One of the messy and frustrating situations to get into while taking a bath is standing water on the floor or the tub. Sometimes, getting a plunger works but there are times the water drains slowly and if you are unlucky enough, it will not drain at all. This is when a plumber’s snake becomes an option. This can easily be a DIY job. All you need is some patience, a snake or drain auger, old cloth and rubber gloves. To guide you through, here are the steps you need to take.
Step 1:
If there is standing water, you might want to remove it first using a small container or water dipper to scoop the water out. You can then wipe the remaining water off with an old cloth
Step 2:
One of the culprits can be strands of hair that have accumulated over time. This can be entangled around the mechanism stopper. Remove the stopper and pull it out. This might be enough to clear the clog. If not, go to the next step.
Step 3:
Get the snake and hold the end where the cable is. This power top snake is ¼ inch in size and flexible which makes it easier to maneuver when inserted into the drain pipe.
Step 4:
Crank the snake as you pull the cable down the drain slowly until you meet some resistance. Twist the cable to break the blockage apart. The cable might reach around 10 feet down.
Step 5:
By this time, pull the snake back to dislodge the obstruction. Pour some water into the drain to check if the blockage has already been removed. You will know that your work is done if the water drains as fast as it should. If not, continue with the process several times up until the clog is cleared.
Ares to Consider First
1. For slow draining shower, it might be that the problem will be resolved by removing the stopper mechanism. On the other hand, if the tub directly behind the shower is the problem, it might be that the line going to the sewer is the defective one. Check these areas before snaking your shower drain.
2. Remove the shower grate by unscrewing it using a screwdriver, the type depending on the screws used. Push a tad on the grate to release it completely. Do not attempt to insert the snake here because although you will find it easy to insert the cable due to its size, pulling it out can be a problem especially if there are strands of hair that have been entangled with the snake.
Important Reminders
- Use strainers to keep small objects from falling into the drain as well as keep the strands of hair to block the drain.
- Do not let small pieces of soap fall into the drain since they can easily get stuck and clog the shower drain along with other sediments and gunk.
- You can pour baking soda and hot water once a month into the drain pipe so as to loosen the gunk and other buildup inside. Let the baking soda sit for 30 minutes before pouring hot water into the pipe.
