How To Unclog Hair From Shower Drain

Causes Of Clogged Shower Drains

Common causes of your troubles with clogged shower drains are:

• Soap Talc, fats, and wax, which traditional soap contains, make hard residue in combination with hard water minerals. They are the primary cause of clogged shower drains.
• Hair It usually wraps around other dirt, especially grease or waxes from the soap, and form clogs.
• Minerals They are unavoidable elements of hard water. Minerals dissolved in water will build up and make insoluble masses blocking drains.
• Dirt It is not a type of problem appearing right away. However, it builds up over time and sticks on the walls of your pipes.
• Tree roots It sounds surprising, isnt it? However, it is not such a rare situation. Tree roots may grow through small cracks in the underground pipes. Over time, they will grow larger and obstruct water flow.

How To Unclog A Shower Drain With A Plumbers Snake

Sometimes the best way to unclog a shower drain is with a drain snake, sometimes called a manual auger or electric auger. If it’s electric, you’ll need a power drill to run the plumber’s snake. If it’s manual, you’ll have to turn the handle by hand to operate it.

As you figure out how to snake a shower drain, insert the snake into the drain until it hits the clog. Turn the handle clockwise to hook the clog and continue running the snake down the drain. When you start to feel resistance, that means the snake is picking up clogs. When the resistance lessens, that often means the snake has cleared the drain. Give the handle one more full turn to ensure the clog is hooked. Then turn the handle counterclockwise to back the snake out of the drain. Go slowly, so you don’t lose the clog.

When the snake is completely out, remove the debris. Run hot water down the drain to test that the clog is completely gone and replace the drain cover.

Do You Have A Hair Clogged Shower Drain Here’s What To Do

Showers tend to clog up due to a combination of hair, soap scum, and even lint from your washcloth. However, its the tangles of unpleasant smelling hair that are particularly retch-inducing, making it a challenge to unclog the shower due to the gross factor alone.

Even if you have a strong stomach, the task of constantly yanking hair up out of the drain quickly gets old. If your shower is slowly draining right now, there are a few tricks to make the unclogging process a little easier. Once the water is flowing freely again, use some simple steps to keep hair clogs from becoming a problem again so quickly. Follow along withJoe the Plumberfor the inside scoop!

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How Do You Minimize Mess When Unclogging A Shower Drain

Prep work is essential for preventing a clogged drain from turning into a big mess. When gathering your supplies, Tavanian suggests grabbing a few extra rags, a drop cloth to keep your shower floor protected, and a bucket to carry dirty tools in. As for the work itself, he tells DIYers to go slow and proceed cautiously. No one wants a hair clog flung around . Take your time so you can be neat and focused on what you are doing, he urges.

Why Would Drano Make A Clog Worse

Drano is a powerful drain cleaner that works to dissolve clogs in pipes, but it can actually make clogs worse in certain situations. This is because the chemical components of Drano can be too harsh for older pipes and cause them to corrode or become further blocked.

The high-alkaline content of Drano could also interact with other materials in the plumbing and damage the pipes, making clogs worse. Similarly, anything that is not organic, such as metal filings, glass, or plastics, will not dissolve when exposed to Drano and may, instead, become further stuck.

Finally, if theres standing water in the pipes, Drano may not be able to reach the clog, and could make the situation worse. If you use Drano and find that its not providing any relief from the clog, its best to call a plumber and avoid doing any more damage to your pipes.

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Symptoms Of A Clogged Shower Drain

The first time that you realize that you have a problem is normally when you find yourself standing in a deep puddle of water in the shower because the water isnt draining as it should.

Unfortunately, once the drainage problems have begun, they will usually only get worse over time, unless action is taken. Generally speaking, the sooner that you deal with the problem, the easier it will be to resolve.

How Do You Unclog A Shower Drain Naturally

There are a number of ways to unclog a shower drain naturally. One way is to use a plunger. Put the plunger over the drain and make sure its completely covered. Push and pull the plunger up and down. You may also want to use a bucket of water to help create suction.

Another way to unclog a shower drain naturally is to use baking soda and vinegar. Pour baking soda down the drain. Then pour vinegar over the baking soda. The two will react and create a fizzing sound. Let it fizz for a few minutes and then pour a pot of boiling water down the drain.

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A Hook And Snake Are Alternatives

One of the oldest methods with a fairly high success rate when it comes to hair clogs is using a hook.

As you probably dont want to pull out balls of hairs with your hands, a hook is a perfect alternative.

However, if you dont have a hook in your home, a wire coat hanger will do as well.

Anything thin and firm, with a curved end, would catch the hair and pull it out.

Another, similar tool to a hook, is a plumbers snake, as it is effective with various drain clogs, including hair.

You need to push the snake down, turn its handle after you have reached the clog, and bring it up.

It is easy to detect the clog, as a bunch of hair in one place would make it a bit harder for a snake to come through.

That is when you will know when to bring it up.

Utilize A Drain Cover Or Trap

To prevent hair from traveling down the drain, you can buy a variety of drain catchers and hair-catching covers for your bathtub.

The barrier that these covers form over the drain allows water to drain but stops hair and other material from going down the drain and clogging your pipes.

Like kitchen sink strainers, these coverings sit over or within your drain and can be removed and cleaned as needed. Some of these are made to fit tubs with immovable pop-up drain plugs.

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Can I Let My Hair Go Down The Drain

Hair accumulation will block the drain. Over time, hair will accumulate in the drain and start to slow down an extensive sewage system.

This results in further issues like:

• The sink wont drain
• The tub wont drain
• Stagnant water in your pipes
• The buildup of mold and mildew
• Hair accumulation traps germs. Tresses in the plughole act as a net to catch debris, filth, and anything else that flows down the drain.
• A buildup of hair may cause a leak to begin. A pipe leak could lead to mold and mildew growth, among other issues.
• The bathroom will stay damp.
• Your bathroom will stink. These drains will begin to accumulate on the hair, where they begin to proliferate bacteria and smell. A stinkybathroom is the absolute worst.
• Hair accumulation could cause allergies to flare up. The buildup of spores, mold, and bacteria in the pipe could be hazardous to your health. People who have allergies and asthma should be aware of this in particular.

How To Remove A Levered Stopper

• Note: Many tubs, especially older ones, have a stopper located inside the drain and overflow tube. Most of these have a lever on the overflow plate and a screen over the drain.

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Mechanical Methods Of Dissolving Hair In Your Shower Drain

Use of hot boiling water: This is pouring boiling hot water into your shower drain. The dirt in the pipe is dissolved by the hot water and so the pipe is loosened up so that the dirt clogs goes down easily down the pipe. However, the hair clog isnt dissolved it just moves down the drain and this may lead to a more serious clog.

Another way we categorize under mechanical method has a good rate of success. And, it is by using a hook.

That is when you will know when to bring it up.

What Eats Hair In A Drain

What eats hair in a drain?

When hair accumulates in a drain, it can often lead to a clog. But what exactly is eating the hair in the drain? There are a few different things that could be responsible.

One possibility is that the hair is being eaten by bacteria. Bacteria can cause clogs by eating away at the materials in the drain. When hair accumulates, it can provide a perfect feeding ground for the bacteria.

Another possibility is that the hair is being eaten by a creature known as a drain fly. Drain flies are small insects that live in dirty water. They feed on organic matter like hair, skin cells, and food scraps.

Finally, the hair may be being eaten by a creature known as a rat. Rats are known to be attracted to hair, and they can cause significant damage to drains by eating away at the piping.

So what eats hair in a drain? It could be any of the following: bacteria, drain flies, or rats. If you are having problems with a clogged drain, it is best to have a professional inspect it to determine the cause of the problem.

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Why Is My Shower Drain Clogged

Now you know the signs of a clogged shower drain, but how did it become blocked in the first place? All the drains in your home can become clogged over time. For your shower, the typical culprits are:

• Soap: Traditional soaps contain fats , talc, and wax. These sticky ingredients are prone to accumulating in your drains, especially when combined with hair and the hard minerals found in water.

• Hair: You might notice a few strands of hair around your shower drain and think nothing of it. But every time you shower, your hair sheds a little. Although this is completely normal, the stray strands of hair build-up in your drains. Long hair is especially problematic, as it wraps around other grime, like dirt and soap, to form clogs.

• Minerals: Hard waterwhich is typically used for your showercontains minerals. Although you cant see these minerals, as the water in your drain evaporates it leaves behind these insoluble minerals. The minerals build-up in your drain and can block your pipes.

• Dirt: On its own, dirt wont necessarily clog your drains. But combined with hair and soap, it will start amassing within your pipes and contribute to a clog.

• Tree roots: Although it sounds unlikely, roots grow in even the smallest cracks in underground pipes and can obstruct water flow to your shower.

Woman Shows How To Unclog Hair

• Josie Griffiths

• Josie Griffiths

A WOMAN has shown how to unclog a hair-filled shower drain in a matter of minutes, by using baking soda and vinegar.

Posting on TikTok as idk_bails, the cleaning novice said the drain was “really clogged” with hair – and we’re sure lots of girls can relate.

After reading you could fix it with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, the woman decided to give it a go.

But the hack got off to a bad start, when she realised her drain was so clogged that even the baking soda wouldn’t go down it.

Speaking to the camera, she said: “It’s almost midnight and my shower drain was really clogged. This isn’t drugs I swear, it’s baking soda.

“I read online that if you fill your drain with a cup of baking soda and then a cup of vinegar it should dissolve your hair and stuff.

“But it’s so clogged it won’t even go down the drain.

“I’ve probably got like a quarter cup down there and it won’t go down.

“Oh well, it said to wait a few minutes and then put vinegar down it, so I guess that’s what I’m going to do. I hope this doesn’t explode.”

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How To Unclog A Shower Drain And Keep It Clean

Knowing how to unclog a shower drain is a skill that is sure to come in handy again and again, so learning the proper techniques to get rid of mineral buildup and clogswithout making a bigger messis a wise undertaking for any homeowner. Sure, its a job you could to fix for you, but opting to clear the blockage yourself can save you hundreds of dollars. Plus, who wants to shower in standing water for days until the plumber shows up. No two clogs are the same, so its important to assess each showers unique situation before you get started.

Professional plumbers know all the tricks for how to unclog a shower drain, and many of these tricks are easy enough for DIYers to take on. Here, John Tavanianmaster plumber, pipefitter, and assistant professor at the New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich, Rhode Islandreveals the tricks of the trade he uses to train wannabe plumbers.

Option #: A Good Old Fashioned Drain Clearing

Secondly, this is the drain unclogging method for those of you who are a bit more ambitious. If you think the first method is too fast and easy, try this option. And if you need convincing, this is the method we personally recommend for how to unclog hair from a drain.

The reason your drain is clogging with hair is because the pop-up, or drain stop, is catching the hair. There are many ways to clean hair from your drain, from a drain snake and chemicals to the vinegar and baking soda method, and more.

More so, our preferred method for how to unclog hair from the drain in your sink is to remove the pop-up and discard the hair. Below are all the steps to eradicate hair from your drains.

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Purchase A Shower Drain Hair Trap

Long hair is the number one culprit behind shower drain clogs, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it. The solution is easy and cheap: you can purchase an inexpensive shower drain hair catcher that fits right over the drain and collects any hair before it has a chance to enter the drain line. After your shower, simply grab the hair from the trap and toss it in the trash. There are many brands and styles to choose from, just make sure to choose a design that works for the type of drain you have .

Organic Or Chemical Drain Cleanser

The difference between these two categories refers to the active ingredients in the drain cleaner that dissolve or break up clogs. An organic is enzyme-based and utilizes bacteria to break down organic proteins, including hair. They dont contain as harsh chemicals and are less corrosive than chemical cleaners. Also, chemical drain cleaners could eventually damage the plumbing if used frequently or in large amounts.

An organic cleaner is enzyme-based and utilizes bacteria to break down organic proteins, including hair. They dont contain as harsh chemicals and are less corrosive than chemical cleaners. Also, chemical drain cleaners could eventually damage the plumbing if used frequently or in large amounts.

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Try The Boiling Water Trick

This may sound a bit too good to be true but if soap buildup is the cause of your plumbing issues, pouring boiling water down the drain might be all you need to do.

Clogs in shower drains are often caused by soap and grease building up over time which can ultimately stick and hold the clog together, explains Chris Wootton, managing director of domestic cleaning business, Poppies . Simply place a funnel, or something that will contain the water as you pour, over the drain and pour.

Gradually, you will begin to hear the water flow more easily. Its important to note, if its not just soap and grease causing the blockage, this method may not work on its own.