Schrader Plumbing Blog
How to Unclog Your Shower Drain
It is definitely no fun standing naked ankle-deep in soapy, dirty residue due to a clogged shower drain. This unpleasant experience is avoidable, by following our simple tips on how to unclog your drain. Clogged drains are not just an annoying thing to go through. Over time, clogged drains can lead to mold development and flooding, or burst or leaking pipes. But, if you can unclog the drain at the first sign of it clogging, hopefully, you will avoid that from happening. Here are four different ways to do that:
1. Pour boiling water down the drain.
Boil a pot of water on your stove in a pot that is easy to handle so that you don’t burn yourself when transporting it to the drain. Safety is important. Pour the water down the shower drain, slowly. Use a funnel so that the hot water doesn’t harm anything else in the tub.
Wait fifteen minutes after pouring the hot water and then attempt to run water from the tap. If the clog was from grease or soap build-up, the clog should be gone. If this method doesn’t work, however, try Step 2.
2. Use a plunger.
If running boiling water doesn’t work the next thing to try is to dislodge the clog with a plunger. The best type of plunger for shower drain clogs would be a classic cup plunger. Add enough water to the tub or shower to submerge the end of the plunger’s cup. This will help with suction.
Press the plunger’s cup down enough to get a seal and begin to plunge vigorously. The plunging action is what creates suction inside the drain that helps dislodge stubborn clogs. It does not always work on all types of clogs. If the clog is far down the pipe, don’t be surprised if plunging doesn’t work. It is something worth trying, but it is not the last resort. After plunging, run the tap to see if standing water is still building up. If it is, move along to Method 3.
3. Try a homemade drain cleaner. NOT the store-bought kind.
We do not recommend ever using chemical store-bought drain cleaners. They always do more damage to pipes and hardware than they’re worth. What you CAN try is a safe at-home mixture to clear your shower drain clog, however. You just have to follow the right steps:
You are going to first pour a cup of baking soda into your drain. After a few minutes, then pour a cup of vinegar down. Give the two a few hours to mix. Follow this up with more boiling water to clear any remaining material. The two combine to create a fizzing reaction that can clear clogs. Can. Clear. Clogs. BUT- not every time.
4. Call Schrader Plumbing.
If that stubborn clog is still there after these steps, it’s time to call Schrader Plumbing. Some clogs are too far gone for DIY tips – and that’s ok because our professional drain cleaning services can remove them for you.
We have many options at our disposal to help you get rid of your clogs such as hydro-jetting and camera inspections. These will help you not just remove an existing clog, but diagnose what caused it. That way you can prevent them from happening again.
Give us a call today to schedule professional drain cleaning for your clogged shower drain. Our team has the expertise, tools, and knowledge to get rid of your stubborn clog efficiently.
Categories: Clogs, DIY, How to's,By: Michelle Kurcina
Last modified:
Last Modified: July 12, 2022 at 7:18 pm
