Stagnant water drains very slowly or doesn’t drain at all from your shower. If water sits in your shower drain, a blockage might be the cause for it. This is a common problem seen in most households over time and has easy fixes that you can DIY.
Why does water sit in the shower drain?
Clogged drains are usually what lead to water sitting in the shower. External elements like soap scuds, hair, and dirt can clog drains. Mineral build-up can add to this issue if you live in an area with a hard water supply. Once the drain and pipe below get clogged, it causes water to “sit” in the shower as it drains slowly or not at all.
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Is my shower drain normal?
Yes, your shower drain is normal. Almost all drains can trap dirt and hair that goes down them. But, over time, without routine clean-ups, the drain can get clogged. This happens in pretty much all showers at some point.
What Causes Standing Water In My Shower?
There can be multiple reasons why there is standing water in your shower. Is there usually a lot of dirt that gets cleaned up in the shower? Does someone at home have long hair? Do you live someplace that uses hard water? How long has it been since you last cleaned out your shower drain? One or more of these questions might provide the answer to your question. Frequently washing dirt and hair down the shower drain can cause clogs faster than usual. In addition, a hard water supply can cause calcium build-up in the drain. This build-up accumulates over time and causes blockages. Multiple or frequent blockages can indicate a more severe problem in your pipelines.
How Do I Know If My Shower Drain Is Clogged?
Water taking a long time to drain after the shower stops running is a tell-tale sign of a blockage. If you see water sitting for several minutes or not draining completely, it may be due to a clogged drain. Likewise, if you observe strange odors coming from your drain, it could mean your drain is clogged. Severe cases of blockages can also cause the bathroom to flood. Promptly fixing this issue will prevent standing water from seeping into your floor tiles and causing further damage.
How to Fix a Shower Clog
Shower clogs can be easily fixed with simple solutions. The following methods can prove effective if you don’t want to take a plunger to your drain
1. Boiling Water
In minor blockages, pouring boiling water down the drain does the trick. It loosens the build-up and aids the free flow of water. Doing this regularly can also prevent drains from getting clogged.
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2. Baking Soda and Vinegar
If boiling water doesn’t do the trick, try pouring half a cup of baking soda, followed by half a cup of vinegar down your drain. The mixture will froth up and dislodge any filth stuck in your drain. Finally, flush it away with some hot water. You may need to repeat this step a few times before you see improvement.
3. Drain-Cleaning Products
Lastly, there are many inexpensive chemical drain-cleaning products available in the market. These solutions eat through the accumulated gunk and clear out the water passage. Usually, results appear within a few minutes. But, frequent usage of such products can damage pipes in the long run. In addition, the fumes from the chemicals can also be a health hazard, and you should use them carefully.
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Wrapping Up
A clogged shower drain is easily spotted with tell-tale signs. Such signs include water sitting in the shower or unpleasant smells from the drain. Stagnant water due to a clogged shower drain is a common household issue. In most cases, such clogs can be easily fixed and prevented. But, if you see the problem recurring more often than normal, it might be more severe than you think. In such cases, it is wise to call your plumber and get the sewer lines checked before the problem escalates.
