Plumbing emergency? Burst pipe, no water, sewer backup. We respond day and night. Call or Text (706) 669-5727
Plumbing Problems
Water is pooling around your ankles and the drain is not keeping up. Most shower clogs are hair and soap, and many can be cleared in a few minutes without any chemicals.
Short answer: Most clogged shower drains are hair and soap scum caught just below the drain opening. You can often clear them by removing the stopper or cover and pulling the clump out. If the tub or other drains are slow too, or water comes up somewhere else, the clog is deeper and it is time to call.
Hair is the main cause. It slips past the cover, catches on a rough spot in the pipe, and then soap scum and skin oils glue more hair to it. Over weeks the clump grows into a plug. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash and shaving cream all leave a film that makes it worse.
Well water adds to it. Many homes here are on a well, and mineral-rich water leaves a harder crust on top of the soap. If your water is hard, you may see the clog return sooner. Our guide to hard water and plumbing in Georgia explains what that does inside your pipes.
The way you get to the clog depends on what is in the drain. Look at yours before you pull on anything.
If it will not come out without force, stop. Forcing it can crack a fitting, and that turns a clog into a leak.
Water not going down and you do not want to guess?
Text Ryan a photo of the drain and tell him what you see. He is a licensed Master Plumber, he answers his own phone, and he is open 24 hours a day.
Do not push a coat hanger or a long wire down a shower drain. It scratches the trap, it can push the clog deeper, and it can punch through a worn fitting.
Chemical cleaners are sold for exactly this problem, so it is fair to ask. The trouble is that a shower drain full of standing water holds the chemical in one spot, where it can soften or eat at pipes and fittings. If it does not work, you now have a pool of caustic liquid for the next person to deal with, plumber or not. The EPA also tells septic owners to use a drain snake instead of chemical drain openers, because toxins can kill the organisms the tank depends on. Ryan clears drains mechanically, by hand and with the right tool for the pipe, and uses no chemical drain cleaners.
The signs that this is not just hair at the drain:
Those point to a blockage in the branch or main drain. A slow bathroom sink is a related clue, and the slow draining sink page covers it. If a toilet starts to rise, go to toilet backing up and call.
A shower that suddenly will not drain on a septic system can be a clog, but it can also be a sign that the tank or drainfield is full. If other drains are slow as well, use less water until it is checked. Ryan does septic system repair, and he can tell you what he finds so you know whether a septic pumping company is the next call.
In a lot of mountain houses the shower sits over a crawlspace or a basement, and the drain pipe runs a long way before it meets the main line. A long run, a slight sag, or an old fitting gives hair and scum more places to catch. A bathroom you only use on weekends can also grow a plug of dried soap in the trap. If you need access under the floor, that is a good time to let Ryan handle it.
Ryan clears the clog, then checks whether the drain, the trap and the stopper are in good shape. If the stopper or drain body is worn out, he can replace it as part of shower repair. His drain cleaning covers deeper clogs too. The estimate is free, there is no trip fee and no diagnostic fee, and you know the price before any work starts.
Take off the cover or stopper, pull out the hair you can reach, and use a plastic drain tool for the rest. A plunger with the overflow blocked is the next step. If that does not work, the clog is deeper than you can reach.
Hair and soap scum build up faster than most people expect, and hard well water leaves a crust that helps it stick. A stopper with no catch for hair also lets everything go straight down. If it keeps coming back, a worn or rough pipe could be catching debris.
It is not a good idea. Very hot water can soften plastic pipe and fittings and can crack older fixtures. Warm water after you clear the clog is fine.
They likely share a drain line, and that line is partly blocked. That is a call, not a plunger job.
It can, especially when other drains are slow too. Use less water and have the system looked at. A septic pumping company handles pumping, and Ryan handles septic repair.
Yes. A photo of the drain and a short note is often enough to tell you whether it is a quick fix or a call-out.
Call or text, day or night. Free estimate, no trip fee, no diagnostic fee.