We love showers until we come across the issue of clogged water. What will be your feelings if you look down and find yourself emersed in ankle-deep water in the shower? It will definitely leave any sane person in a state of great anguish, especially if this occurs on a business day. If you have a lot of standing water in your shower drain after every shower or bath, you probably have a clogged drain.
It is necessary to unclog the shower drain as soon as possible because stagnant water can create more problems for the plumbing system in the future. That is why this article has put together some tips on how to unclog a shower drain with standing water.
Are You Wondering Why Are Shower Drains Clogged?
First, it is important to understand the actual reason behind why the drains get clogged in the first place. Although human hair can be considered one of the main culprits for clogging shower drains, there could be some other reasons as well. Crystals and minerals from hard water and soap are the main causes why your shower drain is also clogged. Plus, the dirt and grease play their part in clogging shower and sink drains. While hair is one of the main reasons shower drains clog, the type of hair that falls into the drain also has a lot to do with it.
Short hair does not get caught in the drainage system more frequently, which means longer hair is the main trouble. The reason is that long hair easily gets tangled around the drain and becomes difficult to remove.
Now, Here Are Some Tips to Unclog Your Shower Drains:
Remove Any Visible Blockage from Your Drain
The first thing to do to unclog your drain is to remove any visible blockage. You'll want to avoid directly touching the nasty dirt if there is any. To unclog a shower drain, it is advisable to wear gloves if you are going to come into contact with all the mud that has accumulated in the drain of your bathtub. Many bathtub clogs are caused by hair, soap scum, and other bath products.
It is normal for large hairballs to collect in the drain, and they are often visible. You may be able to easily erase everything this way. Hair, soap scum, and bathroom accessories can easily end up in the drain and clog your tub. Many blockages are caused by a huge hairball.
Use The Plunger to Unclog Drains
If cleaning the visible blockage hasn't worked, the next step is to submerge the bathtub drain. You should inspect the coil and remove any debris. The determination is to prevent air from escaping when you use the plunger. You can then start diving in, but be sure to give it time and effort to make it work. You'll know it's working once you hear the water flow. If this process is successful, you should run hot water across the drain for proper removal of any remaining residue.
Another important thing is, that the level of success with this method depends on the type of drain and the actual reason for the blockage. For example, if the cause of your clogged drain is the presence of hair, you will have to face trouble getting enough suction to dive efficiently. To create a good suction, you can do some tricks and try to make it work. For instance, you can opt to add lubricating jelly to the corner of the suction cup to have a perfect seal.
Drain Boiling Water
Pouring hot water down the pipe clears the blockage and allows the water to pass through. If you've been removing dirt without success, here's another easy trick you can try. Fill a pot of boiling water and flush it down the drain. There is no guarantee that this step will release fat or physical blockages. But, if the obstruction is caused by a small blockage, it is worth a try.
This is one of the simplest and mess-free solutions for cleaning clogged drains, but only if the problem can be resolved by things that can be melted with the aid of hot water. Don't do this if you have low-temperature resistant PVC pipes. It can melt or soften pipe seals. If you're not sure what kind of plumbing you have, try using hot water instead of boiling water.
The Baking Soda and Vinegar Combo
These are the main natural ingredients, in other words, these are used to open the plunger in no time. Dispense a cup of baking soda after a cup of vinegar down the shower drain. A chemical reaction that releases a large amount of gas. As a result, the debris will be quickly dissolved and you will instantly get rid of a clogged shower drain. If necessary, use a spoon to push the baking soda as far as it will go. Now, wait a few minutes.
After the required time, you need to pour the cup of vinegar into it. In the drain, the two chemicals mix, and any blockage is burned off or removed from the drain. Now you can pour the hot water down the totally clean drain and look for any clogs.
Use The Drain Snake
The plumber's snake, also known as a drain snake, is a thin, flexible auger used to unclog pipes. The plumber's snake is often reserved for stubborn clogs that cannot be loosened with a plunger. It is also sometimes called a toilet plug. It is a flexible drilling tool that you can get at hardware stores.
You'll use the crank on the snake to send a cable down the drain to break or pull out whatever is clogging it. Once you feel resistance, turn the snake counterclockwise to push it into the helmet. If the clog crumbles, you can remove it from the overflow opening and that is it. It will surely open the clog if used the right way.
Call Professional Plumbers
If you've tried all of the above methods to unclog your shower drain or prefer to make sure your drains are unclogged the first time, your best course of action is to call an experienced professional plumber. Many plumbers have years of experience in the plumbing industry and know how to unclog any drain. For finding professional plumbers visit CityLocal 101.