Plumbing advice
How to unblock a bath or shower
14 Jun 2018 • 2 minutes
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If the water in your bath or shower isn’t draining properly, or at all, chances are there’s a blockage. It could be a build-up of scum and/or hair in the drains. It’s quite a common problem that can be easily fixed – here’s what you need to know to get things back to normal.
Be careful – Warning!
Care needs to be taken when attempting to plunge a bath as most have combined overflows which are often concealed under the bath. These can sometimes pop off, potentially flooding the bathroom.
Some showers have spill-over wastes which cannot be accessed with a wire, and if chemicals are used such as acid-based chemicals this may eat through the bottom of the waste. This could cause damage and upheaval as most shower wastes are inaccessible without lifting the floor or the ceiling below.
Table of contents
What you will need
- Gloves
- Hanger or metal wire
- Bucket
- 15tbl Bicarbonate of Soda
- 100ml White Vinegar
- Boiling water to flush the pipe (be careful!)
Instructions: How to unblock a bath or shower
You will need 20 minutes to complete this task.
- Wear gloves!
For your safety, please make sure you’re wearing rubber gloves.
- Clearing the blockage
Try and clear out any waste using a hook. Whether it’s a wire bent into a hook shape or a coat hanger, try and scrape out some of the gunk causing the blockage.
- Bicarbonate of Soda
A simple and effective drain cleaner can be made using things you might have around the house and it won’t damage the pipes in the process! Take 1 cup of bicarbonate of soda and put it into the blocked pipe, followed by pouring 1 cup of white vinegar shortly after. Once the fizzing has stopped, flush out the pipe with boiling water.
Alternatively – Drain Cleaner
We see chemical drain cleaners as a last resort because they are poisonous when swallowed, can burn the skin and potentially damage pipes. You can purchase chemical drain cleaner from most DIY stores if you choose to go with this option.
How to stop your plughole from getting blocked?
As a prevention technique, use a drop-in hair trap which sits over the plughole in your bath/shower to collect any loose hair that could cause a blockage. They are relatively cheap to purchase and reusable.
Still not fixed? We can help
If you’re still having problems with your bath or shower plumbing, just give us a call and we’ll come out and help. Contact our repairs team.
Don’t let a burst pipe or blocked drain slow you down. Take out plumbing and drainage cover and get access to a nationwide network of trusted engineers.
About the author
Proud mother to two boys, an avid DIY-er and interior design fan. Laura is always busy writing about ways to make everyone's lives easier - whether it's the odd how-to guide, life hack or general home inspiration.About the author
Proud mother to two boys, an avid DIY-er and interior design fan. Laura is always busy writing about ways to make everyone's lives easier - whether it's the odd how-to guide, life hack or general home inspiration.Related Articles
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