I. Introduction
Regardless, one of the most frustrating tasks keeping a bathroom clean is having a clogged shower drain often caused by hair. Hair may be long or short and will easily be trapped in the drain and may cause slow draining or, worse, a total blockage with weird smells emanating from the drains. Besides being a nuisance, it results in more severe plumbing issues, and the homeowners will be forced to spend more cash on the repairs if they are severe.
II. How Hair Clogs Shower Drains
It is a well-known fact that hair is lost while showering, and unfortunately, it is not just washed away with water. But, it usually gets trapped in any of the crossbars of the drain, the screen, or the P-trap. Periodically, these strands accumulate with soap scum, oils, and other substances, forming a rigid mass that restricts water passage. It forms a thick layer that hinders water flow and when the build-up is left to become massive, it will lead to water backing up in the shower area or bathtub.
Clogs arising from hair are particularly disadvantageous because the condition becomes degraded with each shower. The more hair entangle, the larger the mass accumulated in the plumbing system and this can lead to more complex problems such as leakage or damage to the pipes.
III. 5 Best Ways to Get Hair Out of Your Shower Drain
1. Use Baking Soda & Vinegar Prior to Plunging It
●Step 1: Open the drain and get ready to pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain.
●Step 2: Pour 1 cup of vinegar into the toilet bowl.
●Step 3: Allow the contents of the bowl to fizz for around 15 minutes.
●Step 4: Rinse the drain with hot water.
●Step 5: If the clog still remains, one should then use a plunger.
●Benefits: May be toxic when mixed with chemicals, safe to use on all types of pipes, good for small blockages that are not severe enough to require major drain cleaning.
2. Remove It with Tweezers
●Step 1: First take out the drain cover – this may involve unscrewing it first.
●Step 2: This next step involves using a light source to look for the obstruction in the drain.
●Step 3: It is advisable to pluck the hair with a special tweezer so as not to harm the skin around the area.
●Suitable for: Clogs which can be observed at and close to the surface.
●Tools needed: Tweezers, flashlight.
3. Purchase Snaking Device
●Types: Cable-operated rotary or motorized drain snakes.
●Step 1: Place the coiled end of the trap into the drain.
●Step 2: Rotate to free up or remove the clog.
●Benefits: Suitable for massive or tough drain blockage, not harmful to plumbing systems most of the times.
4. Unscrew the Shower Drain
●Step 1: Remove the drain cover by taking out the screws or using other tools as the case may be.
●Step 2: Use the snake or manually to access and remove the clog in the drain.
●Precautions: Needs a certain level of plumbing understanding to prevent harming the drain or any pipes.
●When to use: For more severe clogs that none of the previous techniques may get rid of easily.
5. Call a Professional
●When to call: For DIY that do not work in unclogging blocked drains or in severe cases.
●Benefits: Plumbers have the necessary tools and know how for dealing with stubborn drain clogs.
●Additional service: A check on the plumbing system for underlying problems.
IV. How to Avoid Hair Clogs in Your Shower Drain
1. Brush Your Hair Before Showering
●Purpose: Helps to eliminate all the shedding that would otherwise accumulate in the shower area and finally drain.
●Benefit: T Gallup noted that this approach minimizes the number of hairs that end up in the drain.
2. Observe proper Hair Management
●Types: Mesh screens, rubber caps or Mesh of the above designs.
●Installation: It must be placed over or inside the drain.
●Maintenance: Periodically stand to ensure that the drain is always free of obstruction.
●Benefit: The aim of these devices is the prevention of hair from clogging the plumbing system.
3. Flush Your Shower Drains Regularly
●Frequency: Once a week, preferably with hot water.
●Additional tip: Periodically, do a baking soda and vinegar flush.
●Benefit: Removes soap scum and also softens hair so that it does not collect and block the drain.
4. Avoid Oily Products
●Problem: This is because oily products form sticky clogs with hair.
●Solutions:
○Reduce the use of oily products when showering.
○Shower the drain well using hot water once you have used products with oil content in them.
○In this case, you should consider using products that do not create a buildup if there’s a better water-based option.
V. Conclusion
If one is then stuck with a shower drain clogged with hair, it is crucial to identify the type and location of the clog as this will determine the kind of approach most successful. Mild clogs can be easily handled when using baking soda and vinegar or pulling the hair clogs using a tweezer. Nonetheless, for tough formations, a snaking device or the assistance of a professional drain cleaning expert may be necessary.
Some of the ways that can be adopted in a bid to prevent hair clogs include, washing hair , installing a hair catcher, rinsing the drains often, avoiding hair products that are oily.
FAQs
1. How can one be sure to get rid of hair from a shower drain in the best way possible?
This is because the extent of obstruction determines the most efficient method of unblocking the drain. For minor blockages, two of the most effective products are baking soda and vinegar. More serious clogs may require the use of a snaking device or a call to a plumber.
2. Does baking soda and vinegar work for all hair clogs?
Unfortunately, baking soda combined with vinegar may be safe and useful for a majority of hair clogs, but it may not help in cases of severe and deep clogs.
3. How frequently do I need to clean my shower drains to avoid blockage by hair?
In general, it is suggested that you should clean the shower drain once a week to two, depending on the amount of hair that collects there.
4. Are snaking devices safe for use on different types of drainage systems?
Yes, snaking devices can be generally considered safe for most plumbing systems provided it is used appropriately. However, be careful not to bend them too much or twist them, or you may harm them; always refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
5. What makes the use of hair catcher in the shower drain a useful idea?
A hair catcher is an efficient and very simple device that helps not to let hair get into the drain and thus, makes cleaning much less problematic.
