Showers & Bathtubs

Urgent

Easy DIY

Shower Drain Clogged

Standing water in shower due to clogged drain

Estimated Time

20-40 minutes

Urgency Level

Urgent

Tools Required

3 items

Problem Overview

Standing in ankle-deep water while you shower isn't just unpleasant. It's a clear sign that your shower drain is clogged and needs attention. Shower drain clogs build up gradually as hair, soap residue, and body oils combine to form a sticky blockage inside your drain pipe.

Hair is the primary culprit in most shower drain clogs. A single person loses 50-100 hairs per day, and many of those end up washing down the drain. These strands wrap around existing debris and soap scum, creating a net-like barrier that catches more material with every shower. Over time, this mass grows until water can barely pass through.

Soap scum makes the problem worse. Traditional bar soap contains fats that mix with minerals in hard water to create a sticky, waxy substance. This coating clings to pipe walls and hair strands, turning what would be a minor slow drain into a complete blockage. Body wash and shampoo can contribute too, especially products marketed as "moisturizing" since they contain oils.

Common Risk Factors

Long hair (especially curly or thick hair that sheds more visibly)
Hard water that creates mineral buildup and soap scum
Older galvanized pipes with rough, corroded interiors
Showers without drain covers or hair catchers
Use of bar soap instead of liquid body wash

Signs & Symptoms

Shower drain problems rarely happen overnight. Most clogs develop over weeks or months, giving you plenty of warning signs before the drain stops working completely.

Early Warning Signs

Slow drainage: Water takes several seconds to drain instead of disappearing immediately
Pooling water: Water collects around your feet during showers
Gurgling sounds: Air trapped by the clog creates bubbling noises as water drains
Visible hair: You can see hair strands around the drain opening or just inside the drain

Advanced Clog Indicators

Water stands in the shower pan for several minutes after you turn off the water
Foul odors coming from the drain (decomposing hair and soap buildup)
Multiple drains in your bathroom backing up simultaneously
Water backing up into the shower when you use the sink or toilet
Complete blockage where no water drains at all

If you notice water backing up in multiple fixtures, the problem likely extends beyond your shower drain into the main drain line. This requires professional diagnosis.

DIY Solutions

Tools You'll Need:

Drain snake
Plunger
Gloves

Safety First

Avoid chemical drain cleaners. They damage pipes, create toxic fumes, and rarely work on hair clogs. Never reach into drains with your bare hands. Always wear rubber gloves when handling drain debris.

Step 1: Remove Visible Hair

Start with the simplest fix. Remove the drain cover using a screwdriver (most shower drains have one screw in the center). Look down into the drain with a flashlight. You'll often see a clump of hair wrapped around the crossbar or just below the opening. Use needle-nose pliers or a bent wire hanger to grab and pull out the hair mass. This alone fixes the problem about 40% of the time.

Step 2: Use a Drain Snake or Zip-It Tool

For clogs deeper in the pipe, use a plastic drain cleaning tool (like Zip-It) or a small drain snake. These inexpensive tools have barbs that catch hair. Insert the tool straight down into the drain, push it as far as it will go (usually 10-20 inches), rotate it slightly, then pull it back out slowly. The barbs will grab hair and pull it up with the tool. Repeat several times until you stop pulling up debris.

Step 3: Try Baking Soda and Vinegar

After removing hair mechanically, flush the drain with this natural cleaner. Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain opening with a wet cloth to contain the fizzing reaction. Wait 30 minutes, then flush with a kettle of boiling water. This breaks down soap scum and body oil residue that contributes to clogs.

Step 4: Weekly Hot Water Flush

Pour boiling water (or very hot tap water) down the drain once a week to prevent future clogs. Hot water melts soap scum and body oils before they can accumulate. Let the shower run at its hottest temperature for 30 seconds after each use to help keep pipes clear.

Step 5: Use Enzyme-Based Cleaners

Monthly treatment with enzyme drain cleaners helps prevent buildup. These products use bacteria that digest organic matter like hair, soap, and oils. Pour 2 ounces down the drain before bed, let it work overnight, and flush with hot water in the morning. Unlike chemical cleaners, enzymes are safe for all pipe types and won't damage your plumbing.

What Doesn't Work

Plunging shower drains (they're designed to drain continuously, so you can't create proper suction)
Liquid chemical drain cleaners (they flow past hair clogs without dissolving them)
Pouring bleach down the drain (it doesn't break down hair or soap scum)
Ignoring slow drains (they only get worse and become harder to fix)

When to Call a Professional

Most shower drain clogs respond to DIY methods, but certain situations require professional expertise. Call a licensed plumber when:

Multiple drains affected: If your sink, shower, and toilet all drain slowly, you have a main sewer line issue that needs professional diagnosis and specialized equipment
Recurring clogs: If the drain clogs again within weeks of clearing it, there's a deeper problem like pipe damage, improper slope, or tree root intrusion
Water backing up elsewhere: Water appearing in the shower when you use other fixtures indicates a venting problem or main line blockage
DIY methods failed: If snaking and natural cleaners don't work after multiple attempts, the clog is too deep or severe for DIY tools
Foul sewage smell: This indicates decomposing material deep in your drain system or a venting issue that needs professional attention
Very old plumbing: Homes built before 1970 may have galvanized pipes that are corroding from the inside, requiring camera inspection

A professional plumber has tools you don't, including motorized drain augers that reach 50+ feet into your drain system and video cameras that can diagnose problems without tearing out walls. The cost of a service call is almost always less than the damage caused by a persistent drainage problem.

What a Professional Will Do

Professional plumbers have several methods for clearing stubborn shower drains that go beyond what homeowners can do. Here's the typical process:

Inspection and Diagnosis (10-15 minutes)

The plumber will test your shower drain and check other fixtures in the bathroom to determine if this is an isolated clog or a larger drainage problem. They'll ask about your plumbing history and inspect the drain opening for obvious issues. For recurring problems, they may recommend a camera inspection to see inside the pipes.

Motorized Drain Auger (20-30 minutes)

Most pros start with a professional-grade motorized snake. This tool has a flexible cable up to 50 feet long with a rotating cutting head. The plumber feeds it down through the drain opening, and the rotating head breaks through hair clogs and scrapes away buildup from pipe walls. This method clears 90% of shower drain clogs.

Hydro-Jetting (For Severe Clogs)

For severe buildup or recurring clogs, plumbers use hydro-jetting equipment that blasts high-pressure water through the pipes. This completely removes soap scum, mineral deposits, and grease that snaking alone can't handle. The pressurized water scours pipe walls clean, restoring them to near-original flow capacity. This solution costs more but prevents clogs from returning for years.

Video Camera Inspection

If clogs recur frequently, the plumber may recommend running a waterproof camera through your drain lines. This reveals underlying problems like damaged pipes, improper slope, or collapsed sections that cause repeated backups. The camera footage shows exactly where problems exist and what repairs are needed.

Follow-Up Testing

Before leaving, the plumber will run water through the drain for several minutes to ensure proper flow and verify the clog is completely cleared. They'll typically provide maintenance recommendations to prevent future clogs.

Prevention Tips

Preventing shower drain clogs takes minimal effort but saves you hours of frustration and hundreds of dollars in repairs. Build these habits into your routine:

Install a Hair Catcher

This single step prevents 90% of shower drain clogs. A drain cover with small holes or a mesh screen catches hair before it enters the pipe. Products like TubShroom sit inside the drain and collect hair around a post in the center. Clean the catcher after every few showers by pulling off the collected hair and rinsing it. These inexpensive devices cost $10-15 and last for years.

Brush Hair Before Showering

Brushing removes loose hairs that would otherwise wash down the drain. This simple habit reduces the amount of hair entering your plumbing by 50-70%. Keep a brush in the bathroom as a reminder.

Weekly Maintenance

Pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain to melt soap scum and body oils
Clean your hair catcher and remove any visible hair from the drain opening
Run hot water for 30 seconds after each shower to flush debris through pipes

Monthly Deep Clean

Once a month, treat your drain with enzyme cleaner or the baking soda and vinegar method. This breaks down accumulation before it becomes a clog. Do this even if the drain seems fine. Preventative maintenance is much easier than clearing a fully blocked drain.

Switch to Liquid Soap

Bar soap creates more scum than liquid body wash or shower gel. The fats in bar soap react with minerals in hard water to form a sticky residue. Liquid products rinse away more completely, reducing buildup in pipes.

For Hard Water Homes

If you have hard water, consider installing a water softener. Hard water accelerates mineral buildup in pipes and creates more soap scum. A softener prevents these issues throughout your entire plumbing system, not just the shower drain.

Cost Estimates

Understanding the costs helps you decide whether to tackle the problem yourself or call in a professional. Here's what you can typically expect:

DIY Costs

Plastic drain cleaning tool (Zip-It): $3-8 at any hardware store
Small hand-crank drain snake: $15-30 for basic models
Hair catcher drain cover: $10-15 (TubShroom or similar)
Enzyme drain cleaner: $8-15 per bottle
Baking soda and vinegar: $5 total for multiple treatments

Total DIY investment: $10-50 depending on tools you already own. Most shower drain clogs can be fixed for under $20 with basic tools and supplies.

Professional Service Costs

Basic drain snaking: $100-275 for a single shower drain
Average service call: $150-350 including diagnosis and clearing
Hydro-jetting: $300-700 for severe buildup or recurring clogs
Camera inspection: $100-300 additional if recommended
Preventative maintenance: $200-400 for annual service

Hourly Rates

Most plumbers charge $45-150 per hour depending on your location and the complexity of the job. Urban areas and emergency calls cost more. Simple shower drain clearing typically takes 30-60 minutes, so expect labor costs of $50-150 for straightforward jobs.

When DIY Makes Sense

Try DIY methods first if this is the first time the drain has clogged, you can see hair near the drain opening, and water is draining slowly but not completely stopped. These situations usually respond to simple hair removal and natural cleaners for under $20.

When to Call a Pro

Professional service makes sense when DIY methods have failed after multiple attempts, clogs recur every few weeks, or multiple drains are affected. The $150-350 service call saves hours of frustration and ensures the problem is properly diagnosed and fixed. If you need camera inspection or hydro-jetting, the specialized equipment alone justifies the cost.