Drain Cleaning
Clogged shower and bathtub drain repair
A slow shower or tub is nearly always hair bound with soap residue, caught at the strainer, the tub stopper or the trap just below it. Pulling it out with a plastic drain tool fixes most cases. If the shower backs up when you flush a toilet or run the washer, the clog is in the main line, not the shower.
- Independent licensed local plumbers
- The plumber gives you a price before work starts
- Free referral, no obligation
Shower and tub traps sit close to the drain opening, so the blockage is usually within arm's reach of a barbed plastic strip. Tub drains add a complication: a trip-lever stopper has a linkage inside the overflow pipe that collects hair where you cannot see it, and it has to be lifted out through the overflow plate.
The shower is often the lowest drain on a floor, which makes it the place a bigger problem shows up first. Sewage or gray water appearing in the shower pan when other fixtures are used means the shared drain is blocked downstream.
When you need clogged shower or tub drain
- Water pools around your feet and takes minutes to clear
- The tub drains slowly even with the stopper fully open
- You have pulled hair from the drain and it is still slow
- Water or sewage rises in the shower when a toilet is flushed or the washer drains
- There is a sewer smell from the shower drain
How it is done and the choices involved
- 1
Clear the strainer and stopper
The cover or stopper is removed and the hair mass pulled out. On a trip-lever tub the linkage is drawn out through the overflow and cleaned.
- 2
Cable the trap and branch
A small hand or drum cable goes through the drain or the tub overflow to clear the trap and the pipe beyond it.
- 3
Check for a main-line cause
If other fixtures are involved, the plumber tests them and clears the main from a cleanout instead of working on the shower.
- 4
Repair what the clog revealed
A stopper that no longer seals, a corroded drain shoe or a leaking trap found during the work can be replaced at the same visit.
What affects the cost of clogged shower or tub drain
Prices vary by market and job. The pro gives you a price before starting; these factors drive it.
- Clog at the stopper or trap versus further down the branch
- Tub with an overflow linkage versus a simple shower strainer
- Whether the main line turns out to be the cause
- Access to the trap, especially for tubs on a slab or with no access panel
Clogged Shower or Tub Drain FAQ
Why is my shower drain backing up when I flush the toilet?
The toilet and shower share a drain line, and it is blocked past the point where they join. The flush has nowhere to go, so it comes up at the lowest opening, which is the shower. This needs main-line or branch-line cleaning rather than work on the shower itself.
How do I get hair out of a shower drain?
Remove the strainer or stopper and push a barbed plastic drain strip down, then pull it back slowly. Repeat until it comes back clean, then flush with hot water. Avoid pushing a wire hanger into the trap, which can scratch or puncture older pipe.
Why does my shower drain smell?
Either hair and soap are decaying in the trap, or the trap has dried out in a shower that is rarely used and is letting sewer gas through. Clean the drain, then run water for a minute. A smell that persists can point to a venting problem.
Can a clogged shower drain cause a leak?
Standing water can find its way past a failed drain gasket or cracked shower pan and stain the ceiling below. If a stain appears after showers, mention it; the drain connection may need resealing as well as clearing.
Part of drain cleaning
Clogged Shower or Tub Drain is one job within drain cleaning. The main page covers the warning signs, the full process and what you can safely do yourself.
Need help with clogged shower or tub drain?
Call (833) 520-4758 to reach an available local pro.