How To Clean A Slow Draining Shower
Slow Draining Shower Floor Drain – using no chemicals
Every six months of so I notice my shower drain start to accumulate water and drain slowly.
Most people eventually end up with a slow draining bathtub or shower. Long hair, soap and bath products all combine to make a nasty, smelly drain clog.
While many folks may worry and call a plumber of reach for a harsh chemicals to solve their problem, most of the time you can remedy this slow drain, all by yourself, in 10 minutes or less.
Tools Needed:
- Screwdriver for your drain cover
- Metal coat hanger
- Wire cutters
- Plastic bag
- Rubber gloves
Remove the Drain Cover and Inspect:
The first step is to carefully remove the drain cover and use care not to drop the screws down the drain. Place the cover to the side for safe keeping.
Reach in and pull out any debris. Many times the clog is right under the drain and can be removed with your fingers. Wear rubber gloves or use a plastic bag like I did in the video.
Many tubs, certainly most older ones, have a stopper located inside the drain and overflow tube. Most of these have a lever on the overflow plate over the drain. To access the open drain you will need to remove the drain stopper. Unscrew the overflow plate and pull the linkage and stopper up and out. Then clean the linkage, stopper and drain. Rinse and reassemble when done.
Make A Drain Cleaning Tool:
Using lineman pliers I cut out the straight part of a metal coat hanger, either leaving a bend in it or making my own “hook” bend
Use this tool to clean out the remaining debris in the drain.
Using a Wet / Dry Vacuum:
A wet vacuum with a crevice nozzle works well too and often can suck up smaller debris parts that you cannot grab with your hook.
Reattach Drain Cover and Rinse:
Reinstall the drain cover and then run water down the drain for two to three minutes. Flushing the drain like this will clear out any small particles that you were unable to reach with the drain tool.
Shut water off and observe if this remedied your issue. If not you may have a blockage further down the line, requiring a plumbers snake, or a plumbing vent issue.
