How to unblock shower drain? 3 Easy Tips Explained

Do you want to know “how to unblock shower drain?’… learn from a Hills Shire Plumbing Company.

Maybe your drain is stuck. Shower drains blockages create a lot of problems in the house. Specially you might find your bathroom full of water all the time because of blocked shower drain.

Research also suggest that blocked shower drain may be just the right place for bacteria to breed. Now, a lot of people not like this idea for sanitation reasons. In this blog post we will learn how to unblock shower drain, but before that; let us find out more about shower drains.

What is shower drain?

A plumbing fixture found between shower enclosure and drainage pipe is shower drain. Shower drains captures water and funnels into the sewage water system. Most of the shower drains have U-shaped pipes so that trapped water does not flows back to your bathroom.

These fixtures are often positioned in the centre of a shower floor, with the flooring inclined downward from all directions to the drain. All of the water is directed down this drain by the shower floor, which is a gently inclined funnel.

Shower drains are found in every modern bathroom. A bathroom without a shower drain is like a home without a toilet. Although, shower drains are small, they serve a very important feature. A blocked shower drain can affect your sanitation and finances in many ways. But, how do they get blocked?

Here are some of the types of shower drains;

Linear drains: Despite the fact that there are more shower drains available than you can shake a stick at, they all fall into one of two categories – point drains and linear drains.

Point drains are the most prevalent kind of drain and are what we are most familiar with in showers. These fixtures are often positioned in the centre of a shower floor, with the flooring inclined downward from all directions to the drain.

All of the water is directed down this drain by the shower floor, which is a gently inclined funnel. As an example, square drain grates are preferable than circular ones, so keep that in mind while shopping. Because tiles are square, a square drain will enhance the appearance of your shower floor, and the installer will save time by not having to make round cuts in square tile.

Invisible drain: Regardless of whether a point drain or a linear drain is chosen, the next step is to choose the design and finish of the grating. You want to make sure that this component of the drain matches the décor of the bathroom since it is visible.

We normally suggest selecting a finish that is consistent with the rest of the fixtures in the bathroom to ensure that everything is cohesive. As a result, if your faucets and shower head are all chrome, your grate should be chrome as well to complete the overall aesthetic.

The choice of clothing style is entirely subjective. There are a variety of alternatives available, and we particularly enjoy the latest Schluter additions since they can bring a touch of flare to the shower floor while also standing out from more standard shower grates.

What causes blocked shower drains?

Smaller shower drain clogs are often caused by a build-up of soap scum, dirt, and hair, which may be difficult to remove. When it comes to clogging drains, long hair is particularly troublesome, and soap worsens the problem by allowing hair to bond to the drain walls more readily than it would otherwise.

How to unblock shower drain?

A clogged drain is one of the most typical reasons for contacting a plumber, and it is also one of the most expensive. Blocked sinks are the source of a wide range of small issues, ranging from bad odours to water that just won’t drain. When these problems are allowed to worsen, however, life may soon turn into a living nightmare for the individual.

Fortunately, if you feel that you have a clogged drain, the good news is that you may be able to clear it on your own time. Everything will be running well in no time if you follow our recommendations.

Commercial Drain Cleaners

A chemical cleaner, rather than baking soda and vinegar, might be an excellent choice when a stronger cleaning solution is required. There are a variety of commercial products specifically designed to clear a clogged shower drain that can be found in most hardware stores and supermarkets, as well as some pharmacies. If you are too busy to spend a significant amount of time fixing the problem yourself, chemical cleaners are a quick, simple, and reasonably priced solution.

Simply pour the chemicals down the drain and let them to do their job according to the guidelines on the label, as directed. Be cautious if you are dealing with chemicals, and take necessary measures beforehand by ensuring that the space is well-ventilated and that your hands are protected with some thick rubber gloves.

Using a Plunger

When it comes to dealing with drain obstructions of all kinds, plungers are undoubtedly the most well-known and widely used of the fundamental home appliances. In light of the fact that drain blockages are such a prevalent plumbing issue, dealing with them may become prohibitively costly if you have to hire a plumber to remove each and every blockage. Drain plungers, on the other hand, are not only affordable and simple to use, but they are also incredibly successful at unclogging a wide variety of drain obstructions.

A plunger’s magic is accomplished via the use of suction and pressure. As long as the rubber cup of the plunger is tightly sealed over the drain hole and the handle of the plunger is pushed up and down, the pressure of the water driven up and down will dislodge the majority of blockages and enable them to continue on their way down the pipes.

Removing the drain cover and using a plunger to unclog your drain has a high success rate when it comes to unclogging drains. It may be an old-fashioned strategy. But it has endured the test of time and has shown to be incredibly successful. If you are having trouble getting enough suction from your plunger, consider applying some wax to the edge of the suction pad to create a stronger seal, or filling the shower drain with enough water to completely immerse the end of the plunger. This should assist you in obtaining the suction necessary for removing the blockage from your drainage system.

Pouring Hot Water

It is sometimes possible to unclog metal pipes by simply pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain, a little at a time, until the obstruction is removed. You do not need to remove the shower drain cover in order to pour the water down the drain. Pouring boiling water down PVC pipes is not recommended because the heat can cause damage.

Pouring hot water into a blocked drain is the quickest and most effective method of unclogging a drain. Boiled water is effective in dissolving and loosening blockages, especially those produced by a build-up of grease in the drains and pipes. Make certain that you only pour boiling water into pipes made of metal or ceramic, rather than PVC, since PVC may really be twisted and melted by high temperatures. Also, make sure you use gloves to protect your hands from getting burnt by splashback.

What to do if your drain is not unblocking?

Sometimes blocked drains can be stubborn. In such cases, it is best to call a professional plumber to unblock a drain. Because using home remedies for drain plumbing may not be thee best option in the long run.