Are you having trouble with your blocked shower drain? You can rely on our professional plumbing team by calling 317-678-7356 today.
A clogged drain in any appliance or plumbing can become a hassle, hindering daily life. Shower drain blockages tend to be worse, sometimes preventing your ability to clean your body at all unless you risk water overflows. Of course, some homeowners prefer to use DIY drain cleaning methods to keep expenses low, especially near or after other big purchases.
Since plungers can work on toilets to unblock them, can you plunge a shower drain? Are there other drain-clearing techniques you can use without expert tools?
Complete Comfort Heating, A/C & Plumbing Repair’s drain cleaning experts in Greenwood, IN, handle all sorts of plumbing problems. Over the years, our technicians have gathered information from professional lessons and hands-on experience in cleaning drains. Our knowledge tells us if you have the right tools, you may be able to unclog a shower drain on your own.
A Popular Tool To Avoid
Can you plunge a shower drain? Yes, you can, and we’ll tell you the best DIY methods you can use to fix your clogged drain. Before we get into the details, we have a warning about a popular drain cleaning method.
You can find commercial drain cleaners in just about any supermarket or dollar store. However, we don’t advise using it as a first response for toilet or shower drain maintenance.
Commercial drain cleaners contain many harsh and caustic chemicals that can degrade the quality of your property’s pipelines. Moreover, the residue from those chemicals can have negative effects on the environment, especially if it reaches a water supply system. The fumes that you smell while using them can also burn your nostrils and cause breathing issues.
While these cleaners can be useful, we generally don’t recommend using them. After all, the product may not work, leading to a chemical buildup in your pipes or septic tank system. Instead, after trying other, more natural solutions, you can call a qualified plumber to fix toilet, sink, or shower drain clogs.
How To Use a Plunger To Clear a Shower Clog
Before you start plunging your shower drain, remove the drain grate and check the pipe. You may be able to see the cause of the clog and remove it with a wire hanger or other thin mechanism. If you don’t see the clog immediately or can’t reach it, you can try the plunger.
Did you know that the common red rubber plungers you often see used on toilets are actually for sinks and other drains? The standard plunger works best on flat surfaces, while a flange plunger—one with a fold-out flap—works well with curved surfaces. Since most showers have flat floors, you can trust a standard plunger to work.
- If your shower has an overflow drain, remove the plate and plug the drain with a wet rag.
- Place the plunger over the clogged shower drain.
- Turn on the shower to fill the shower pan (floor) until you have about an inch of standing water.
- Firmly pump the plunger up and down over the drain 15 to 20 times.
- Remove the plunger and see if the water rushes down the drain quickly. If the water continues to move sluggishly, put the plunger over the drain and try again.
- Repeat Steps 3 through 5 until the clog clears or until you want to try other methods.
Other Ways To Clear a Clogged Shower Drain
While searching “Can you plunge a shower drain?” prepares you for DIY clog plunging, you may need to use other methods. For example, tough clogs may require more force than the plunger can apply. In other cases, you might not have to use the plunger:
Using Coat Hangers
As briefly mentioned before, if you can see the clog, you may be able to use a coat hanger to clear it out. You can unwrap a coat hanger and create a small, hooked end to it. The hooked end can catch bundled hair and grease, releasing it from the pipe walls for disposal in the trash.
Using Boiling Water
Boiling water can break down grime and grease, which can cause hair and other substances to clump together. While the water in the shower can get hot, it doesn’t heat up enough to degrade soap and grease. Try boiling a pot of hot water and pouring it down the pipes to see if that clears the clog.
Using DIY Pipe Cleaner
We started the answer to “Can you plunge a shower drain?” with a general warning to avoid commercial drain cleaners. However, you can make your own drain or pipe cleaner at home using baking soda plus salt or vinegar. The reactions these materials have with each other can break down grime and grease in the pipes.
Use a half cup of each substance, mix them, and pour them down the drain. You can also use them one by one so the reaction starts in the pipeline. Remember to send hot water down the pipes after using the baking soda and vinegar mix to keep the smell from lingering.
Using EPA-Approved Drain Cleaners
We generally disprove the use of commercial drain cleaners due to various safety concerns. However, some chemical mixtures have additional EPA approval, known as Safer Choice-certified products. Their list has many cleaners that prove safer for your health and the environment based on their intimate knowledge of chemical reactions.
Complete Comfort Heating, A/C & Plumbing Repair’s Experts Have Your Drain Cleaning Covered
Can you plunge a shower drain? Yes, but if it doesn’t work, you can always call the expert plumbers at Complete Comfort Heating, A/C & Plumbing Repair. We provide fast and efficient plumbing care to Greenwood, IN, and surrounding areas, with top-quality customer service.
When you have trouble cleaning a smelly drain or repairing leaky pipes, rely on Complete Comfort Heating, A/C & Plumbing Repair. Call (317) 678-7356 or visit our contact page to schedule your appointment today!