How to Fix a Shower Drain

Shower drains are one of the most-used drains in the home. They are also at a high risk for blockages, especially if you don’t use a hair catcher to keep hair from getting down into it. If you do start experiencing problems with your shower drain, it’s important to know what to do. Here are some tips to keep in mind if the shower drain becomes blocked.

• • • Shower Drainer – Most of the time, the shower starts draining slowly because there is a clog in the drain somewhere.

• • • Fixing the Clog – If the clog isn’t too bad, you may be able to use a plunger to fix the clog. Sometimes you will have to remove the drain itself in order to use the plunger. However, many shower drains don’t even need to be removed before you can use the plunger. In the case of bathtub and shower combinations, there is usually a stopper attached to the drain, which must be removed so that the plunger can do its job.

• • • Stopper – In order to remove the stopper, you have to figure out what type it is. If there’s no trip lever, it should be fairly easy to remove. All you have to do is remove a screw. However, if there is a trip lever, then you’ll need to take off the complete assembly and the drain. If you do find yourself in this predicament, take this time to make sure that everything is working properly while you have these pieces off.

• • • Get rid of unnecessary things. After all of the external things are out of the way of the plunger, most of the time it’s fairly easy to plunge the shower drain. If you have a bathtub and shower combination, you’ll probably have to block the overflow drain so that there is plenty of suction to allow the plunger to do its work all the way down the pipes.

• • Plunging the shower drain. If plunging the shower drain doesn’t cause it to start draining properly again, then it’s time to call in a professional. Do your homework before calling in anyone because getting a plumber who doesn’t know what he is doing will only cost you more time and money. Make sure that the plumber you call is licensed, insured, and bonded. Also look for a plumber who will work on a flat rate rather than an hourly one. This way you can rest assured that you will get quality service at an affordable price.

It’s important for all homeowners to have some basic plumbing knowledge like how to remove a clog in a shower drain. This will enable you to handle some of the more basic plumbing problems when they pop up. However, this little bit of knowledge should not lead to complete avoidance of calling a plumber. It’s essential that you know when your knowledge has been tapped out. If you don’t call in a professional when the issue is beyond your knowledge, then you could accidentally make the problem worse. So don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it!

Let the experts at Scott English Plumbing take care of all of your problems with shower drains. They strive to deliver quality plumbing service at affordable prices 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Their plumbers are on call all of the time, no matter what time it is or what day it is. Their services include video drain inspections, drain and sewer cleaning, and installation of water heaters, bathtubs, faucets, and showers. Call Scott English Plumbing today to find out what so many of their clients say that it was a pleasure to work with them.