Nothing feels better than a long, hot shower to start and end your day.
However, things can get complicated if you notice your shower drain continually flooding. A flooded bathroom! Clogged shower drains and bathroom flooding can be challenging to deal with. Not to mention, it can cause severe structural damage to your property when left unattended.
If your shower drains slowly, you can seek out the help of a professional plumber. There can be several reasons for a shower blockage — from collected soap scum that prevents water from flowing down the clogged drain to hair, chemicals, or clogs, resulting in standing water.
When dealing with clogs in your shower drain, it is best to speak to a professional. Let us discuss some of the most common reasons (and quick fixes) for blockages in the shower.
Reasons Why You Have Blocked Shower Drains
Have you ever gotten out of the shower only to find a pool of murky water and soap flooding around your feet? Not only can this be unhygienic, but it can also be annoying to deal with. You may also notice mineral build-up on your shower head. Using a plunger to unclog minor clogs might work in the short term; however, sometimes, you require professional help.
Fortunately, shower drain clogs are a common issue and are relatively easy to fix. While you can try specific DIY solutions, some cases call for the help of professional plumbers. Initially, they will try to diagnose the issue and find out why the drains are clogged in the first place. There could be a plethora of issues causing these drainage problems.
So, let’s look at some of the most common drainage issues that cause clogs in the shower — and give advice on how to resolve a clogged drain.
1. Soap Scum Deposit
Everyone uses soap, body wash, or cleansing products in the shower. While this is a healthy habit that should always be followed, prolonged use of these products often causes a deposit of soap scum in the shower drain. This is prone to sticking to the drain cover, drain walls, pipes, and bathroom floor.
Soap scum often binds to other things like hair and oils, causing build-up that can be difficult to clean. Unless you regularly snake your drain, the bathroom has a high chance of blockage and flooding.
How To Fix It?
One of the first things you can do is remove the drain cover and snake the drain line. This should remove most of the build-up and help unclog the drainage line. You can also pour boiling water down the drain to melt and loosen up the deposit. After this, use the plumber’s snake through the gutter again, or pour water to clear the pipes.
If all else fails, you could call an expert for help.
2. Hair
One of the most common causes of clogs in pipes and shower flooding is hair. No matter how hard you try, some hair will collect in the drains after a shower. While you can try and remove most of it by hand, most homeowners fail to do this, resulting in drain blockage.
Over time, hair mixed with other cleansing products and natural body oils causes major blockages, resulting in shower flooding.
How To Fix It?
Buying a shower snake can be a good start if you want to solve the problem yourself. Furthermore, always use a drain cover to trap most of the hair and prevent it from causing a clogged shower drain.
If the blockage is too tricky to manipulate, it is best to call a plumbing service for help. Make it a priority to regularly get your bathroom and shower drain cleaned by an expert. Regular maintenance can significantly reduce frequently occurring blockages and clogs.
3. Dirt And Pollutants
We get it — you shower to rid your body of dirt and pollutants collected over the day. However, when you wash the dirt off your body, remember that it is essential to clean the shower once you’re done. Most people skip cleaning, snaking, and maintaining their showers, leading to inevitable blockages.
How To Fix It?
More often than not, you can clear a blocked shower by using a shower snake. However, severe blockage calls for emergency services. It is imperative to contact a good emergency plumbing service that can assist you any day or night.
These services come in handy when you suddenly face clogs or blockages in your bathroom. Experts are equipped with the right tools: chemicals, manual cleaners, or other repair methods.
How To Notice The Signs Of A Blocked Toilet
First and foremost, it is imperative to observe warning signs of a blocked toilet or a shower that isn’t draining correctly. So, what kind of sign should you look out for? Take a look at this list:
- Standing water in the shower
- The bathtub drain is getting clogged
- Clog in pipes
- Water draining slowly
While these issues can happen to anyone, it is vital to look out for and resolve the case at the earliest. Finding a solution for these issues is imperative, and we recommend calling the best plumbing company for regular maintenance and repair.
How To Resolve A Clog
There are several methods you can use to resolve a blocked shower drain. If you want the best DIY solution, look at some of the methods below.
1. Baking Soda And Vinegar Solution
Almost all DIYers will tell you about the natural solution of a magic mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Mix one cupful of vinegar with baking soda and stir it well to create a solution. Pour the mixture down the shower drain and let it sit for a few minutes. Finally, pour boiling water down the drain to flush out the soaps, oils, chemicals, and other residues.
2. Chemicals
If pouring boiling water or a wire coat hanger doesn’t work, you might want to turn to a chemical cleaner for severe clogging issues. Cleaning chemicals are readily available in the market. However, ensure that you research well beforehand to purchase one that is safe to use at home. And don’t forget to wear protective gloves when using these harsh chemicals.
Specific serious plumbing issues require expert help, so don’t hesitate to contact a good plumbing company in your local area.
How To Prevent Costly Repairs
Regular maintenance is essential to keep everything up and running in the house. You can prevent costly repairs and replacements by taking a few crucial steps. Here’s what you can do:
- Always use a drain cover to trap hair, scum, and other natural residues
- Use a plunger to clear a clog as soon as it occurs (To get a better seal, put some petroleum jelly around the rim of the plunger)
- Opt for regular plumbing services
- Avoid pouring oily substances down your drain
- Use boiling water to loosen scum and grime
- Use a chemical cleaner when necessary
- Look out for any sign of a clog
When Should You Ask For An Expert?
Now that you know some of the best DIY tips (hot water, inserting a drain snake into your drain opening to reach the blockage, putting enough suction to draw out the clogging, etc.) on preventing a clog or flood in the bathroom, you might be wondering when it’s best to ask for expert advice.
A plumbing emergency scenario may arise when the blockages in your home toilets have gotten out of hand. You may see a slow-draining bathtub or drain requiring immediate attention.
Another thing to watch out for is odd smells from the drain. While a certain amount of smell is natural, ensure no pungent odours from the drains. These may be signs of severe issues in the drain pipes or main sewer line and require the help of professionals for drain cleaning.
You can find the best experts in your city by taking the help of online forums, asking friends and family for references, or looking at posts on social media or websites. Ensure that you always keep an emergency plumbing company at hand that can arrive at all hours of the day or night to provide services.
Fixing Your Flooded Shower
Dealing with plumbing problems like flooded showers can be daunting; however, it doesn’t have to be impossible.
It is essential to look out for the signs of blockages to resolve the issue as soon as possible. Never hesitate to ask for expert help when it is necessary. Following specific small steps can go a long way, so ensure you regularly clean and maintain the area to avoid a clogged shower drain.
That’s all! Until then, take care.
