Shower Drain: Problems and Solutions

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

shower drain

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).

Storm Drain: Functions, Problems, and Solutions

Rainy days are here again and people now expect flooding in the paved streets, parking lots, and driveways. But if there’s a clear and effective storm drain, say goodbye to those problems.

How does a storm drain work?

storm drain

Storm drainage systems are designed to drain out the water after a storm (e.g. heavy rains, melting of snow). This helps prevent the accumulation of water and flooding in certain areas.

In all Toronto establishments (residential, commercial, industrial, and government), these drain systems are crucial to minimizing hassles and property damages. Weather can be unpredictable and we’ll never know when the next heavy rain will occur. That’s why these drain systems are crucial and they have to work all year round.

Storm drains take away the water. If the accumulated water is allowed to stay in a certain area (for long periods), these might cause hassles and damages.

Flooding and property damages

In Toronto, you see many floor areas (e.g. roads, driveways) made from concrete and asphalt. If they are exposed daily and in long periods (especially floods), they might develop cracks and deformities.

Concrete and asphalt are slightly soluble in water. This means regular exposure to water can dissolve some parts of the roads and other concrete and asphalt surfaces. At first, the damages won’t be visible. But daily rains and floods that don’t subside will eventually make a mark on those surfaces.

Damage to cars, tires, and other objects

Storm water also accumulates in parking lots, paved streets, and even garages. The flood might reach those areas especially during consistent and heavy rains.

The result is that all the objects that pass through those areas will be exposed to the storm water. Cars and other vehicles will need to get through those water. Dirt and grime will stick to the cars and tires as a result.

The scenario gets worse if the cars are partially immersed for some time. The car engines and other parts will be prone to damages. This results to expensive repairs and replacements.

Aside from cars, other objects are also normally present within flooded areas. Plants and outdoor furniture are also nearby. Garden plants and flowers might die because of immersion in water for a long time. You might also see some deformities on the wooden furniture outside.

The outdoor walls and fences might also receive some of the damage. These might need repairs, repaint, and replacements after the flood subsides.

Hassles to residents, employees, and other people

Because of a clogged drain, accumulated storm water can also cause hassles to people.

For instance, when there are flooded paved streets, it gets harder to drive and maneuver. The drivers are also extra careful so the water doesn’t splash too much.

In parking lots around commercial and government establishments, parking the car becomes an extra chore. They want to avoid the water because they need to protect their cars from storm water.

Maybe the employees and the staff will need to park far away. Or maybe they have no choice but to park where the storm water is. Whatever the case, it’s a hassle for everyone. It becomes an extra challenge to go to work.

Unnecessary expenses for property repairs

Property damage repairs can be really expensive. This is the case especially if the damages are the result of long-term exposure to storm water.

Aside from being an eye sore, long-staying storm water will soak floors, walls, cars, plants, furniture items, and other objects. Some of the water might even go to the gardens and ruin the landscaping.

In all these cases, you have to spend some money to undo all the damages. These might include repairing, repainting, and replacements. These are all costly and there might be unexpected expenses later on during the repairs.

If the problem is recurring due to a blocked storm drain, the expenses add up. The repairs needed might be costlier than before. In time, these repairs might lead to total replacements which are more expensive.

The quick solution: storm drain cleaning and repair

To avoid all of the above problems, a storm drain cleaning will help you save money.

You won’t have to worry much during heavy rains. You have the peace of mind that your storm drain system will drain out all the water.

If the storm drainage are clear, you will prevent the accumulation of water in parking lots, driveways, paved streets, and other areas.

Clearing the drains is a quick and effective solution to drain out the water and minimize the property damages.

Heavy rain last night?

This morning you saw accumulated storm water in your street and in your parking lot. One reason it got to that is because of the clogged drains.

Clogs and solid debris will block the water from passing through. Instead of going into the sewer system or bodies of water, the water stays in one location.

The straightforward solution is to remove the clog using powerful tools. Professionals often utilize quality equipment for the job. They completely remove the clog and ensure water is flowing out freely.

If you noticed a swamped garden or water that doesn’t subside in your area, one suggestion is to ask for a professional drain cleaning service. This way, the water will completely subside and even it will rain again tonight, you won’t worry about the floods.

Professional Toronto storm drain services

Experienced professionals have the expertise and powerful tools to clear out the clogs. They also repair the warped drainage pipes so water can freely flow out.

Maybe there’s already flood in your area. Our team of drain professionals can take care of that. We will work on the drains and remove anything that blocks the water.

If you suspect you have blocked drains, we can also confirm that. We perform thorough inspections to confirm the problem. Then, we use our powerful tools to completely remove the debris if there’s any.

A proper storm drain cleaning will actually help you save money upfront and in the long run. You enjoy a worry-free life even during heavy rains. That’s because the storm drainage system is properly working all day and all night.

If you need professional drain cleaning services, our experienced team can handle residential, commercial, and industrial requests. You can call us now at +1 416-858-4444 for a no-obligation and FREE consultation.