Shower Drain Care and Maintenance
Although it is easy to get clogs in your shower drain and bathroom sinks, there are also some easy tips you can follow to not only keep your shower drain working at its best, but also fix problems such as clogs that can occur from time to time.
Preventing Shower Drain Hair Clogs
One of the most common problems that can occur with shower drains is hair going down the drain and causing a clogged drain. Since hair is almost always present in a shower, there are some steps you should take to avoid hair clogs from occurring in the first place. One of the easiest ways of dealing with this potential problem is to invest in a good shower drain cover. If your current shower drain cover is broken and letting hair slip down the drain, or if you currently do not have a shower drain cover, do some research to find which type is designed for your particular shower, and get one installed. These drain covers have small holes that help to prevent hair from going down the drain. After a shower, you simply need to remove the accumulated hair from the top of the drain cover. If you currently have a shower drain cover, but the openings are too large, you can also find portable drain covers that sit on top of the existing shower drain cover, and help catch the hair before it slips down the drain.
Unclogging a Shower Drain
If your shower drain is already running slowly, it is likely to already be clogged with hair. Fortunately, it is often easy to fix a clogged shower drain. This is because the hair often catches directly in the drain mechanism itself, and by removing the drain mechanism, it is likely that the hair that is clogging the drain with stick to it and be pulled out of the drain in a large clump. If this is the case, you simply need to untangle and remove the hair from the drain mechanism, and then replace the shower drain. Once this has been done, if the hair you removed was the extent of the clog, the drain should be running clear again.
Dealing with Difficult Clogs
If after trying this first step you discover that the drain is still clogged, then remove the drain cover again, and look further down the drain with a flashlight. You might be able to see some additional blockage further down inside the drain. If this is the case, try using a straightened metal hanger to hook the hair clog, and pull it out. If you cannot see the clog with the flashlight, then you can try using a plunger to pull the clog up. First, put a thin layer of petroleum jelly around the edge of the plunger, so that a tighter seal can be achieved. Then put the plunger over the shower drain, and make sure there is some water in the bottom of the shower. Push the plunger up and down over the drain about twenty times, and then look into the drain again with the flashlight. If the hair clog has been pulled further up the drain by the plunger, you might be able to hook it with the straightened wire hanger, and remove it.
Using a Plumber’s Snake
If the plunger method was not effective at removing the clog, you will need to try using a plumber’s snake. To do this, with the drain cover removed, push the snake down into the drain until you can feel it hit the clogged area. Then, turn the handle to bring the snake back up, hopefully hooking and pulling the clog up along with it. If you still are not successful in getting the shower drain unclogged, you might need to call a professional, as sometimes the clog is further down the drain than what can be reached with household drain cleaning equipment.
Preventing Shower Drain Clogs
Once you have your shower drain cleaned, there are some things you can do to help keep it clear and running freely. One good tip is to run hot water down the drain for about a minute once a week, or dump a bucket of hot water directly into the shower drain. You should also always remove any hair and soap scum that accumulates on the shower drain cover after every shower, to prevent it from slipping further down the drain and clogging. You can also start a weekly or monthly routine of pouring a half cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by two cups of white vinegar. After the mixture stops foaming, you can then run water down the drain for five minutes to clear out any residue. Of course, if your shower drain cover is broken or missing, a shower drain installation is definitely called for, since an effective shower drain cover is absolutely essential if you want to avoid hair going down your shower drain and causing clogs.
