Tired of taking a shower and being ankle deep in a murky, soapy pool of unpleasant looking water? If your shower water is draining slowly, or not draining at all, it’s a sign your shower drain is clogged.
A clogged shower drain may be caused by a small blockage or a major obstruction in your main sewer line. It’s important to determine the source of the blockage as it could cause extensive damage over time. When a drain cleaner, like Drano, doesn’t work to unclog your drain, and you’re continuing to wade in a puddle of water, it’s time to call a professional.
Here are some of the common causes of clogged shower drains:
Mineral Deposits
Most Arizona residents know we have some of the hardest water in the United States. Hard water has a high percentage of calcium and magnesium ions dissolved in it. Studies have shown the Phoenix Metro area has water hardness, measured in grains per gallon, ranging from 12 to 18 grains. Considered by water quality guidelines to be exceedingly high hardness and without a properly functioning home water softening system, mineral scaling over time on the insides of your pipes will cause drain clogs.
Hair
When you take a shower you naturally shed hairs and millions of dead skin cells. Hair and skin cells can wrap around waxy deposits or stick to grease from soap or even dirt. Over time these hairs and dead skin cells can stick to the walls of your drainpipe causing shower drain blockages.
Soap
You’re probably well acquainted with a white chalky residue on the shower surface. It’s not just an eyesore. A build-up of soap scum from the fats and wax in soap combined with minerals, dirt and hair, can cause the drain to clog and be a serious plumbing problem.
Tree Roots
Believe it or not, tree roots are a common cause of drain clogs. Tree roots in search of water sometimes grow into small underground pipe cracks over time obstructing the flow of water. A big problem you can’t fix yourself.
Smells
An unpleasant smell may emanate from your drain. This is another sign of a blocked drain, caused by the debris clogging the inner walls of the pipes. Large drain blockages may cause bathroom flooding or leaks due to standing water seeping through shower joints. Shower caulking or grout may weaken allowing standing water to migrate into the shower walls resulting in serious, costly damage.
If your shower drain repeatably clogs, and chemical drain cleaning products don’t resolve the problem, call a professional. These drain cleaning chemicals may seem like an inexpensive easy fix, but continued use of these caustic chemicals can damage your shower fittings, pipes, contaminate the environment, and be hazardous to your health. Cool Blew has years of experience dealing with shower drain maintenance, drain cleaning, and main line sewer blockage repair. Call Cool Blew today at 623-872-2900.
