You’re in the shower having a nice clean, but you start to feel the water rising above your feet. It’s nothing too worrying – you’re not about to drown or flood the entire bathroom – yet it is a bit of a concern. A slow-draining shower might indicate a much larger problem, or it could be a simple fix. Either way, you want to stop water from filling up as it could end up spilling out into the bathroom, especially if you have a small shower tray.
There are many ways you can fix a slow-draining shower, so let’s start with the simplest options and work our way up!
Pull Hair From The Drain
Hair is the most common cause of a slow-draining shower. It clogs the little drain hole, accumulating water around it. As a result, removing hair from the drain area is the quickest way to fix a slow-draining shower. You can use all kinds of techniques for this – but a drain snake or wire hanger is the simplest. They let you get deep into the drain and pull up as much hair and gunk as possible.
If this works, then give yourself a pat on the back, as you’ve avoided lots of extra stress. Then, buy a stop-a-clog drain protector to prevent the same problem from happening again and again. Products like this collect hair and gunk before they enter the drain, so you just lift them and dispose of the hair without causing a clog.
Use A Plunger For Deeper Clogs
Sometimes, hair isn’t the only reason for a clog. There could be something else clogging up the drain pipe, which means you need to try a different tact. Gunk and grime from the pipes can form a blockage that you can’t remove with wire hangers or a drain snake. Instead, you need to create pressure in the drain to flush the blockage out.
To do this, you’ll need a good plunger with lots of suction. Every household should have one of these as you never know when you’ll need it. Ensure the plunger creates an airtight seal around the drain, and then pull it up and down.
Hopefully, this removes the clog, and your shower drains freely. If not, then the issue requires even more attention – which brings us to the third fix.
Try A Drain Unblocking Solution
Go to any DIY home store, and you’ll find a massive selection of drain-unblocking solutions. They’re usually made from different chemical components, and the goal is to burn through and melt away your blockages.
Here’s the thing: drain unblockers work, but they’re not great for your pipes. You don’t want to use them all the time, which is why you should try the other fixes first. When you can’t physically remove a clog, you should pour some unblocking solution down the drain and let it sit overnight.
As mentioned, it works fantastically well for hair, gunk, grease, and all other types of clogs. However, you should definitely use a drain protector after this to prevent future clogs, as you don’t want to pour a whole bottle of drain unblocker down your pipes every week. You can also find more diluted solutions that are great for general maintenance, so try those after clearing the blockage to keep your pipes clean.
Check The Pipe Under The Drain
At least two-thirds of you will solve your slow-draining shower by following the three fixes above. Unfortunately, some of you might have a bigger problem on your hands. If a drain unblocker doesn’t work, then you know there’s either one of two issues present:
- A structural problem with the drainage pipes
- A much deeper sewer line problem
This next DIY fix will tackle the first of these potential problems. Remove your shower tray, or take the side panel off your bath, and look at the pipe directly underneath the drain. Keep in mind this is a pretty big DIY job, so you need to be confident in your abilities to remove the shower tray and put it back in place. Check out different online guides and videos before deciding to proceed.
If you don’t feel confident, then book a plumber to come in and do it for you. In either case, checking the pipe under the drain can indicate if there’s a structural issue. There might be so much grease and grime in the pipe that it’s impossible to remove. Or, the pipe could’ve crushed in on itself, meaning there’s less room for water to flow down. Replace this little pipe with a new one and see if that solves your problem.
Look For Signs Of A Wider Sewer Line Problem
Could a wider sewer line problem cause your slow-draining shower? It’s possible, especially if there doesn’t seem to be a problem with the immediate piping underneath it. Moreover, if other drains in your home keep backing up, then you know there’s a deeper plumbing issue.
In this scenario, your only option is sewer line repair service. Call in the professionals to survey your sewer line and identify any deep blockages. Who knows, tree roots could cause your slow-draining shower because they’re growing into your sewer line and creating a blockage. Stuff like this is bizarrely common, but fixing your sewer lines solves everything.
Consider Re-Installing Your Shower Tray
What if there isn’t a problem with your sewer lines, nor is there an issue with the pipes under your shower? You can’t see any blockages or clogs – so what’s causing the slow-drainage issue?
Believe it or not, it might be a case of a badly installed shower tray. If the tray is installed too flat, then it’s easier for water to pool at your feet. You may need to reinstall the shower tray and get a new one that angles down toward the drain hole. Such a simple fix, but you need to go through all the other options before trying this.
One of these solutions will help you fix your slow-draining shower – it depends on what causes the issue. Hopefully, all of your problems stem from hair clogging the drain, so you only need to bother with the first DIY fix!