A clogged shower drain can be really annoying. The water starts to back up, and it’s hard to take a shower without standing in dirty water. This can make your shower experience uncomfortable and frustrating.

To over your frustration, as an experienced plumber in Ringwood, VIC, I’ve compiled a guide on how to unclog a shower drain. This guide will help you solve the problem on your own without hiring a plumber.

Best Tools to Fix a Clogged Shower Drain

To fix a clogged drain, you’ll need the right tools to solve the problem yourself. However, some methods can be done without tools. Here are some tools for unclogging drains.

• Plunger.
• Drain snake or Auger
• Boiling water.
• Vinegar and baking soda
• Drain cleaner.
• Water jet.

Related: How to Unblock a Dishwasher Drain

Inspect Your Shower Drain for Clogs & Clean It

Before you start fixing a clogged shower drain, inspect the drain to understand what’s causing the problem. You can often spot the issues right away, such as soap scum, dirt, or a drain full of hair. Here is how you can inspect and clean it.

1. Remove the drain cover. Use a screwdriver or your hands to remove the drain cover. Sometimes, debris builds up under the cover, so it’s important to take it off and look inside.

2. Look for Visible Blockages: Check the drain for anything that’s obviously stuck, like hair or soap scum. You can remove hair with your fingers, a pair of tongs, or a small hook.

3. Clean Around the Drain: After you’ve removed any visible debris, clean around the drain. Use a cloth or a brush to wipe off any remaining soap scum or build-up on the surface.

4. Check the Drain Pipe: If you can see down into the pipe, check if there’s more debris stuck deeper in the drain. Sometimes, a simple cleaning can solve the problem, but if you don’t see the clog, it might be further down.

Related: How to fix a blocked sink?

Clean it with boiling water.

After inspecting and removing the clogged, make sure to use boiled water to future break down grease, soap scum and other build-up inside the drain. To do this, boil a kettle of water. Once it’s boiling, carefully pour it down the drain in small amounts. Pour slowly and give it a few seconds to work between each pour. This helps dissolve the clog and clear the pipes.

Use a Plunger to Fix a Clogged Shower Drain.

A plunger can be a simple and effective tool for clearing a clogged shower drain. Here’s how you can use it to tackle the blockage:

1. Fill the shower to cover the bottom of the plunger.

2. Place the plunger over the drain to make sure it forms a good seal around the drain.

3. Push down firmly by pressing the plunger down with force to create suction and loose the clog.

4. Pull up quickly after pressing down, and pull the plunger up quickly to break the blog free.

5. Keep plunging up and down a few times until the blockage clears.

Related: How to Clean a Smelly Drain?

Use a water jet.

A water jet is a powerful tool that uses high-pressure water to clear tough blockages in your shower drain. It’s great for deep clogs that other methods can’t fix.

1. Connect the water jet nozzle to a garden hose or a specialized plumbing hose.

2. Carefully place the nozzle into the shower drain, making sure it fits snugly.

3. slowly turn on the water to create high pressure in the hose.

4. Move the nozzle back and forth to direct the water at the blockage.

5. Once the clog is cleared, let the water run through the drain to ensure everything is fully cleared.

Use vinegar and baking soda.

Using vinegar and baking soda is a simple and natural way to clear a clogged shower drain.

1. Pour 1/2 Cup of baking soda directly into the drain, letting it settle inside the pipe.

2. Pour ½ Cup of vinegar down the drain right after the baking soda. You’ll notice it fizzing and bubbling, which helps break down the clog.

3. Allow the mixture to sit in the drain for 15 to 20 minutes. This gives the vinegar and baking soda time to break up grease, soap scum, and other buildup.

4. After waiting, pour hot water down the drain to rinse out the mixture and clear away any remaining debris.

Use a Drain Snake

If other methods haven’t worked for you, using a drain snake is a great way to clear a stubborn clog in your shower drain. A drain snake is a long, flexible tool that can reach deep into your pipes and break up blockages.

1. Insert the snake into the shower drain. Push it gently down the pipe until you feel resistance.

2. Begin turning the handle of the snake. As you turn, the snake will twist and move deeper into the drain, which will help break up the clog or hook it onto.

3. Once the snake grabs the blockage, slowly pull it back out of the drain. You may see hair, soap, or other debris that was causing the clog.

4. After removing the clog, pour hot water down the drain to flush out any remaining debris and clear the pipe.

Use Drain Cleaner to Unblock Shower Drains

After applying all the methods, you can try a drain cleaner, but this is recommended as a last resort. As you might know, drain cleaners are strong chemicals made to break down tough blockages. Here is how to use them safely.

1. Always read the label on the drain cleaner to make sure you understand how to use it safely.

2. Wear rubber gloves and carefully pour the recommended amount of drain cleaner into the clogged drain. Make sure not to pour too much, as this can damage your pipes.

3. Let the cleaner sit in the drain for the amount of time specified on the label.

4. After waiting, rinse the drain with water to flush away the cleaner and any loosened debris.

Conclusion

Fixing a clogged shower drain doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right tools and techniques, like using a plunger, drain snake, or even baking soda and vinegar, you can clear most blockages yourself. If these methods don’t work, a drain cleaner or a professional plumber can help. The key is to act quickly to avoid bigger issues, and with a little effort, you can keep your shower drain flowing smoothly.