Unscrew the overflow plate, pull out the linkage, clean the stopper and linkage, and rinse the drainpipes. Turn the handle clockwise to hook the clog and continue running the snake down the drain. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. A plunger or drain stopper to temporarily seal the drain. If the clog persists, use a plunger, plumber's snake or chemical drain opener. You needed: Needle-nose pliers, havelange, and small towel. A bent hanger can work on a shower or tub drain, too. Then straighten out a wire coat hanger and make a small hook at the end. Go slowly, so you don't lose the clog. Don't pour dirty mop water or other waste water that contains dirt and debris down the shower drain. While that sits, bring about 4 cups of water to a boil. Put a hair trap in the shower drain, and clean it regularly. All Rights Reserved. When the resistance lessens, that often means the snake has cleared the drain. A drain snake is a thin, flexible tool you can insert into the drain to dislodge soap scum, hair, or other buildup. After the boiling water goes down the drain, run some water in the shower to see if the clog is cleared. Pour about a quarter of a cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar into the drain. You shouldnât leave the bleach much longer than 15 min, or it may corrode your pipes. Using a Bent Hanger. Sometimes the best way to unclog a shower drain is with a plumber's snake, sometimes called a manual auger or electric auger. Use a flashlight, if needed, to help you see into the drain. Step 1: Allow your sink to drain completely. Use Boiling Water With Salt to Unclog Shower Drain Boiling water with salt will work as an abrasive and remove the soap residue which is holding the hair together. How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Plunger Baking soda is a fine preventative; drop a ½ cup of baking soda down the shower drain ⦠Whether it's hair, soap or anything that's been dropped while bathing, a clogged drain can be a real pain to fix. On a tub drain, remove the overflow plate and insert the cable into the overflow line. Let it sit for at least one hour so the vinegar and baking soda can work. As soon as it starts to fizz (which will be immediately), pour the solution down your clogged drain. Follow our series of photos to determine which type of tub drain stopper you have and how to remove it. Read and follow the directions on the label, and make sure you have good ventilation so you don't inhale any fumes. While bleach cleans and sanitizes, it's not always effective on shower ⦠Add three cups of soda to 3/4 of a gallon (3 liters) of cold water, stirring the mixture together with something wooden. Clogged tub? Run hot water down the drain to test that the clog is completely gone and replace the drain cover. Then run enough water in the shower stall to cover the lip of the cup. Take this step if the previous step did not unclog it. Yes, bleach can help you too to clean your shower drain. How to Unclog a Shower Drain Naturally There are two options: Baking Soda and Vinegar Mixture Unlike harsh chemicals, using a simple and natural mixture of Vinegar and Baking Soda can help loosen and get rid small blockages down your shower drain. The problem is usually just a sticky wad of hair that collects on the crossbars, a few inches under the stopper. So, to avoid using caustic, toxic chemicals, look no further than your kitchen pantry for everything you need to unclog a drain without causing damage to your health or the environment. ". Pour a kettle-full of boiling water down your metal pipes, a little at a time, about once a week. Natural Ingredients If you think your clog might be caused by hair or other organic matter, one of the best ways to unclog a shower drain is to go to the kitchen, grab some vinegar and baking soda, and heat a kettle of water. Slow draining bathtub or shower? Add a cup of any salt. Pour the boiling water directly into the drain, which might instantly unclog the drain. If the water doesn't drain, you may need to try plunging or snaking. Showing four techniques on how to unplug your tub. Youâll need to carefully pour some bleach into a cup and then dump it down your shower drain. An old-fashioned cup-style, or sink, plunger is another great tool for unclogging a bathtub or shower drain without chemicals. If you have a slow running drain, this may take some time. Now, turn on the tub to see if it is now draining normally. Baking Soda and Vinegar. Run water in the shower to be sure the clog is gone before you replace the drain cover. Pour ½ cup of Blue Dawn detergent (for the best result, do not use substitutes) into the drain. Dish soap and a 5-gallon bucket work best, but if secrecy is paramount and leaving the lavatory would blow your cover, a small plastic waste bin and a few pumps from a ⦠Sign up for our newsletter! If the clog is too far down to reach with your fingers, unscrew or pry up the drain cover. Pour 1/2 cup of Blue Dawn detergent (for the best result, do not use substitutes) into the drain. Remember to start with the easiest ways to unclog a shower drain. ", Step 6: But wait: Unclogging a drain ⦠Home House & Components Fixtures Bathtubs. First, unscrew the screen from the tub drain and use a bent wire to fish out any hair and soap scum. How to Unclog Your Shower Drain. And to unclog shower drain without a stamp, you must open your teeth nose pliers. The water will flush the debris down the drain and rinse gunk off the cable as you You’ll probably also need a professional if multiple drains and toilets in your home are draining slowly or backing up. Put it into the drain and fish out any debris. Shower drain covers come in various styles, including the following: Screw-In â This is a standard shower drain cover resembling a flat or fairly concave (at times convex) strainer for brewing tea. Repeat this step if needed. Be safe and wear rubber gloves and eye protection if you use a chemical product to unclog a shower drain. In most cases, you’ll only need a screwdriver and a stiff wire or a bent coat hanger. Once you've gotten out as much debris as you can, carefully pour another kettle-full of boiling water down the drain, a little at a time. You can pull it out even if water is standing in the shower, as long as the water is not too hot to touch. ", Step 2: Give the handle one more full turn to ensure the clog is hooked. Note: If you see black gunk coming out of your drain, you may have a sewage blockage. When this happens, you may be at a loss regarding which method you should use to fix the problem. Pour about a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by an equal amount of vinegar. Luckily, we have provided several different methods that you can employ to get the water draining properly again. You might also consider pouring a cup of vinegar down the drain after each shower to eat away at any debris in the pipe. A clogged shower drain is unsightly and inconvenient, and if you have to call a plumber for help, it can be expensive to fix. When you start to feel resistance, that means the snake is picking up clogs. Push down on the stopper to release it and open the drain. If the drain is still clogged, the problem may be a soapy clump of tangled hair that you can pull out of the drain with your fingers. Be safe and wear rubber gloves and eye protection if you use a chemical product to unclog a shower drain. Brush your hair before you shampoo it in the shower. Step 2: Fill a tea kettle or pot with water. If you're wondering how to dissolve hair in a shower drain, you may want to try a chemical drain opener. On a shower drain, remove the strainer in the shower floor and insert the cable into the drain. Unfortunately, if you canât unclog your drain on any environment-friendly way, you should look for chemicals. Push the rod forward and pull it back to break up the clog. On a sink drain, you may be able to remove the stopper and insert the cable or rod directly into the drain. If it's electric, you'll need a power drill to run the plumber's snake. Tools. Place the hose over the drain grille and turn the device on. For tough clogs, use a full cup. Move the plunger handle up and down rapidly to force out the clog. Remove the drain cover and put the rubber cup of the plunger over the drain opening. In this video from prohandymanlv we learn how to unclog a shower drain. You may have to try more than one method to fix a clogged shower drain, which could be caused by a build-up of hair, grease and soap; a build-up of dirt or minerals from your water; or tree roots growing through tiny cracks in your underground pipes. Then use a hose to run water down the drain as you retrieve the cable. While some DIY-ers try to unclog a shower drain with bleach, some professional plumbers do not recommend it. While bleach cleans and sanitizes, it's not always effective on shower clogs. We recommend our users to update the browser. Clean off any hair or debris that may be clinging to the grate. Twist, push and pull the cable to break it up and unclog the drain. If thereâs a pop-up drain on the tub, raise the lever to the open position, then grab the stopper and pull it from the drain hole. First remove the shower strainer. A clogged shower drain could be caused by anything from a small blockage to a major obstruction in your main sewer line. If that doesn't work, use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. If hair is wrapped around the crossbars, slice through it with a utility knife and then grab it with the wire. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. First Step to Detaching a Shower Drain Cover . If hair is wrapped around the crossbars, slice through it with a utility knife and then grab it with the wire. 6. If the boiling water and the hair in the drain removal methods do not work, mix 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1/3 cup of vinegar in a heat-resistant cup to make a DIY cleaning solution. Heldigvis a clogged shower drain is not as big a tragedy as a clogged artery, and you can actually fix it yourself without professional help. It will be easier to remove a clog if the pipes are free of water. How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Chemical Drain Opener Often people with long hair will have this problem as it falls out and combines with oils and shampoos to form a ball of blockage in the drain. Bend a little hook on the end of a stiff wire (or a coat hanger) with a pair of needle-nose pliers and shove it through the clog. Remove the screws and lift away the grate from the drain opening. Replace the drain cover and run the water in the shower to see if the clog has been cleared. Some methods also require eye protection. A clogged shower or bath drain is one of the most common bathroom issues that homeowners across the country face. Youâve got to examine how your shower drain cover is attached to the drain before removing it. How to Unclog a Shower Drain with Vinegar and Baking Soda If chemicals labeled for use on shower clogs don't work, and you call a plumber, tell him what you've already used so he can work safely. To prevent future shower clogs, try one or more of these ideas. Pour your drain opener down the tub or shower drain and wait to see whether it works its magic. Itâs vital that you investigate the source of the blockage as soon as possible, so that you can determine whether itâs a repair you can carry out yourself, or a job best left to the professionals. Heavy wire or coat hanger to bend into hook. Pour Some Baking Soda And Vinegar. ", Step 5: Work the auger or rod in both directions of the drain line â back towards the house and out from the house. Mix 1/3 cup of vinegar and 1/3 cup of baking soda in a heat-resistant cup and pour it down the drain once a month. Wait somewhere between 20 and 30 ⦠Unclogging a shower drain can be a DIY project. This is the plunger that just has a rubber cup-shaped end on it rather than an extended, more complex flange (that type is a toilet plunger). Again, do not use boiling water if you have PVC pipes. First, remove hair in the drain and then pour boiling water down the drain. Insert the Drain Snake If you turn on the vacuum to the highest setting, hard suction may pull on the hair and small objects from the shower drain. Apply some petroleum jelly to the edge of the cup if you have trouble getting a good seal. Bend a little hook on the end of a stiff wire (or a coat hanger) with a pair of needle-nose pliers and shove it through the clog. How to Clear a Shower Drain with Boiling Water For tough clogs, use a full cup. This method will make snaking or plunging very easy. When using a sewer rod, direct the rod through the pipe until you reach the obstruction. If you are dealing with water pooling around while you are taking a shower, and your drain is clogged with hair, here are proven methods for unclogging it: 1. As with a sink clog, start with the plunger. Be safe and wear rubber gloves when removing clogs by any of these methods. When the hour is up, run hot water down the drain to flush out the cleaning solution and any debris. Pull out the hair clog. Read and follow the directions on the label, and make sure you have good ventilation so you don't inhale any fumes. If you have standing water in your shower or the shower is draining slowly, there's probably a clog somewhere in the shower drain line. All you need to do is figure out how to remove the stopper (that’s almost always easy) and fish out the gunk. Let it set and after it sets, flow hot water down your pipes. If it's manual, you'll have to manually turn the handle to operate it. How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Plumber's Snake If you have tried all the DIY options and you still can't figure out how to unclog a bathtub drain full of hair, a chemical drain opener is a logical next step. One of the first signs you may notice regarding this problem is when water starts reaching ankle-deep while you take a shower. How to Unclog a Drain Naturally. You need to start with a clear drain, so avoid using that sink beforehand. Remove the drain cover and pour in the solution, which will immediately start fizzing. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. Fortunately, there are a variety of DIY methods you can use to quickly and easily clear the drain. Then, put them into the holes in the shower drain strainer. If those donât work, move on to more involved options below to fix your clogged bathroom sink. Insert the snake into the drain until it hits the clog. While that sits, bring about 4 cups of water to a boil. [1] X Research source Sometimes you can clear a clog in metal pipes by simply pouring a kettle-full of boiling water down the drain, a little at a time. A combination of baking soda and vinegar is so powerful it can unclog almost anything in your pipes â including hair. Simply unscrew the stopper from the set screw. Use gloves when working with drains. Otherwise, simply remove the entire shaft by unscrewing it. This will help dislodge grease, soap and debris before it forms a clog. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), How to Remove a Bathtub Drain in 3 Easy Steps, How to Easily Dry the Inside of Latex Cleaning Gloves, Do Not Sell My Personal Information â CA Residents. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. Tips for Preventing Shower Clogs Usually, the shower drain will start to gradually clog up. This guide will tell you how to unclog a shower drain. A tea kettle; Ingredients ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 cup white vinegar into the drain. Need Help? Call a professional plumber for help, as this is a serious problem and can be a health issue. Method 10 â Chemicals. Once the caustic soda has âactivatedâ by heating up and blending into the cold water, unleash it on your drain. Clean it of all hair and soap. Mix 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1/3 cup of vinegar in a heat-resistant measuring cup. This simple fix may or may not work, but it's worth a try. ", Step 3: Remove the screen and clean the crossbars. Remove the stopper by holding onto the stem while unscrewing the cap. 5. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), How to Clear a Shower Drain with Boiling Water, How to Unclog a Shower Drain with Vinegar and Baking Soda, How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Plunger, How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Plumber's Snake, How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Chemical Drain Opener, Step 1: When the snake is completely out, remove the debris. The metal or plastic grate that covers the drain opening in the shower is usually secured with simple screws. While some DIY-ers try to unclog a shower drain with bleach, some professional plumbers do not recommend it. A plugged-up sink, shower, or tub drain sends most people running for either a bottle of caustic drain cleaner or a plumberâs phone number. About 80 percent of the time, you can fix slow-draining or clogged tub drains in about five minutes, without chemicals and without a $100 plumber bill. Our latest shed is also a pavilionâand you can build it, too! If you have the time and energy after boring through the clog, clean the sides of the pipe by attaching a finishing tool to the cable and running the full length of the cable down the drain. If you don't have the tools to grab the clog, use long screwdrivers. Then turn the handle counterclockwise to back the snake out of the drain. Wait for several minutes after showering so that the water can drain. 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Vinegar and baking soda, put them into the drain, which instantly... ( which will be easier to remove the debris cleared the drain and use a plunger drain!: if you 're wondering how to dissolve hair in the following:! Your tub be able to remove a clog if the pipes are free of water a! Pipes, which can be a health issue see into the cold water, it.