Drain Cleaning - Unclogging Your Shower With These Methods

When it comes to drain cleaning, many people use the chemicals they sell at the grocery store and never look back. If you're experiencing clogs on a regular basis, however, you could be contributing to the problem while treating only the individual symptoms. These chemicals are harsh and can be detrimental to the life and sustainability of your plumbing system. Frequent clogs could mean a deeper problem and should be investigated by professionals. If this is one of your first encounters with a shower clog, however, there are some methods you can use to get the water flowing again. Try these before reaching for the chemicals.

Using a Plunger

Many homeowners don't realize that their handy plunger can be used for more than just toilet clogs. It also works well when getting rid of a clog in the shower. Drain cleaning doesn't always need to be complicated. Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best one. To get the most out of your plunger, you may want to spread a bit of petroleum jelly around the edges of the rubber. This will help you get a better seal when you go to work. Getting a seal is usually no problem in the toilet, but it can become troublesome when working with the slick floor of the tub.

Using a Coat Hanger

Sometimes you need to get down into the system to perform successful drain cleaning. When a professional company comes out to clear up your pipes, they use specialized snakes to get down into the works and remove the clogs. A coat hanger acts as a crude replication of these tools. No, you won't be able to get to the deeper clogs with this method, but it can be very effective in removing hair and soap scum that collects near the opening. Unscrew the cap and use a coat hanger, pliers, or anything else you need to get some of that mass out of the pipes. Careful, however, that you don't wind up just pushing the clog further into the pipe.

Using Chemicals

If you've tried the previous methods without success, you may want to try using one of the liquid chemicals available commercially. Those with a foaming component often work better than those without, as they slow down the process and give it a better chance of eating through the clogging material. This is not a method of drain cleaning you want to practice on a regular basis, however, as it can damage your pipes. If you find yourself constantly going back to the store for more chemicals, you need to think about calling out the professionals.