Clogged shower drains are a nuisance. They prevent the water from draining efficiently and leave you standing in a puddle of water. In extreme cases, they will even stop the water draining altogether. You’ll be left needing an emergency plumber and going without your shower that day.
The good news is that this doesn’t have to be the case. It is easy to avoid hair clogs in the first place, you simply need to adopt the right techniques.
It should be noted that hair loss is normal. The average human will lose 50-100 hairs per day, while you can try to catch hair and prevent it from going down the drain, the truth is that you are unlikely to catch all of them.
- Add A Hair Catcher
Hair catchers are small traps that sit inside your shower drain. You simply lift your shower drain out, the middle part should be removable. Then, slide the hair catcher in and replace the drain. The water will pass through the catcher and it will collect all hair and other debris. You can then lift the trap out and empty it into the bin.
Just remember to do this regularly or the hair catcher will become the clog.
- Flush All Your Drains
A simple, yet effective, trick to eliminate hair in the drains is to flush all your drains at the same time. This pushes lots of water through the drain system and forces any hair and other debris through the pipes and into the main drain or your septic tank.
You’ll need to fill all the sinks in the house and then release them all at the same time. That means having some helpers. It’s not the most environmentally friendly solution but it will prevent hair clogs from occurring.
- Get A Plunger
Plungers are generally reserved for when you have a blockage. But, they don’t need to be. If you use a plunger on the shower drain before it becomes clogged it will help to release any hair and debris built-up in the drains.
The trick when using the plunger is to ensure it seals around the drain and to use slow even strokes. This will create the pressure needed to shift the debris in your pipes.
- Baking Soda & Vinegar
Harsh chemicals can damage the inside of your pipes although they are usually good at removing blockages. Instead of using these, try a natural alternative. You will need to drain any standing water out of the shower tray. Then, sprinkle the baking powder into the drain and leave it to settle for several minutes. This will help it to find the hair blockage.
After a few minutes pour some vinegar down the drain, the two substances react and create lots of bubbles. In effect, a mini-explosion will clear the pipes of debris and all the hair.
It’s simple, effective, and a natural solution.
It’s worth noting that, even if you use the above techniques to clear the hair clog, you should still get your plumber to check everything is working properly. Prevention is better than cure.
