How to Fix a Blocked Shower Drain Fast

Introduction to Blocked Showers

A blocked shower drain can significantly disrupt your daily routine. At Eastwood Plumbing, we professionally address the inconvenience of blocked shower drains. Blocked showers are a common plumbing issue that many in your home may face, and finding the right approach to fix blocked drains is crucial.

This guide provides troubleshooting steps, identifies common causes, and offers solutions for clearing blocked shower drains. We’ll cover simple DIY methods using household ingredients, as well as professional drain cleaning services offered by our team of adept plumbers in Eastwood.

Our aim is to empower you with the understanding required to swiftly resolve shower drain blockages. Additionally, we’ll share preventive measures to keep your shower drain clear. With optimised plumbing information and services, you can resolve blocked shower drains quickly and be very happy with the return to your regular routine.

Common Causes of Blocked Showers

There are several most common culprits that can lead to a blocked shower in Eastwood homes. Soap scum and hair accumulation are two of the main contributors to blocked drains.

Soap scum forms when residue from shower products like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash react with minerals in the water. Over time, this can cause a thick, sticky film to build up within the plumbing system along shower walls and pipes. As more soap scum accumulates in your pipes, it traps hair and other debris, eventually clogging the flow into your shower and requiring efforts to unclog.

Hair shedding and washing into the drain is a frequent cause of clogs. Long, thick hair can quickly lead to blockages – a drain hook can effectively remove these obstructions and restore flow to your shower drain. While small amounts of hair are manageable, larger clumps can obstruct your drain.

Other typical contributors that can affect your shower drain plumbing and lead to standing water in your shower include:

• Grease, oil, and fats washing off the body and into drains
• Buildup of dirt, skin cells, and other debris inside your pipes
• Tree roots infiltrating the main sewer line resulting in blocked sewer systems
• Placement of foreign objects flushed down drain paths like toys, jewellery, or even less commonly blocked toilet paper

Determining the exact cause of a blockage is critical for effectively clearing blocked shower drains. This determines the most suitable DIY solutions or professional plumbing services required to clear obstructions and get water flowing freely again through Eastwood showers.

Hair Buildup

Hair is a leading cause of clogged shower drains; knowing how to address this can prevent blockages. As hair sheds and washes down the drain, it can collect with soap scum and other debris. Over time, this creates substantial obstructions that impede proper water drainage.

Hair can become entangled with other debris in the drain, forming clogs when wet. Each strand becomes interlinked with surrounding debris, forming dense masses that can clog your shower bath drain and block water flow completely. Thick, long hair can cause blocked shower drains as it’s very prone to knotting and clumping.

We strongly recommend using a hair catcher to prevent hair buildup in shower drains. Hair catchers fit over drain openings, or inside, to trap loose strands before they can make their way into pipes. Regularly removing and cleaning the hair catcher can significantly reduce clogs.

Other tips include wiping excess hair off the body before showering, using conditioner sparingly, and having annual drain cleaning. Regular hair removal and maintenance can help prevent drain clogs, keeping your plumbing systems operable.

Soap Scum

As soap scum builds up, it captures shed hair, skin cells, and other debris passing through shower drains. This hardened mixture stubbornly adheres to pipes, significantly slowing drainage and leading to complete blockages.

• Rinse water down drain walls, floors, and doors after each use
• Wipe away excess soap film and residue
• Use a squeegee to remove pooled water after showering
• Flush your pipes regularly with hot water, a baking soda and vinegar mixture, or other safe solutions to prevent buildup.

A soda vinegar mixture can effectively scrub away soap scum deposits and prevent blocked drains. Use a wire pipe brush or chemical cleaner to dissolve buildup inside drains. Preventative measures are most effective, but periodic soap scum removal is also key for clear, flowing shower plumbing.

Pipe Damage or Issues

Damage or structural problems with drainage pipes can contribute to blocked showers. Blocked showers may result from cracked, misaligned, or broken pipes that catch and collect debris. Corrosion and mineral buildup along pipe walls also cause obstructions.

If pipes were poorly installed or have shifted over time, joints may leak and necessitate repair of blocked sections. A camera inspection can identify drain blockages caused by tree roots in Eastwood homes.

For solutions to blocked drains or pipe relining, consider contacting Eastwood Plumbing. Our qualified plumbers perform camera inspections to detect damage and blockages in your drain pipes. After identifying issues, we can clear the blockage, repair, or replace pipes to restore proper drainage.

Simple DIY Unblocking Methods

Several simple DIY methods are available to tackle minor clogs before seeking professional help:

1. Position a shower plunger over the drain and plunge vigorously to address the blockage. Continue until the water drains effectively.
2. Try a drain snake - Insert a small hand-crank or motorised drain snake into the shower drain to physically break up and pull out hair and debris. Turn the crank to work the snake deeper into the pipes.
3. Boil water - Boil a large pot of water and carefully pour it down the drain. Hot water can help melt and flush away accumulations of soap, grease, and hair.

Avoid harsh chemical cleaners that can harm pipe interiors. If DIY methods don’t get your shower draining properly again, call Eastwood Plumbing; Our team is ready to assist you to unclog shower drain and provide drain clearing assistance. Our high-pressure water clearing service effectively dislodges stubborn blockages across the Inner West.

Using a Plunger

A cup plunger is an effective tool for dislodging simple blockages when used correctly to apply pressure on the drain.

Before using a plunger, first remove any visible obstructions from the drain like hair or objects. Forcefully plunge the plunger up and down, starting slowly before building to a rapid pace.

Ensure the plunger forms a tight seal over the drain opening. Fill the tub with a few inches of water to ensure the plunger seals properly over the drain.

Several plunges, often more than 15, may be needed to dislodge the blockage successfully. Check the drain periodically by removing the plunger to see if water starts flowing properly. If the clogged drain persists, don’t hesitate to give us call for the use of a drain snake or to enlist the help of blocked drain plumbers for professional assistance.

Shower plungers have a cone-shaped cup specifically designed to plug shower drains for the most effective suction. While regular sink or toilet plungers can also work, a shower plunger is best for targeting stubborn shower clogs.

A cup plunger is an effective tool for dislodging simple blockages when used correctly to apply pressure on the drain.

Before using a plunger, first remove any visible obstructions from the drain like hair or objects.forms a tight seal over the drain opening. Fill the tub with a few inches of water to ensure the plunger seals properly over

1. Pour approximately 125 grams of baking soda down your drain.
2. Follow with 1 cup of heated distilled white vinegar - the reaction between the baking soda and vinegar releases carbure sit for 5-10 minutes so you can see the reaction work to break down the clog.
3. Flush the drain thoroughly with hot water to wash away any loosened debris.

The vinegar’s acidity reacts with the baking soda, resulting in a fizzing action that helps dislodge clogs. This reaction can take apart and dissolve soap scum, hair, and other organic materials. Repeating the process may be necessary for stubborn clogs.

Make sure to use distilled white vinegar, as other types like red wine or rice vinegar won’t produce the same fizzing effect. This simple, non-toxic method is very effective for clearing minor bathroom drain clogs.

Professional Plumbing Services for Stubborn Blockages

When DIY methods don’t successfully clear a blocked shower drain, it’s time to call in professional help. At Eastwood Plumbing, we have advanced tools and techniques to tackle even the most stubborn blockages.

Our licensed plumbers employ high-powered drain augers to disintegrate stubborn clogs within pipes. We carefully feed a coiled metal cable down the shower drain line while rotating it to forcibly dislodge accumulated gunk.

When dealing with severe obstructions, we deploy water jet technology as part of our specialised hydro jetting services. This blasts the pipes with an intense, highly pressurised stream of water to scour the inside of drains and force out debris. Using our jet blasting technique, pressure water nozzles propel water at up to 4,000 PSI, angled to target problematic areas within the pipes.

We maintain a selection of industrial-strength chemical cleaners that can do wonders in dissolving blockages caused by hair, soap scum, oils, and grease. Only green, non-toxic solutions are used to avoid harming your plumbing.

With our advanced tools and expertise, Eastwood Plumbing can successfully clear even long-standing shower drain blockages other methods can’t fix. We restore proper water flow quickly and prevent recurring issues. Contact us for dealing with blocked drains Sydney wide, offering professional cleaning services in Eastwood and the surrounding areas.

When DIY methods don’t successfully clear a blocked shower drain, it’s time to call in professional help.

Preventing Future Blocked Shower Drains

To avoid dealing with get blocked shower drains in the future, implementing preventative maintenance is crucial. Here are some tips on what to do when keeping your Eastwood shower plumbing>