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What is The Best Way to Unclog Shower Drain?

Shower drains can get clogged with hair, soap, lint, grass, dirt, and anything else that gets washed off your body. The best way to clear the clog depends on what’s causing it. Typically, hair is the most common cause of shower drain clogs, which means that grabber devices can be extremely helpful in removing the clog.

Ideally, you will begin working on a shower drain before the clog gets so bad that no water will go down at all. However, if you do have standing water, it might be worth bailing some out with a bucket or wiping it out with towels to give you more visibility when working (and allow you to get in there without getting soaked). Use a drain snake or auger to fish out whatever is clogging your drain. If you have multiple tools at your disposal, always start smaller at first and then increase the muscle as needed to get at the clog. A simple plastic toothed drain snake is a good way to get started. This little device will get in and start pulling hunks of hair and soap scum and anything else out that’s stuck in there. As needed, move to a larger auger. A long metal drain snake can give you additional penetration for clogs that are located further inside the pipe or are more severe.

Once you have cleared the bulk of the blockage (you’ll know it’s clear because water will begin going down again, though maybe not as quickly as usual), then you can use an air pulse device to break up the rest of the clog. However, you do not want to use a device like this to start with because shooting a blast of air down your drain can cause an already significant blockage to get further compressed, stopping water entirely. It can also put too much pressure on the pipe making it more likely to crack and break or blow off fittings and leak.

If these techniques do not work or you do not have the right tools for the job, call a nearby plumber to tackle the clog for you. The last thing you want is to make the clog worse, or to lose something down your drain that you were using incorrectly to try to remove the clog.

Additional resources:
Clogged Drains - What Not to Do!
What is Roto Rooting Exactly?
How are Roto Rooting and Hydro Jetting Different?
The Cost of Clog Removal Plumbing Services
As the Experts: Is this a Plumbing Emergency?
When is Pipe Rodding Necessary?
Understanding Sewer Rodding
Finding Roto Rooting on the Weekends
The Cost of Roto Rooting
How Much is Sewer Line Cleaning?
How to Unclog Your Own Drain
Who can do Drain Cleaning?
Why do Shower Drains get Clogged Anyways?
Is Jetting your Pipes Necessary?
Plumbing Companies that do Sewer Jetting?
Sewer Jetting vs Sewer Rodding
Sewer Blockage Removal Costs Explained
Removing a Shower Clog
How do Plumbers Remove Clogs?