How to Fix a Clogged Shower Drain

Many plumbing problems in American homes are caused by clogged pipes, with a clogged shower drain being especially irritating. When your shower won’t drain, it interferes with daily routines and basic hygiene. Left unchecked, a clogged drain can turn into a real nightmare, risking water damage to your home or becoming a hotspot for germs, pests, mold, or mildew.

While a clogged shower drain isn’t necessarily an emergency on its own, it can quickly turn into one without the intervention of a 24-hour emergency plumber near you. Check out our handy tips and tricks to deal with a clogged shower drain until help arrives.

Visually Inspect the Drain

In our guide to drain cleaning, we list the most common reasons why drains of all types can get clogged, such as debris accumulation, corroded pipes or sewer line damage. Before contacting an emergency plumber, the first step is to visually inspect your shower drain and look for common signs of a clog. 

Don rubber gloves and open the drain cover to look inside. If needed, use a flashlight to see inside the pipes more clearly. Look for the following signs of a clog:

• Visible blockages: Some clogs are more evident than others. If you can see accumulated clumps of hair, soap scum, grease and other types of debris near the drain, they are most likely the cause of your clog.

• Slow or no water draining: Check if water pools at your feet when using the shower or whether it remains hours after someone has finished showering. These signs may indicate a partial blockage. If the water is not draining at all or backing up, the clog may be deep in your pipes. You will need an emergency plumber’s help to clear it.

• Audible gurgling: If you hear weird gurgling or bubbling noises from your shower drain, it’s likely a sign of a partial blockage. This happens when clogs trap air in the pipes, which then makes noise as water tries to flow past.

• Foul smells: If you catch a whiff of nasty or musty smells, it usually means there’s a blockage in your drain that’s harboring bacteria. If you detect these unpleasant odors from your shower drain, reach out to emergency plumbers near you before it turns into a health risk.

Pour Boiling Water into the Drain

You should only attempt this method if your shower drain and piping are made of metal instead of PVC. Boiling water can soften and bend plastic materials like PVC, damaging your pipes.

After verifying your pipes are safe for this method, boil about half a gallon of water in a kettle or a pot. Then, slowly pour the boiling water directly down your shower drain in three or four stages. Observe how the water drains after each pouring. Boiling water is effective at clearing clogs caused by soap scum or grease.

Use Baking Soda and Vinegar

If boiling water alone hasn’t solved your clogging issue, you can try a DIY unclogging solution using baking soda, vinegar and hot water while waiting for drain cleaning services. You can use boiling water if your pipes can safely handle it. If you have PVC pipes, use your shower’s hot water instead. Here are the steps to follow:

• Pour approximately one cup of baking soda directly down the drain.
  
• Pour about one cup of distilled white vinegar immediately after the baking soda.
  
• Listen for sounds; the baking soda and vinegar should react and may produce noises. 
  
• Flush the drain with hot or boiling water, depending on your piping.
  
• Test the drain. Repeat these steps two to three times until the clog has been cleared.

Try Plunging the Drain

If the clog still persists, consider using a standard plunger to dislodge it. Standard plungers, also called cup plungers, are recognizable by their straight handle and rounded rubber cup. They are designed to provide a seal around drains on straight surfaces, such as kitchen or shower drains.

Once you have a cup plunger, follow these steps to plunge a clog in your shower drain:

• Apply the plunger over your shower drain. Ensure the plunger forms a proper seal around the drain opening.
  
• Turn on the faucet or showerhead with enough water to cover the plunger’s lip (about one inch)
  
• Hold the handle tightly and vigorously plunge for a few minutes.
  
• Remove the plunger and test the shower drain.

Emergency plumbing services may suggest alternating between this method and using baking soda and vinegar while you wait for them. This is because plunging can be more effective on a clog that was previously softened.

Contact Blue Collars to Fix a Clogged Shower Drain 

Blue Collars is a professional Charleston plumbing company with years of combined experience and training serving our communities. We offer 24/7, rapid emergency plumbing services to any home in Charleston, SC and neighboring towns and cities. Contact us today to schedule a service or request help for a plumbing emergency.