How to unblock a shower drain?

Sublime_2

rrrrachel wrote: »

I'm not sure if this is the best place to post, but thought I'd give it a try!

Our shower cubicle plughole is seriously blocked - the water now backs up so far when we have a shower that it nearly overflows the tray :-o

It seemed fine until a couple of weeks ago and now has got rapidly worse! I've poked around with pens, forks, etc. as far as I can see, and pulled out a little bit of hair but can't see anything major. The pipe seems to bend 90 degrees after a short distance so it's tricky to find anything better to poke around with.

I've also tried putting bleach and Domestos unblocker down there but no difference...

We bought a plunger and then found it doesn't work as the shower tray is ridged so it can't create a vacuum around the plughole :-(

It's all built in so I can't get underneath to the pipes or anything...

Is a plumber our only hope, or has anyone got any bright ideas?

Thanks guys!

You can buy commercial sink, and drain unblockers in supermarkets, etc. They work well. I had tried what you had been using previously, but these seemed to be a good bit stronger. They work anyway.

northern_at_heart

Thanks 27col. I'm guessing that thing is sort of flexible enough to bend round the bends, but also stiff enough to grab something and yank it out... might be just the thing...

snu

We have a long wire that we brought from Wickes which you feed down the plug hole and then you twist the top. Always unblocks the drains (and makes us wonder how we have any hair left due to the amount that comes out !)

Wookey

rrrrachel wrote: »

. There isn't a grille on the top luckily, just a plastic crossbar thing

Does the plastic crossbar thing lift out? If so you may well have a mcalpine shower waste, these should be easily cleaned. Lift out the plastic crossbar, below this you will see what appears to be a plastic tube centered within the waste fitting, twist this round and pull it straight out (anticlockwise if memory serves). Once you have this removed just reach in and remove any gunk thats in there, it is also worthwhile getting a proper sink plunger with a deep cup and approx 4" across in diameter, these should work on a shower waste. Problem showers have is a slow flow of water thru them, with the addition of shower gels the soap can tend to cling to the outside of the waste pipe leading to it eventually clogging up.

Thats a photo of the mcalpine shower trap---> http://www.bhs-homeimprovements.com/Plumbing/Wastes_and_Traps/Shower_Wastes/sc1433/p4527.aspx

MrsTinks

I'll move your thread over to the DIY board for you hopefully you should get loads more advice there

Kentmumof1

The same thing happened to me not long ago, I put down Mr Mucsel plug unblocker, I put half a large bottle down there and left it for an hour or so, it was a good as new next time I used it.

Mind to was up round my ankles before I done it, hope that helps :beer:

financequest

You can still use the plunger !. Trick is to create a vacuum using water instead of air. Place a heavy dishcloth or sponge over drain hole. Using a bowl or the shower, quickly pour significant volume of water into shower basin so that you get 1 or 2 inch depth of water in the tray. ( the cloth + drain blockage will slow drainage of this water ) ,then remove dishcloth, then quickly work the plunger rapidly up and down many times on the drain hole. You will find that it is much easier to create a suck vacuum under water, than in free air, even when rough tray prevents full seal.

gp2

mr muscle works everytime like a treat

Sublime_2

I would go with the Mr Muscle unblocker. Its works.

Errata

gp2 wrote: »

mr muscle works everytime like a treat

I second that. Mr Muscle Sink and Drain Foamer from Sainsburys, costs about a fiver.