The Dos And Don'ts Of Cleaning Shower Drains
You rely on your shower drain to get rid of all the water you use when washing your body. When the drain clogs, you end up with water around your ankles, which is never any fun! Cleaning out your shower drain is important, but there are some dos and don'ts to adhere to in the process.
Do aim for prevention.
It's a lot easier to keep your drain free from clogs than to remove clogs once they form. Since most shower drain clogs are caused by hair and soap scum, all you need to do is keep these out of your drains. Use a hair trap, and clean it out regularly. Do not use clay-based soaps, which leave more scum. If you have hard water, use a water softener to remove the minerals, which will result in less soap scum accumulation.
Don't use too many drain cleaners.
If your drain is a little slow, you can dump some drain cleaner down there to clear it out. You just don't want to do this too often, since it can result in damage to your pipes. If the first dose of drain cleaner does not work, you don't want to keep dumping more and more cleaner down the drain. It will just sit there corroding your pipes.
Do use a plunger.
Before you turn to drain cleaner for a clogged shower drain, try plunging it! Plungers are not just for toilets. The type that is shaped like a plain bowl works well for removing clogs. Use short, powerful strokes and make sure the plunger head is sealed completely to the shower floor. Do not plunge a drain that has drain cleaner down it -- you may splash yourself.
Don't be afraid to call a plumber.
If plunging and a dose of drain cleaner do not work, then it's time to call plumbing services, like Johnson Plumbing. Other DIY fixes, like using a coat hanger to pull things out of the drain, can cause more harm than good. A plumber can use a hydrojet, which shoots powerful water into the drain to clear away any clogging debris. This method will also remove debris located further down the drain pipe, which is often the issue when plunging and drain cleaners fail.
If you adhere to the dos and don'ts above, you should have a lot less trouble with clogs -- and clearing clogs -- from your shower drains.