

Standard flimsy sink plungers just don’t cut it for shower drain struggles. A heavy-duty force cup plunger specifically designed for tubs and sinks is required to generate enough suction. Look for larger cup diameters (at least 4 inches) with a thick rubber flange ring around the bottom to form a tight seal. Reinforced handles crank up the plunging power!

With this special weapon in hand:

Remove the drain cover and plug the overflow holes completely first. Locking pliers can clamp tubing to create an airtight seal if needed.
Submerge the plunger fully into the standing water before pushing down to suction. If no standing water is present pour a few gallons down first before proceeding.
Plunge vigorously at least 15-20 times in short bursts, pulling back after each push down to break suction before repeating. Take a brief break if fatigued.
Finish by sending a drain snake down to snag and pull up the loosened debris for the final knockout blow! Voila!

Employ a Power Washer

Home improvement stores now sell compact electric jet washers specifically designed to blast through drain clogs with targeted water pressure. Like having a power washer for your pipes! Conveniently battery operated models are also available for easy transport throughout your home.

To use:

As always, start by removing the drain cover and plugging overflows.
Insert the pressure washer wand tip several inches into the drain opening. Push further in slowly if it meets resistance from a tight bend.
Pull the trigger for 15-30-second bursts, working the wand gently around in circles occasionally. The intense jet stream will pummel the clog and clear the way again.
Flush drain thoroughly with hot water after power washing to remove debris. Send down a drain snake afterward to pull up anything still clinging for a final clearout.

Reach Way Down with a Closet Auger

How to unclog a toilet

When regular small hand-crank drain snakes only go so deep before meeting resistance, the true professionals roll out what’s called a closet auger (or flex auger). This heavyweight clog demolisher is like an industrial-grade drill on steroids. The extra rigid metal coil is thicker and extends to over 3 feet long for maximum reach into seriously stuck situations behind walls or below basement slabs. No clog stands a chance! Augers easily puncture through giant masses of entanglements, essentially “drilling” open a path again. It requires some skill and practice wielding its intense spinning fury without incident, however. Attempt only if comfortable with power tools – or call for backup! If you successfully felled the beast, send a regular snake down afterward to extract the remains.

Alright, hopefully reading this you now feel armed and ready to take on any future shower clogs yourself! But remember the mantra: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Let’s talk about some easy ways to avoid getting clogged in the first place.

Preventing Future Clogs

Consistency is key when keeping drains clear for the long run. Establish these simple self-care habits and shower maintenance steps:

Install a Hair Catcher

These wall-mounted meshes are your first line of drain defense. Hair and larger debris get caught for easy removal while letting water pass. Gunk gets stopped before ever reaching the inner pipes. Super easy to pop out, rinse off, and reinsert. Some styles even have suction cups to stick conveniently to the tub floor. Keep one installed over each shower and tub drain at all times going forward.

Wipe the Walls

Squeegee your shower and tub walls after each use to prevent soap scum buildup. Just like wiping windows prevents hard water spots, wiping down tiles helps prevent yucky yellow gunk. Those flexible rubber bathroom squeegee/brush combos do wonders to make it a breeze too.

Flush Monthly with Hot Water

Bonus points if you boil the water first before pouring it! Adding an occasional liquid flush cleans the “inner walls” and keeps things slick. It’s easy to forget about what we can’t see. So set a monthly reminder to pour some hot water into the drain as preventative care when hair shedding season strikes.

Occasional Deep Cleaning

Even with faithful hair catcher use and wall wiping, accumulated buildup happens. Set seasonal reminders to thoroughly deep clean your drains. Follow the steps previously covered to take pipes apart, snake out debris, flush with a chemical cleaner, and reassemble. Every 3-4 months is ideal to stay ahead of entrenching clogs.

FAQs

Should I try using a wire coat hanger to clear my clog?

I’d pass on the wire hanger approach. Untwisting coat hangers to form makeshift hooks risks scratching or puncturing your drain lines. Hooks can also easily get tangled in hair clogs making removal difficult. Stick to purpose made drain snakes and augers designed not to damage pipes or get irretrievably stuck.

Can store bought foaming drain cleaners fix the problem?

The “just pour it in” foaming cleaners offer mild cleaning at best for light buildup. They do little to break apart more stubborn clogs beyond surface level gunk and tend to get expensive over time. Serious blockages require physically removing the mass of hair and soap with hand tools. Stick to mechanical removal methods or consider stronger caustic chemical cleaners.

How do I unscrew a stubborn drain cover that won’t budge?

Penetrating oil helps loosen the bolts holding covers on initially. Apply generously down the sides of the cover and let soak for 10-15 minutes before trying again with pliers. Protect tubes from crushing damage by placing wood blocks on each side clamped in pliers. Add padding cloth/tape on the metal teeth. Be patient working it loose bit by bit if very stuck without tearing up walls.

My pipes keep getting clogged every couple of months no matter what I try. What’s the deal?

Frequent repeat clogging hints at an underlying problem needing correction instead of just surface-level cleaning. There may be serious buildup lurking deeper in your drain line system or vent. Tree root infiltrations, cracked pipes, and sagging vents equal turbulence slowing drainage and collecting debris. Time to call a professional plumber to snake the full lines with camera pipe inspection if DIY options fail. They can advise on necessary repairs.

Is there a homemade drain cleaning solution recipe you’d recommend?

Boiling vinegar proves powerful for breaking up calcified soap scum deposits and whitening tiles. Carefully boil 2 parts of vinegar to 1 part of water. Remove from heat and pour slowly down the drain. Follow with extremely hot tap water. Wear gloves and eye protection – serious steam! Add some baking soda for extra bubbly scrubbing action before flushing. Just don’t pre-mix the ingredients or it overflows!

In Conclusion

As we’ve covered in how to unclog shower drain, shower drain clogs happen but don’t need to spell disaster. Arm yourself with the right tools and techniques and you can tackle the icky problem head-on. Hair and soap scum put up a nasty fight, but nothing is mightier than your will to shower without wading!

Stay vigilant against would-be cloggers by installing hair catchers and occasionally reviewing pipes. Follow manufacturer instructions for any store bought drain aids. Seek professional help for extensive drain line repairs.

I hope these drain unclogging tips prove useful in keeping your tub trouble-free for years so it’s smooth sailing into all those blissful morning showers ahead! Now let freedom flow!