The worst is when you take a shower, and the dirty soapy water starts to rise above your ankles.
So frustrating, when you’ve tried using a plunger, that doesn’t work, or Liquid Plumber and that doesn’t work. The other part is to have to wait for a drain guy or plumber, particularly if your that kinda DIY person. We’re also going to cover some of the most common questions we get when it comes to shower drain repairs & odors.
Well, we know your ankle deep,so let’s get right in it, Twin Home Experts are here to help.
Tools needed
- Dry/wet shop vacuum
- Flashlight
- Paper towels
- Rags
- Channel lock / pliers
- 4-in-1 screwdriver
- Small bucket
- Rubber gloves
- Long flat screwdriver
Steps
So, the first thing is to extract the standing water from your shower pan using your shop vacuum.
The next step is to remove the top drain cover. Be careful so you don’t strip the top of the screw, and use WD40 if you need to.
The third step, use your flashlight to see how much and what is compacting the drain, it should be just right there like the video posted above.
The 4th step is to place the vacuum firmly against the top of the drain and extract the debris from inside the line.
You may have to use a long flat screwdriver to stir things loose, then use the vacuum again.
The 5th and final step is to turn the water on and test, run the water for a good 2 minutes using hot water.
At this point, if the clog was right there above the P trap, you’ve got it.
Twin tips
If the water starts to back up, then the clog is further down the line, which at that point a roto rooter cable will be needed.
What causes shower drain stoppages?
Twin Home Drain Experts have cleared more than 3,200 shower clogs.
We have seen causes from massive hair and soap, to broken cast iron pipes.
How much do plumbers or drain cleaning companies charge?
This ranges here in Los Angeles, any where from $34 to $225.
Our average price to clear drains runs around $89 for soft stoppages and $189 for more severe compaction.
Check around, there some of our competitors who are charging really low prices, but be cautious, they have other motives to sell you something.
We always recommend getting a second opinion when it comes to repairs.
How do I know if I have a shower drain pipe that’s broken?
Some of the signs are:
- Sewer odors
- Water seepage / Leak from slab, ceiling, or crawl space
- Very slow drainage
- Mold growth around base molding or flooring
- Constant clogs, you clear it and it comes right back days later
What happens if my shower drain is broken?
With drain technology today, we have more options now than we did when we first started our Plumbing business in 1982.
We can perform direct lining, coat the line with an epoxy or worst case manually do the repair.
How much does a shower drain repair cost here in Los Angeles?
When it comes to cost, this really depends on a few factors.
What drives cost up can be things like difficult access, depth, how far the pipe is broken, how much concrete or shower pan will have to be removed.
On average, you can expect a range of $350-$3,200.
Can a drain camera detect the break?
Yes, but there are some restrictions with passing the P-trap. But most often this is a great way to investigate drain problems.
My Los Angeles plumber said he couldn’t find a break with sewer camera, what the next method?
Here at the Twin Home Experts, we are huge believers in our UV non-toxic smoke test -this is almost a guarantee to detect breaks in any drain line.
My shower drains well, but I have a horrible smell?
This can be several factors, the inner pipe walls have compaction and it’s off gassing the biofilm.
This is an indication that deep cleaning is needed, particularly if you lived in a home prior to the 1970’s. The original cast iron pipe collects a lot of build up over years of usage.
Conclusion
You certainly can do your own shower drain clearing with our 5 easy fast steps.
If you need a second opinion, please feel free to contact the Twins today.
