Water build up when having a shower

dantheman2010

Hi all,

I am hoping someone can help me with a slight problem we are having in our house that we have just moved in to.

When we have a shower although the water is draining away down the plughole it doesnt seem to be doing it very fast and the water stays quite high in the plughole corner of the shower tray until the water is turned off.

I have looked down the plughole and there is no obvious blockages and I have plunged it as well as I have put unblocker down it. I also had a plumber do the same (whilst he was over doing other jobs for me).

I have noticed though that the design of the tray is slightly sloped so the opposite corner to the plughole is higher than the corner of the plug hole i.e. there is a smaller gap between the floor of shower tray and upper edge of shower tray, so all water is flowing toward the plughole. I am not sure if most floors of shower trays are completely level?

So I am left wondering whether there is 1) a blockage further down the pipes OR 2) whether it is a bit of a design flaw of the shower tray in that all the water is flowing to the plug hole due to the slope and therefore too much water is sitting over the top of the plughole for it to be taken away evenly.

Hopefully the above makes sense and I wondered if anyone had any suggestions or ideas?

Thanks

cyclonebri1

All the shower trays I have seen have a designed in slope towards the plug hole when installed level.

The problem lies in the drainage.

But, given it works and finally runs dry????, don't worry.

Provided you can run the shower full tilt without any danger of flooding then all is well. It may well be a very convoluted route to the main stack that is slowing the flow a little.

dantheman2010

Thanks for that.

It doesnt overflow when having a shower and still a way off the top but not very relaxing when you keep checking to ensure it isnt. But as it is a small shower cubicle I am concerned that movement with the feet causing a wave like motion with the standing water over the plughole may cause it to wash over the sides.

Thanks

Halle71

Ours does this sometimes and all it requires is a good plunge every few months. You should see the gunk that comes out!

Unlike baths that frequently have large amounts of water to flush out the debris, showers don't have enoiugh volume to clear the pipes.

foxwales

If it's not blocked it could simply be the drainage pipes don't have sufficient gradient to allow quick enough run-off.

Idiophreak

Have you actually pulled the plughole out and cleared it of debris?

Ours gets full of hair quite frequently and needs a good cleaning...because the hair wraps around it, this is generally pretty resistant to plunging etc.

dantheman2010

The plug itself is not blocked, I have put my fingers in as far as they can go and nothing there. Only tiny bits of debris when plunging. I have a feeling it is what foxwales has said. If that is the case what are my options (1 being leave it as it is)?

foxwales

Altering the gradient may mean ripping up floors and taking up the shower tray etc. Not worth the hassle or cost in my opinion.

dantheman2010

Thanks, I have ever only had an over-bath shower before so never really had to be concerned at overflowing water. I will just monitor it and if after some more heavy duty unblocker doesnt do but but it doesnt start overflowing I may leave it for now.

Slinky_Malinky

Mine gets like this every few months due to build up of hair and other gunge in the pipes. I find a good glug of Mr Muscle drain unblocker or similar left for a couple of hours sorts it out.

john-306

Asda do a fair size bag of soda crystals for £1, we put a handful down the pipe and add a cupful of warm water to dissolve and leave for a few hours, that always clears it, its usually only soap scum build up anyway