How to Prevent a Clogged Shower Drain?

Dealing with Drain Clogs

Drain clogs happen, but they are certainly not pleasant. No one enjoys stepping into the shower, hoping for a relaxing, spa-like experience, only to find that dirty water is pooling around their feet because the drain is clogged. Plumbing a shower drain is tedious, but you do not have to be stuck in that position. In fact, one of the best tips for plumbing problems of all kinds applies to a clogged shower drain as well: the best way to deal with it is to be proactive in preventing it. Here, we offer tips for how to unclog a shower drain, along with maintenance tips to keep your drain from clogging in the first place.

What Not to Do for a Clogged Drain

If your shower drain is currently clogged, you probably don’t want to read through preventive maintenance tips before learning how to unclog it, so we’ll get right to it. First, let’s talk about what not to do. Never use harsh chemical drain cleaners like Drano or Liquid plumber, and do not try to clear your drain with a wire clothes hanger. Doing any of these things can damage your bathroom plumbing, and lead to a much larger problem! Instead, try flushing your drain with boiling water, or vinegar and baking soda. If that is not successful, try using a plunger, removing the drain cover and centering the plunger over the drain. Run a little bit of water to create a seal under the plunger, and then push the plunger up and down several times to try and dislodge the clog. If you cannot safely fix the problem using one of these methods, it’s time to call a plumber.

Simple Steps for Clearing a Drain

In the future, though, you can prevent a clogged shower drain by following these tips:

• Brush your hair. Did you know that most clogs in shower plumbing happen because of hair in the drain? When this hair combines with soap, conditioners, body oils, and other products, it can create a sludgy mess that sticks in your pipe. One simple step towards fixing this is to brush your hair before showering. This will remove loose hairs so that they don’t go down the drain when you take your shower.
• Use a mesh hair trap. This is another way to keep hair out of the drain. These traps fit over the drain and catch hair before it can go into the plumbing. Then you simply remove the hair from the trap and throw it away. If this job seems gross to you, wear gloves. It’s well worth handling some wet hair to save yourself some plumbing headaches.
• Keep oily body products out of the shower. We realize this one is tricky, because many body products contain oil, from conditioners to lotion to sugar and salt scrubs. However, oil can harden in your pipes, creating the perfect environment for clogs to form. It is a good idea to apply your oil based products outside of the shower and wipe off as much as possible before getting in or use them after you get out of the shower.
• Don’t dump buckets down the drain. If you mop your floor or do some other dirty chore that involves a bucket of water with cleaners in it, dump these somewhere other than your shower drain. Not only can the chemicals be too harsh for the drain, but dirt and debris in the bucket can result in a clog. One interesting idea is to pour dirty water into cat litter, then throw this away. This keeps contaminants not only out of your plumbing, but also out of the soil around your home.
• Regularly flush the drains. First, when you are finished with your shower, let the hot water run down the drain for a few minutes, to help move stray hairs and body products through the pipes. Then, once a week, flush the shower drain with boiling water, taking care not to splash yourself with boiling water. From time to time, especially if you notice that your shower drain is running a little bit slowly, do a vinegar and baking soda rinse. This is a simple process: just pour one half to one cup of baking soda into the drain, following it with one cup of white vinegar. Let this mixture foam for 10 to 15 minutes, then follow it with about a gallon of hot water.

Tough Clogs Require Expert Help

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you encounter a shower clog that is beyond what you can manage. When that happens, call a reliable plumber. For over half a century, Eagerton Plumbing has been a leading provider of residential and commercial plumbing services in Jacksonville, Florida, and the surrounding areas. Customers in Duval, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties know they can rely on us not only for comprehensive plumbing services, but also for slab leak detection and repair, kitchen and bathroom remodelling, and more. No job is too big or too small, and we are here for our customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering exceptional customer service and reliable repair services, backed by service guarantees. All of our experienced plumbers are licensed, insured, and background checked, and we are committed to getting the job done right the first time, customizing an affordable solution to meet your needs and solve your plumbing problems. When you need a reliable plumber, any time of day or night, call 904.638.7979 or contact us through our website.