There’s nothing more refreshing than having a nice long shower after work. It soothes your body and washes the day off, leaving you relaxed and squeaky clean. Now picture yourself standing in four inches of dirty water. Not good at all!
Shower drains do their job efficiently until they get clogged, and then it is time to jump into action to clear it. The most common reasons why there are blockages are because:
- Hair
- Soap Scum
- Mineral Buildup
- Dirt
Now you know the problem, but how do you fix it? The best way to unclog a shower drain is with the help of a trusty plumber Oakville. Alternatively, you may also try to unclog the drain by yourself. Here are six home remedies to unclog a shower drain:
Home remedy #1: Manually clear out the drain
This is fairly easy. Start by removing the plug. Lift the plug and turn it counterclockwise until it unscrews from the drain opening. If there is any debris on the plug, pull it off and throw it away. Then have a good look. Try to reach anything you can near the opening.
If you see stuff in further, you can use tweezers or a metal coat hanger to get at it. Pull as much as you can out and run the hot water. Hopefully, you have solved the problem.
Home remedy #2: Boiling water
When soap scum goes down the drain, it can stick to the sides of the pipes and catch dirt and hair until it restricts water flow. Boiling water works by dissolving that buildup.
Boil a pot of water and carefully bring it to the shower. Slowly pour half the contents down the drain and wait a few minutes. Follow up with the rest of the water and see if it is draining normally. You may have to repeat this a few times to clear the clog. Boiling water will be used as a chaser to most other methods.
Home remedy #3: Natural drain cleaner
You could buy some caustic chemical drain cleaner, but you are here for home remedies. Why not spare the negative environmental fallout of a commercial product and use your DIY cleaner?
Baking Soda and vinegar are two items you’ll probably find in your cupboards right now. Mixed, they make a powerful clog buster. Take one cup of each and combine them to make a solution you can pour right down the drain. The natural chemical reaction with help to dissolve most buildups in your drain and get the pipes free-flowing again. You can repeat the process with boiling water in-between until the clog is gone.
Home remedy #4: Plunger
Having a plunger to unclog drains is a great tool but make sure to have a separate plunger for the toilet and one for the rest. Plunging seems pretty straightforward, but there is a technique to be successful.
- Run the water until enough in the shower to submerge the plunger head.
- Make a tight seal over the drain
- Move the plunger in an undulating rhythm and use a little force.
- Continue for 10-15 seconds and check it out. If needed, repeat the process.
Plunging produces suction and pressure to break up blockages and allow debris to wash away down the drain.
Home remedy #5: Wet/dry vacuum
You can try this method if you have a shop vac handy. It is a simple technique of placing the end of the hose over the drain to make a seal. You can use a cloth or even duct tape to get it snug. In short, blasts turn the power on and off to jolt the clog, breaking it apart or clearing it. Follow up with boiling water to wash away any debris leftover on the drain pipes.
Home remedy #6: Plumbers snake
Sometimes you need the big guns or, in this case, the big snake. A plumbers snake is a flexible auger designed to fit down drains and clear blockages. There are several types, from hand augers to electric ones, and they can clear small clogs up to roots sticking through the pipes.
Feed the snake down the pipe until you feel it stop. This should be the blockage. Then you operate the auger by hand or power, and it will spin and break up the clog fairly easily using the corkscrew-shaped head. You can buy or rent these for home use.
The best thing to do once your shower drain is clear is to prevent it from happening again. Here are a few ways to achieve that.
- Use a drain cover
- Don’t wash soap chunks down the drain
- Only use the drain for showering, not rinsing away food debris or dirt
- Avoid body oils as they can easily harden in the drain pipes
- Do regular maintenance by using your DIY mix and boiling water on the drain once a month
Nobody wants to fill up the shower pan or tub while showering. By following these six proven methods, you will have your shower draining perfectly, just in time to practice singing your favourite rock ballad.
