Knowing how to unclog a shower drain is not a skill you need every day, and hopefully not even very often. However, sometimes you stumble into the shower after hitting the snooze several times only to find that on the very morning that you need a little extra time, you’re faced with a shower drain that’s not doing its one and only job. You turn on the water, and while you’re waiting for it to get hot, you notice the shower drain pan is filling up. So disheartening!
Unclog Shower Drain
Now you start running through scenarios: Do I have any Drano? Wonder what’s stopping it up? Am I going to have to call a plumber? How long is that going to take? Do I have to go to work without taking a shower? How late am I going to be? Am I smart enough to figure out how to unclog a shower drain without calling a pro?
Of course you’re smart enough! You may be able to do this yourself without taking forever, and maybe even without calling a professional. And maybe your boss will be forgiving if you’re just a little late (might as well dream big, right?).
How to Unclog Shower Drain
There are several ways to possibly unclog a shower drain, even without professional drain cleaning services or equipment. As mentioned above, you might first ask yourself if you have any drain-unclogging chemicals like Drano or something. Drano can actually damage your pipes, especially if they’re older. It can also be damaging to humans, so we recommend staying away from harsh chemical solutions whenever you can.
But don’t panic – just read on and find 3 possible options for getting that drain cleaned out on your own.
Ways to Unclog Shower Drain
Boiling Mad
There are multiple ways to unclog a shower drain, but sometimes if the clog is not that bad, a simple dose of boiling water can take care of it. Just boil a teakettle or saucepan full of water and pour it down the shower drain a little at a time. Give it little time in between each pour to do its thing and loosen the clog. If you think your pipes are PVC and not metal, you might want to skip on to the next option, because boiling water can loosen joints of PVC pipes. But if your plumbing consists of metal pipes, give it a shot. It just might work, and would be a simple and quick fix.
Science Fair
Remember that time you did the erupting volcano for science fair in elementary school? Let’s try it again – only this time your shower drain is your volcano. That reaction between baking soda and vinegar can be as powerful as a commercial cleaning solution.
Mix about 1/3 cup baking soda with 1/3 cup vinegar, and be ready for fizzing. It will probably start fizzing immediately, so at that point simply pour it slowly down your clogged drain. If you have the time, you might let it sit for up to an hour after pouring it in. Then turn on the hot water and let it run for a while to rinse away the gunk you just dislodged with your homemade volcano.
Old School
This is the version that nobody wants to actually do, but it’s actually the best solution. Grab a screwdriver (if you need one) and take off the drain cover. Then get a wire clothes hanger and straighten it out.
Quick rabbit chase: I once waited in line at a gas station for about 30 minutes during the energy shortage in the 70s, and when I finally got to the gas pump, I locked my keys in my car. Then I frantically used a straightened out clothes hanger to unlock the door while about 10 angry drivers in line behind me watched. But that’s a different story altogether. And has nothing to do with shower drains.
So back to option 3: take your straightened out clothes hanger and form a tiny hook on one end. Stick that sucker down the drain and through the clog, and drag out the gunk. You might want to wear rubber gloves, because while it’s likely to be mostly hair, it is still gross. But you can clean up later.
Then boil a pot of water like option 1 and pour it down the drain, once you have cleaned out all the hair and whatever else you might find down there. And again, run the hot water for a while and get it draining really well.
How to Unclog a Shower Drain
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out how to unclog a shower drain, which is great news for those of us that are DIY-challenged. But if none of the above options works for you, feel free to give us a call at 1-323-4-PLMBRS and we’ll send somebody over who not only knows how to unclog a shower drain, but also has all the tools and knowledge to do so. And he’ll be on time, won’t charge you for overtime, and leave the place cleaner than he found it.
Don’t hesitate, call 1-323-4-PLMBRS right now. Because every plumbing problem is an emergency as far as we’re concerned, and every plumber at plmbrs.com is an expert emergency plumber.
We’ll take care of you, so give us a call!
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