A clogged shower drain is one of the most common drainage problems that you will have to deal with at some point in your life, whether you are a tenant or own your own home. Although there are many reasons why your shower drain could be clogged, the most common one is the accumulation of hair and soap scum in the drain.

Most people prefer to call their plumber for repair when their shower drains become clogged. While this could be one of the most straightforward solutions, it will cost you money. So, you can save yourself some money by unclogging the shower drain yourself. Here are the simple steps you need to follow.

Check for Visible Obstruction

First, take a closer look at the outer side of your shower drain for any visible obstruction. Sometimes huge lumps of hair or other foreign objects get stuck between the tiny spaces of your drain’s cap, preventing water from flowing into the drain. You can even use a flashlight to check underneath the drain cap. Remove anything that could be blocking your drain and run a quick test with a bucket of water.

Ensure Your Drain Stopper is not Locked

Some shower drains have stoppers designed to open and close drainpipes. So, before you decide to disassemble your shower drain, make sure its drain stopper is open. Some showers come with a switch under the faucet to open and close the drain. Others have drain stoppers that can be unscrewed and lifted out completely.

Unclog the Shower Drain

If you have followed the first two steps and still the water isn’t draining, you need to unclog the drain. There are many ways of unclogging a shower drain. First, you can use your bare hand to remove the clog. If it is hair blocking your drain, just wear a pair of rubber gloves and pull the hair out. You can also use the special plastic hooks specifically designed for this kind of work.

If the clog cannot be pulled out with your bare hands of the plastic hook, try the plumber’s snake. The drain snake, a plumber’s snake, is a flexible, retractable drilling tool sold in almost every hardware store. You simply push the snake’s metal wire down the drain using its hand crank to either break or pull out the clog. If that doesn’t work, you can pour a few buckets of boiling water down the drain to dissolve any soft buildup like grease or soap scum. You can also use the normal drain cleaners to flush the clog out.