Hair Clogged Shower Drain
The most common cause of a slow or clogged shower drain is hair.
Hair clogged shower drain. If this is the case then traditional drain snaking using a 1 4 inch cable to feed the metal cable down to wrap the hair and loosen up debris. What causes drain blockages. If the clog persists use a plunger plumber s snake or chemical drain opener. Long hair in particular can easily clog drains and soap worsens the problem by causing hair to stick to the drain walls more easily than it otherwise would.
In order to plunge a shower drain correctly cover up these overflow holes. The problem occurs much more frequently in homes where one or more of the shower users has long hair as short hair is much less likely to get caught in the. There s a demonstration in this video. Smaller shower drain blockages are usually caused by a build up of soap scum dirt and hair.
If that doesn t do the trick try using a wire hanger a plunger or a hand snake. Even though hair tends to clog shower drains the most some of the hair can sneak into the drain in your kitchen as well. First remove hair in the drain and then pour boiling water down the drain. A clogged drain typically caused by a backup of hair and soap scum that has been accumulating for some time.
Baking soda is a fine preventative. If you have standing water in your shower then more than likely the clog is further down the line and needs a deep cleaning. Shower drains can become clogged with minerals from hard water hair and soap. If that doesn t work use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.
Although it s not the most efficient way you can just plug the holes with a rag while you plunge. You might also consider pouring a cup of vinegar down the drain after each shower to eat away at any debris in the pipe. Put a hair trap in the shower drain and clean it regularly. Drop a cup of baking soda down the shower drain each night and chase it with a cup of hot water.
Most of the time hair is the culprit causing the clog and you can easily remove it by pulling it out with your hands. However this is not the end as the risk of hair clogs gets higher if you have hard water. The hair is often wrapped around parts of the drain and therefore can be difficult to move. But before you call the plumber check to see if you have the proper tools to handle.
Remember to start with the easiest ways to unclog a shower drain. And as you know kitchen drain and pipes are already prone to clogging due to grease and oils which makes the problem worse.