Shower drain not moving the water fast enough out!?

Question

My shower drain is not draining as fast as I would like it to. Just moved into a new apartment. Any ideas? (I already tried cleaning out all the crud in the "hair trap" bars near the top)

Answer 1

FIRST IF YOU GOT A GOOD PLUNGER>
LET WATER STAND -COVERING DRAIN COUPLE INCHES AND THEN PLUNGER IT. GET REAL GOOD SUCTION AND
PULL UP REAL QUICK TRYING TO DISLODGE ANY HAIR ECT.
--REMOVE THE WIRE SCREEN FIRST-ONE SMALL SCREW-

AFTER DOING THIS ALL KINDS OF JUNK SHOULD PULL UP AND OUT--USE TISSUE PAPER TO REMOVE THIS JUNK.

THEN USE HOT WATER FILL (TUB IF GOT ONE) UP AND THEN LET IT OUT TO RUN AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

THEN PUT IN LIQUID DRANO/LIQUID PLUMMER COMM TYPE.
AND LET SET OVERNIGHT.. RINSE HOT WATER NEXT MORN
SHOULD CLEAN OUT PRETTY GOOD.


IF THIS DOES NOT WORK---PLUMMER NEEDED.

Answer 2

Well the solution varies depending on the exact kind of shower you have. With a shower that has a pop up drain remove the pop up stopper then start by usin a plunger while some water is in the drain. If that doesnt work first go down stairs and see if you have a p trap or if you have a thing that looks like a metal can with 2 pipes ticking out for the trap if you have one that looks like a can its lead and using a snake could damage it and its better to get a pro to fix. If its a regular p trap you should be able to run the pipesnake down the drain to attempt getting it to run better. If you have a shower that has a handle to release the water but doesn't have a pop up its better to pull out the handle and the rod its attached to to try snaking the pipe otherwise the snake might try to come up the pipe for the lever instead of down the drain. If you dont have a stopper in the shower you can easily plunge and snake after removing the hair trap.
hope this helps
good luck

Answer 3

Get a screwdriver. take out the screws holding down the hair trap. Usually it's just 2 screws. remove the trap and clean out the drain pipe with any kind of long thin instrument that has some bristles to catch hair. The pipe should only go down about 10" before you hit the bottom of the trap. It then make a u turn and heads back up for about 2" before draining out again.
This trap is designed to catch things that go down the drain... rings, earings, hair ect... just clean it out.
Draino can eventually eat through pipes if used enough times.

Answer 4

I've got the same problem and I'm calling the plumber. Drain cleaner might work but I doubt it. I've tried that already. You may need to get someone with a snake and run it thru the drain or there are other solution's I'm told. It's even been suggested that I run high pressure water in to the roof vent with the clean out cap off. Like it could be blocked between there and the clean out. I don't know but I'm gonna' let a pro figure it out.

Answer 5

Obviously it is partially clogged. The safest method (since I hate chemicals for this - too dangerous) is to run the water until the drain is covered then use a plunger with a strong up motion to pull whatever is clogging the drain out. Yes it will look disgusting (wear gloves) but it works. You can also do this with sink drains and a dishwasher drain. Just dedicate one plunger for that purpose, don't also use it in the toilet (that's even more disgusting).

Answer 6

Before trying Drano, did you take off the hair trap, and then stick a coat hanger (straightened out, of course), into the pipe, around the bend if possible. Usually, the coat hanger will pull out a huge hair-ball, which will be the source of your problem. Much cheaper and less caustic to the environment, compared to using "Drano" or "Liquid Plummer". (Although the hair-ball is yucky, be prepared with a plastic bag to dispose quickly and not have to view the contents)

Answer 7

there is probably a hair clog farther down- try getting a plumbers snake. If that drain is like mine- you may have to snake it out every couple of months.
Using the snake is gross but it is much better and more effective than Drano and other products like it- you will be amazed at the difference after using the snake.

Answer 8

No lenghty answer needed Folks. Have Snake Ran down the line. That's it!

Experience: Happened to me back in the day. And the Roto router guy found a TOY? I didn't have kids. It must have been from previous renter. Plus I have no idea how a toy got in the shower drain. Anyway................

Answer 9

I just recently had someone come out and clean out the pipes.
Boy do they charge a buddle for something you can do yourself.
Go to a hardware store and buy a snake or rent one.
They took my toilet up and went down into the pipes that way.
It may be that the owner of your apartment is responsible.

Answer 10

I just had the same problem in my shower. Went and bought BAM toilet bowel cleaner (you can use it for multi purposes) you pour it in the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes then rinse the shower. It worked great.