Toronto Drain Service

A perfectly working shower drain can make showering a pleasant experience. But if it doesn’t, it might make taking a bath a hassle itself.

A clogged shower drain is also an unpleasant thing to see. The goal of taking a shower is to cleanse our bodies. But if the drains prevent water from flowing out, it will be an unsanitary experience.

Shower drain purpose

The purpose of shower drains is to take away the water so it doesn’t accumulate while we take a bath. The water goes to the drain and sewer system so it doesn’t go back. This way, the shower area will always be available to everyone in the family.

It’s similar to how kitchen sinks and toilet drains work. They drain out the water into the drain and sewer system. The water doesn’t accumulate and the area remains available as well.

As with the kitchen sinks and toilet drains, it’s also a hassle when there are clogged shower drains. The water can’t flow out and subside. It’s an unpleasant thing to see. In addition, it can prevent anyone from taking a shower because of the unsanitary situation.

Problems with shower drains

The shower drainage will work out fine most of the time. But there are those times when the water seems to drain slow. It could also be that the water doesn’t drain at all.

The problem is that there are clogs which block the water from flowing out. While showering, the water can’t go out which leads to accumulation on the bathroom floor.

If you’re the only one using the shower, it’s not a huge problem. Water might drain out eventually. But what happens if there’s someone who will use the shower the moment you’re finished?

It’s not the best thing to see. Soap residues and hair strands might be floating on the floor. The amount of water is enough to immerse someone’s feet. It’s like they’re soaking their feet with the water you just used earlier.

Another problem with clogged shower drains

Another problem is the prolonged stay of the water in the area. The water together with the soap and shampoo residue might leave marks on the bathroom floors and walls.

The materials used in building the bathroom are durable. But they’re not perfectly built for the prolonged stay of the water there. Also, the chemicals from the soap and shampoo might react with the bathroom fixtures. This might lead to repairs and replacements if you let them for long.

What causes clogged shower drains?

Often, the reason for the clogs is the accumulated hair strands. These hair strands fall off every day and some might fail to completely pass through the drain pipes.

It’s a natural occurrence every day. Each day, we might be losing up to 100 hair strands each day. Even more if we count the hair breakages that happen daily.

No matter how long or short the hairs are, they will end up in the shower drain while we’re taking a bath. Some of them won’t be able to flow out completely. As a result, they will accumulate and block the water.

In addition, these hair strands will attract dirt and residue. This makes the clog bigger and more solid. As a consequence, the clogs become pretty solid and hard to remove.

The water, soap, and shampoo won’t be able to dissolve those hairs. That’s why they continue to accumulate. The problems quickly surface especially if there are a few of you using the shower room one after the other.

What are the signs of a blocked shower drain?

One common sign is that the water is slow to drain out during and after taking a shower. The clogs might be small at this point because water is still flowing out.

You can readily notice that while taking a bath. If your feet is somehow immersed while taking a bath, it’s a sign the drains are not working perfectly.

You can also notice that right after someone (it could be you) used the shower room. If there’s still water even minutes after the use, it’s a clear sign there are clogs in the shower drains.

The clogs might be easy to pull out. This is the case especially if it’s almost all hair strands. But the clogs could be the result of something else. It’s possible that someone accidentally dropped an object and it went down the drain. It might be a piece of toy or jewelry.

After years or even just after months of use, those clogs might completely block the passage of water. The water can’t get out. It could also be that the water drains really slowly. Even after a few hours, the water is still there.

How to unclog a shower drain

There are quick solutions you can do right at your home.

Many people quickly reach out for the plunger whenever there’s a clog. It works well by making the clog somehow move so it can flow out further down.

Other people pour hot water directly into the drain. This will dissolve some of the debris and make it flow further down. If you choose to do this, be careful with pouring the hot water. Maintain a safe distance from where you’re pouring so your feet won’t get burns.

Another method is by the use of vinegar and baking soda. You can do this while pouring hot water also to double the effectiveness. The vinegar and baking soda will somehow react with the clogs. This way, the clogs get smaller and they alter their shapes.

A few try to do drain snaking. It’s a straightforward method to remove the clogs. There could be a hook at the end which can pull out the clogs. It can also go further down the drain and push the solid clogs and get them out of the way.

Professional shower drain services

All the above methods, including drain snaking, can be laborious. It’s also possible that all the above methods won’t work. One reason is that the clogs are really solid.

That’s why it’s best to rely on experienced professionals to do the job. These professionals use powerful tools to completely remove the clogs. This way, your shower drains will work perfectly. You will then notice that the water drains quickly.

If you need help with unclogging your shower drains, you can call us today at +1 416-858-4444 for a free consultation (we’re available 24/7).