How do I get the air out of my shower drain?

Stand well back and pour a kettle of boiling water into the shower tray. When it hits the granules they will violently bubble and force a mini explosion of acid down the pipe. You will hear it bubbling away on the way down the drain. You might even get a fountain of crud coming back up out of the trap.

How do you fix a sluggish shower drain?





Slow Shower Drain? Here’s How to Fix It

  1. Pour Boiling Water Down the Drain. Right out of the gate, you’ll want to boil some water to pour down the drain. …
  2. Use a plunger. …
  3. Try Baking Soda and Vinegar. …
  4. Unclog the Drain By Hand. …
  5. Use a Plumber’s Snake. …
  6. Try Chemical Cleaners. …
  7. Call an Expert.

Why is my shower taking forever to drain?

Slow drains are caused by clogs created by soap buildup, hair, and other gunk blocking the drain. However, you don’t need to call the plumber right away, as you do have options available to you to address slow shower drains before you rack up a plumber bill.

How do you fix a slow-draining tub?

Six Ways to Fix a Slow-Draining Bathtub

  1. Use baking soda and vinegar (the natural alternative to chemicals).
  2. Use a plunger.
  3. Use a commercial (chemical) clog remover.
  4. Remove the drain stopper to inspect and gain access.
  5. Use a plumbers’ snake.
  6. Call a plumber.




Can plunging make a clog worse?

Attempting to force a clog through a toilet with a plunger can often make the problem worse. Instead, create a seal and slowly push down on the plunger before pulling it back sharply. The suction can help pull the clog back up toward the bowl, breaking the blockage and allowing gravity to take over.

Can you use a plunger on a shower drain?

A plunger can also clear shower drain clogs. Remove the drain cover and put the rubber cup of the plunger over the drain opening. Apply some petroleum jelly to the edge of the cup if you have trouble getting a good seal. Then run enough water in the shower stall to cover the lip of the cup.

Can Coca Cola unclog a drain?

Coke. Coke is a lesser-known fix you can find in your refrigerator. Pour a 2-liter bottle of cola — Pepsi, Coke, or generic brand substitutes — down the clogged drain. Coke is actually quite caustic and effective at clearing away buildup in your drains, but it’s far milder than commercial drain cleaners.

What is the best product to unclog a shower drain?



Best Overall: Drano Max Gel Clog Remover

This brand is known for its effective and affordable drain cleaning products, and the Drano Max Gel is one of your best options when you need to unclog a shower drain. This gel comes in an 80-ounce bottle, and it’s safe to use on PVC, metal pipes, and even septic systems.

How do you unclog a bathtub with standing water with a plunger?

1 Method 1 of 2: Plunging the Drain

  1. Clear all the blockage from the drain. …
  2. Remove all standing water from the sink or tub. …
  3. Clear the overflow drain if there is one, then plug it with a rag. …
  4. Begin plunging the drain, pushing in and out. …
  5. Run hot water down the drain for 5-10 minutes to clear any other blockages.


Is it OK to use a plunger on a bathtub?

You can easily unclog your bathtub drain with a standard cup-style plunger, but you have to seal the overflow drain first. Tubs essentially have two drains: There’s the familiar one at the bottom of the tub that you close to fill up the tub with water.

How do you unclog a shower drain naturally?

Follow these easy steps to unclog your drain:

  1. Start by pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain.
  2. Next, pour a cup of baking soda and 1 cup water/1 cup vinegar solution.
  3. Cover with the drain plug and wait 5 to 10 minutes.
  4. Pour boiling water down the drain again.

Will bleach unclog a drain?



Although you can use 1/5 to 3/4 of a cup of bleach to clean and deodorize drains, followed by a good flushing of hot water, it will not clear a clog. Bleach is amazing at sanitizing and killing germs, but it won’t eat through hair and soap scum that’s trapped in the pipes and causing a clog.

What eats through hair in a drain?

Bleach is a “basic” chemical and hair is “acidic”. The neutralization reaction between an acid and a base produces a salt and water. Bleach can dissolve any fiber that has acidic properties. Next time you have a bathroom sink, shower, or bathtub draining slow try pouring a cup of liquid bleach into the drain.

Does boiling water unclog a drain?

Try Using Boiling Water to Fix a Clogged Sink

If you have metal pipes, you can try to loosen the clog with hot water—very hot. Pouring a pot of boiling water directly down the drain into the trap may dissolve the clog, especially if it consists of soap scum or grease.

Can I pour vinegar down the drain?



Vinegar is both safe and beneficial to pour down your drain. It acts as a natural cleaning solution and can remove blockages and harmful bacteria that cause foul odors.

Will vinegar hurt PVC pipes?

The answer is that vinegar will not harm your pipes if used in small doses as recommended in many of the recipes that you find online. No matter what your pipes are made of, pex, pvc, copper, etc. Vinegar will not harm your water pipes.

How do you dissolve hair in a drain?

Use Baking Soda & Vinegar Before Plunging It Out: Baking soda and vinegar can be an extremely effective way of dispatching many clogs, and hair clogs are no exception. For best results, start by squirting a little dish soap into your drain, followed by a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda.