Have you noticed a huge pile-up of standing water during your shower session? If yes, chances are, you have a case of a clogged shower drain, and you may already be looking for methods on how to unclog a shower drain with standing water. Fortunately, we’re here to help you find a quick and easy solution to that.
After a nice, refreshing shower, a clogged shower drain would be the last thing anyone wants to see. It’s inconvenient and unsightly, plus it can also be quite costly to have it fixed by a plumber. So, are there any cost-effective ways to get through it? Yes, there is!
Several cost-efficient, DIY methods exist to unclog a clogged shower drain. These are methods you can carry out with the use of simple home products and more.
This article will provide all the instructions needed to unclog your shower drain. So, stay tuned and continue reading on.
How to Unclog a Shower Drain with Water in It & without Tools
For various reasons, it is always a good idea to steer clear of the expense of calling a plumber. Of course, there will be challenging situations where you may have to call a professional. However, a clogged shower drain is a common issue that can easily be fixed all by yourself.
Worry not if you have no idea how to unclog the shower drain with standing water naturally. That’s what we’re here for.
The majority of clogged issues can be easily carried out without the use of tools by employing relatively simple home ingredients such as water, baking soda, etc. These include using reasonably straightforward methods you can utilize at any time.
Whether it’s water or baking soda, each comes with different steps. Lucky for you, we’ll be looking into a detailed explanation of each method. This will include strategies that are both cheaper and a bit more costly, along with the advantages and drawbacks of each technique.
Note: once the drain is unclogged, always make sure to follow a prevention plan in order to reduce the chances of any future shower blockages.
How to Unclog Shower Drain with Standing Water Naturally in 5 Ways
Here are 5 methods you can utilize to clear out shower drain clogs and blockages. Unclogging your shower drain the DIY way will also require a combo of either of the methods given below. Now, let’s look into the methods!
Method #1: Using Boiling Water
Unlike our hair, which can be taken out, greasy and soapy particles can end up causing a clog that can’t be pulled out by hand. Hence, it can be cleared out using boiling water, allowing water to pass through smoothly.
Sometimes, you may have to combine this method with some manual work. For instance, pull out the hair first before pouring it into the water. If this doesn’t work, you can always try the other methods we’ll explain down below.
While boiling water is easily the cheapest method, you’ll have to be extremely careful while handling it. Without careful handling, you may end up injuring yourself.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Cost-efficient
- Time saver
Cons
- Requires other methods for proper application.
Method #2: Utilizing a Plunger
Plungers work efficiently when shower drains are clogged with minimal water. Before applying, ensure that you’re placing the plunger in the proper position to get good suction. As the suction will create a clear passage, you’ll have a clear and smooth drain in no time.
However, the success of this method may depend on the kind of drain you have. Plus, the success level can also highly depend on whether there are substances that may be blocking the gutter or not. For instance, a large amount of hair may make it difficult for the plunger to get sufficient suction.
Pros
- Cheap
- Consumes less time
- Easy application
Cons
- Low rate of success
Method #3: Through Kitchen Ingredients
Chemicals are beneficial in clearing out clogged areas. But, there’s one more thing as helpful as chemicals – essential kitchen ingredients like baking soda & vinegar. This means you can always open up your kitchen cabinet and start working on a more natural method to clean your drain.
Here’s an overview of how to make use of baking soda & vinegar:
- Take a scoop of baking soda
- Take another scoop of vinegar
- Pour the baking soda into the drain
- Wait a few minutes, and then pour the vinegar into the drain as well
Vinegar & baking soda tends to be a much better and more natural alternative as opposed to chemicals. This is because chemicals end up damaging your plastic pipes.
Pros
- Natural & ecologically preferable
- Prevents pipes from being damaged
- Easy to find ingredients
Cons
- Success rate depends on the amount of clog
Method #4: With Your Bare Hands
Pulling hair would likely be the most minor nasty stuff you may pull out of the drain. So, since you’ll probably be dealing with tons of gross substances, it’s highly recommended to wear rubber gloves during such manual work.
Once you wear the gloves, slightly move your hands around the drain and pull out whatever substances may be blocking the drain. If you can not move or fit your hand, you can also improvise and use another household item. For instance, you can make use of a hook or a wire hanger to reach the end of the blocked drain.
Lastly, if it doesn’t come to a successful end, you can use some tools such as a toilet jack, aka a plumber’s snake. All you have to do is push the tool down the drain and ensure it reaches the clogged area. After this, you can bring the tool up by turning around the handle.
Pros
- Ideal for fixing small clogged areas
- Easy to carry out
- A very cheap method
Cons
- Not ideal for fixing drains clogged with mineral build-up
Method #5: Make use of Chemicals
Although chemicals are very effective, this should always be a last resort method as it can end up damaging your drain. However, this method is also relatively easy to use, and the items can also be easily found.
If your drain is clogged with tons of hair, chemical drain openers can help dissolve hair. Just ensure you’re being safe by using rubber gloves and eye protection since chemical products can be pretty harmful.
Before using the product, make sure to carefully read & follow the instructions as directed on the label. Also, make sure there’s enough ventilation to prevent inhaling harmful fumes.
But before you begin following this method, you must know that these chemical products might end up damaging your pipes. If this last method of using chemicals doesn’t work, you can always call a professional plumber to have it fixed finally. Chances are, things might have escalated into a severe state.
Pros
- Very effective
- Easy & affordable
- Avoids future blockages
Cons
- Very harmful to pipes
Can You Pour Drano Into Standing Water?
It’s a standard rule to never pour Drano directly into a drain area with standing water. This is because certain bacteria in the drain system tend to be beneficial for breaking down organic material. Hence, pouring out chemicals that can kill such bacteria will eventually damage your drain.
ALSO READ: Drano Not Working? 4 Crazy Fixes When Drano Won’t Go Down Drain
Does Plunging Shower Drain Make It Worse?
When applied with minimal force, a plunger will likely not worsen your drain. However, forcefully plunging a plunger can cause damage to your drain line, which in turn can cause leaks. It is highly recommended not to use any plungers on clogs that may require some extra force.
How Do You Know Drain Is Clogged?
One of the clearest signs of having a clogged shower is noticing a flood of water with no sign of it falling under the drain. You may have to look down every now and then to inspect the area if you want to know whether it’s clogged or not. Some days, you may even find yourself ankle-deep in a pool of water, which is not good at all.
What Does Black Stuff Coming from Drain Mean?
When you notice black substances coming from the drain, it could indicate that the entire drainage system is backing up, and you may be seeing raw sewerage. You can, of course, tell from the smell whether it’s raw or not. Another indication of such a substance is when drains & toilets are not flushing or draining properly.
Wrapping Up – How To Unclog a Shower Drain with Standing Water
Unclogging is more common than one would think, and most times, you don’t even have to call any plumbers. Fortunately, you’d need an excellent DIY project (such as the ones we provided above).
Just remember to always start by trying the more accessible methods and eventually move on to the more difficult ones if the first one doesn’t work. But it’s essential to follow a regular maintenance schedule to prevent blockages from happening in the first place.
While DIY projects can save you tons of money, if there is no proper regular maintenance from your end, you’ll have to end up calling a professional. That said, we hope our article helps unclog your messy shower drain in no time.