How to unblock a shower

A._Badger · 30 April 2008 at 11:18PM

We moved into a house with a newly installed shower, a few months ago. It's the type of shower that has a small pot to trap hair, bits of soap etc, but the waste pipe has still managed to get blocked, so it's now draining so slowly that there's a danger the tray will overflow.

I bought a round, stainless steel 'snake' to unblock the pipe but when I tried to use it I found the 'well' has a raised based which means there is only a narrow space (not itself blocked) for the water to run away through. The snake can't pass through this so I can't get it down to wherever the blockage may be.

As we are on private drainage into a water treatment system, I don't want to risk using any caustic materials, so, please, has anyone any idea how I can clear this blockage?

wishiwasarichgirl · 30 April 2008 at 11:21PM

Half a bottle of thick bleach clears most blockages in my experience. bung it all down there and leave it half an hour, then pour boiling water down. If that doesn't work try Mr muscle, he loves those jobs apparantly :rolleyes:

A._Badger · 30 April 2008 at 11:24PM

Thanks, wishiwasarichgirl... the trouble is the water treatment plant. Bleach and Mr Muscle etc are no-nos, apparently

wishiwasarichgirl · 30 April 2008 at 11:28PM

what do they suggest then? surely if they forbid all normal options they must have alternatives?

Is the treatment plant shared between lots of properties? if so then how would they know who has used the offending liquids

otherwise maybe report it to the developers you bought it off as a design flaw?

maninthestreet · 30 April 2008 at 11:44PM

Is there anything smaller you can try to get down the plughole to clear out the blockage? A bent wire coat hanger, perhaps? One of those old fashioned stretchy net curtain hangers?

weekendwarrior · 1 May 2008 at 6:16AM

I don't suppose it has a removable section like this one-

http://www.ultimatehandyman.org/videos/147/how-to-unblock-a-shower-waste

If not go and buy a blast unblocker, silverline sell them and are only a few quid, these squirt a jet of water down the pipe and should move most blockages.

You can see one being used here-

http://www.ultimatehandyman.org/videos/107/how-to-unblock-a-sink

money_savy · 1 May 2008 at 11:33AM

Try caustic soda...I have been using it for years and it really does the trick. You can get in B&Q, Homebase etc..
PS. Please make sure that you take care and mix the right quantity of it with water and follow the instructions..Really works:beer:

ricktor · 1 May 2008 at 5:21PM

Open the overflow cover (it's on inside of tub in new tubs & is beside the tub on old ones) Lift the stopper mechanism & unhook it. You now have a route to the stoppage. Take a toilet bowl auger ($25 in most shops) & place it in the opening and it should take you about 30 seconds to pull out all the long hairs stopping your line. GO easy on the auger; don't force it especially if you have plastic pipes. Be aware that when using an auger always turn in the same dirction even when you are working your way back so as not to lose the crud you've snared. I've done this a dozen times & it always works.

Sailor_Sam · 4 May 2008 at 11:06PM

If the shower is a new one, you should be able to get access to the trap from inside the shower, if not can you get to it by lifting a floorboard near it, it should only be the trap that is blocked.
in my last house the pipe was blocked solid, the angle of the pipe was to narrow, and over a period of years, soap blocked it up. we could not clean it, it was solid, and a new pipe had to be fitted. if your pipework is new this should'nt be needed.

How to unblock a shower

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