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What to Do if Your Shower Drain is Clogged?

It is not a bad idea to avoid hiring a plumber if you can avoid it. Unclogging a shower drain is simpler than you think. You can solve the vast majority of clogged shower drain problems using some fairly simple and unconventional methods

Uncommon Ways to Unclog a Shower Drain:

Remove the shower drain screen and pull out the visible hair

Pour hot water down the shower drain

Discharge strong dish soap

Utilize a cloth hanger hook or strap to unclog your shower drain

Use a plunger and apply consistent force

Pour Drano chemicals

Use a plumbers’ snake (manually or electrically operated)

Make use of a mixture of baking soda and vinegar

Call a Plumbs Up plumber

I'll go into each of these methods in detail below. I have taken into consideration the amount of expense and involvement needed for each approach. I discuss the easiest and cheapest methods first and then explain more involved and expensive ideas. (The only exception to this order is perhaps the chemical option, which is quick, easy, and affordable, but can cause some damage to your pipes, especially if done repeatedly.)

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It’s Not Uncommon to Employ More Than One of These Methods to Unclog a Shower Drain:

  • Remove The Shower Drain Screen and Pull Out The Visible Hair

    This method has a fairly good chance of success, but it includes using your hands. To keep your hands out of germs, we advise you wearing thin rubber gloves.


    First, remove the drain cover. Sometimes you will need to use a screwdriver to remove a screw un the middle of the cover you have to unscrew. Other times you can pry the shower drain cover off using a flat screwdriver. Look inside the drainpipe, locate and remove the clog.


    Keep in mind you may need to use a flashlight, if needed. If the clog is within close reach, pull it out with a hook or your fingers.


    Note: This method works great for unclogging small chunks of hair or stuck objects but is not for fixing clogs caused from grease or mineral build up. You need to use another method.

  • Pour Hot Water Down the Shower Drain

    This method can sometimes breakdown the soap or grease holding the clog tight together and clear the blockade step by step until all is cleared out.


    Open the hot water faucet side until it’s burning hot to the touch. Pour the hot water down the drain. It's may be a good idea for you to use a funnel or pour the water carefully to keep the water spilling to the sides as you pour.


    Note: This method may clear the blockade partially when the clog is minor and is not one that has built up over time. For stronger clogs, it will work well when you use it in conjunction with other methods.

  • Discharge strong dish soap

    Greasy clogs have a good chance be cleared with dish soap and hot water. Squeeze dish soap down the clogged drain, then pour boiling water down the drain. This will help dissolve the grease back to liquid form and get rid of it.

  • Using a Plunger and apply consistent force

    This method works well when the clog doesn’t involve grease, but just hair that is stuck. The pressure from the plunge will be able to push it out of the way.


    When the clog is deep in your pipes and it has hair bundled up for instance, you might struggle to get enough suction power, but eventually you might be able to push it out of the way. You just need to be persistent in your efforts.


    To make things easier, start by adding petroleum jelly to the edge of the suction plunger to get a tight seal. It will give you extra suction power to push the blockage out of the way faster. It works best when the plunger is submerged under water.

  • Make use of a mixture of baking soda and vinegar

    Although this is a more organic natural solution than using cleaning chemicals, it has turned out effective sometimes depending on how serious the clog is.


    Using a funnel, pour a cup of baking soda down the shower drain. Wait for about five minutes, then discharge a cup of vinegar down the drain to activate the baking soda and create an explosion like inside your pipes. The chemical reaction this mixture generates would be enough to dissolve the blockage. Let the mixture sit for a couple of hours then check if the hair clog goes away by pouring hot water down the drain.


    This method will not cause damage to PEX or PVC pipes. If it doesn’t work, you may need to use other methods.

  • Utilize a cloth hanger hook or strap to unclog your shower drain

    This is one of the oldest methods everyone has used at one time or another for unclogging the shower drainpipes and surprisingly enough it has a pretty good success rate.


    When you can’t reach the blockage with your fingers, then start fishing out the clog with a piece of wire or cloth hanger.


    Using a pair of pliers bend the tip of the wire or cloth hanger to make a hook like end of it. Then start prying through the drainpipes turning it side to side until you reach the clog, keep turning the wire and start to bring it out slowly until you bring out the clog full of hair and grease.

  • Use a plumbers’ snake (manually or electrically operated)

    This is another cheap method for fixing clogs that will not require you to spend much at all. This method also works more often than not. It has a fairly high success rate:


    • How to Unclog Your Shower Drain Using a Plumbers' Snake
    • Push the snake down the drain until you reach the clog
    • Turn the snake’s handle and bring it back up
    • Run water to test the drain and verify that the clog is entirely removed

    Note: Clogs caused by roots require more than just a plumbers' snake and many clogs will not even require that this tool is used.

  • Pour Drano Chemicals

    Most hardware stores and supermarkets sell strong chemical cleaners designed to unblock drains. Follow the instructions carefully.


    How to Unclog a Shower Drain Using Chemicals

    Follow the directions on the packaging and make sure not to use too much. The amount you use will vary:


    • Wear gloves and goggles
    • Don't mix your chemicals. This could cause poisonous gas
    • Pour chemicals down the drain

    Note: Don’t resort to chemicals lightly, as they can cause damage to your drainage pipes, especially if you use this method repeatedly. Using chemicals is normally a quick, easy, and affordable method, however, you can minimize their future use by avoiding future blockages.


    Call a Plumbs Up plumber

    If you don’t want to start taking your drain apart and are uneasy about using chemicals, or they don't work, then you will have to call out a professional plumber. It’s by far the least affordable option and clearly the last resort, if you are looking to save on expense.


    That said, it is also the least trouble

    Once you have unclogged the shower drain, you should work on preventing or reducing the chances of it happening again (see my suggestions at the bottom of the page). Below are my eight suggested methods for how to clear a clogged shower drain.


    Don’t call your plumber just yet! These clever solutions for clearing a stubborn clog will have your shower draining smoothly again in no time.


    Hopping into a hot and steamy shower only to notice that the water is pooling around your feet makes for a rough way to start the day. The problem?


    The causes of clogged drains are typically due to hair and soap scum backup that has been accumulating for some time. Before you attempt to call the plumber, check to see if you have the proper tools to handle the job yourself. You’d be surprised. These three easy solutions for fixing a stubborn and nasty clog are proof you don’t always need a professional for this at-home fix-it job. All that’s required are the right tools (a good control of your gag reflex), and you’ll soon be able to enjoy your relaxing morning ritual once more.


    BOILING POINT

    This trick is perhaps the easiest one in the book: Fill your teakettle (or a large saucepan) with water and bring it to a boil. Next, pour the water directly down the drain a little bit at a time. Give the hot liquid the chance to work its way through the clog in between each pour. The temperature of the water will help break up and dissolve the gunk that is blocking your drain. Attempt this process only if your plumbing consists of metal pipes. Don’t use boiling water if you have PVC pipes. Else it could cause joints to loosen.


    CLEAN AND CLEAR

    This next solution is a nod to that elementary school science fair classic—the volcano project. That same foamy chemical reaction that fueled your papier-mâché mountain doubles as a powerful home cleaner. Mix 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1/3 cup of vinegar in a heat-resistant measuring cup. As soon as it starts to fizz (which it will immediately), pour the solution down your clogged drain. The chemical reaction will help break up the hair and grime. It’s the most common cause for the backup in your pipe. If you can, let it sit for at least one hour. Then, turn on the bathtub faucet and run hot water down the drain to help flush the mixture through the pipes.


    DIGGING OUT

    For a really nasty clog, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and snake the drain. It’s easier than you think (though every bit as disgusting as it sounds). Put on rubber gloves if you have them, then use a screwdriver to unscrew or pry open the shower drain cover. Once that’s removed, straighten out a wire coat hanger, retaining a tiny hook on the end. Feed the wire down the drain to fish out any hair, accumulated soap scum, or other debris that’s causing the clog. After you’ve pulled out all that you can, pour boiling water down the drain and replace the drain cover.


    Imagine waking up late and rushing into the shower to find out you have no water supply in your taps and tub. You can save yourself from a situation like this one by calling Purple Hill’s best plumbing service provider annually to ensure all your plumbing needs and avoid sad situations where you have no water.

How you can Take Care Of Your Water Heater To Ensure Longevity?

The typical water heater lives about ten years, but die out faster because of their usage, providing you with hot running water whenever you need it. To avoid a disastrous situation where your water heater gives up on you. Here are some ways you can increase its lifespan:

Get your heater serviced at least once a year

Check if the water pressure is in accordance with its suggested 40 PSI

When you hear weird sounds coming from and near the heater, give us a call

Call a professional if you notice any stained water coming water

Why Call A Professional For Cleaning Your Drains?

Low pressured water and clogged drains are every household’s cry for help. Many people counter this problem by buying over-the-counter tools and chemicals like acid, vinegar, plunges, and snake plunge. However, these tools don’t always fix the problem, and the clog returns or worsens. These chemicals can cause a lot of harm to your older pipes. This is why you should always call a professional to fix your clogging problem because they use clean and safe tools and chemicals that increase unclogged sinks and pipes' lifespan.

You Should Call A Professional For A Gas Leak When You(r):

House starts smelling like rotten eggs and or sulfate in your house

Hear some hissing and whistling sound coming near your kitchen or gas supply

Spot a broken gas pipe

Plants near your gas leak and house start dying

See gas coming out of your gas supply (it looks like a little cloud of dust)

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