At first, it was barely perceptible. A little extra water at your feet, the drain running a little more slowly. But now, there’s no question about it. You’re standing in water throughout your morning shower, and it isn’t pleasant. What to do? Before calling in the pros, here’s a quick guide to a few tried and true home remedies recommended by Kyle TX plumbers for a clogged shower drain.
First, Austin plumbing professionals caution against using chemical drain cleaners. Not only are they highly toxic, both for you and for the environment, but they can also cause damage to your pipes, enamel, and other bathroom fixtures. Instead, try pouring a pot of boiling water down your drain. That might be enough to clear it, but if not, you can follow it up with a baking soda and vinegar treatment. Pour ⅓ cup baking soda into the drain first, then add ⅓ cup vinegar. You should get some exciting fizzing action. Leave this concoction working for at least an hour (overnight is even better), then flush with more boiling water.
If you can’t clear the clog with some simple kitchen ingredients, you may need to get your hands dirty. Grab some gloves and a drain claw. Available at your local hardware store or online, this is a thin flexible tool with bunches of plastic hooks to grab hair and debris and pull it out of the drain. It’s easy to use — insert into the drain and withdraw with a twisting motion. If your drain needs attention right this instant, you can also straighten out a wire hanger, leaving the hook intact, and use the hook to pull out the mess.
If you own a wet/dry vac, this is a great time to put it to use. Follow the instructions for your specific model, get as tight a seal as you can, and cover the vent to prevent a mess. Your vacuum might even come with a clog cleaning attachment.
Biological enzymatic cleaners are also worth a try. These products use enzymes and/or bacteria to eat through the organic material that’s clogging your pipes. In addition to clearing hair clogs in the bathroom, they are equally effective on grease clogs in the kitchen sink. You can also use them regularly to keep drains clear and odor free.
Our final DIY solution is a mini Bellows plunger. This compact piece of yellow plastic packs some serious suction power and is easy to maneuver. Its innovative design builds up pressure behind the clog to force it down the drain with just a few pumps.
If you’ve tried a few home remedies and are still faced with a slow-moving or clogged drain, it’s time to call in the professionals. Your Kyle TX plumbers have a wide range of tools at their disposal, along with the knowledge and experience to easily diagnose the problem and get it cleared away quickly. If DIY doesn’t do the trick, an Austin plumbing expert will get you back to shower bliss in no time.