Common Clogged Tub Drain Culprits

Posted by Radmin on May 17th, 2019

A slow or clogged tub drain makes a shower far less enjoyable and it can be difficult to take care of without the help of residential plumbers in Colma. Fortunately, you can often avoid problems with your shower drain if you know what the commons causes of a backed up tub are and how to prevent them. Here's what you need to know.

Hair

Perhaps the most obvious cause of a shower clog is one formed by hair and dead skin cells. This makes sense to most people because everyone loses both of these when bathing or showering. The hair and skin cells can stick to the sides of the pipes until eventually the pipe becomes cut off. Shampoo and conditioner that's rinsed down the drain can make the problem worse because it helps the hair stick together to form a stubborn clog that's difficult to flush down the pipes. Although it's impossible to prevent losing hair and skin cells in the tub, you can help reduce the amount that makes it down the drain by using a hair catching on top of the drain.

Soap

All the products you use in the shower like soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, and more are a great way to keep your body clean. Unfortunately, these same products don't work the same way with your drain and pipes. The products will often coat the pipes or make it easier for hair to stick in the pipes so you'll first notice the drain becoming slow until eventually it takes a very long time for the tub to drain. A good way to prevent this type of buildup is to periodically pour very hot water down the drain. Baking soda and vinegar can also help loosen this scum buildup.

Hard Water

Hard water is another cause of clogged drains that's a little harder to prevent without using a water softener to prevent the hard minerals from making it into your home in the first place. However, installing a water softener can often help prevent other plumbing problems as well.

Foreign Objects

Foreign objects can make it down shower drains, although it happens less frequently than with toilets. Residential plumbers in Colma often see bottle lids, razors, and small toys that make it into the drain and require plumbing services in Daly City to remove the blockage. A drain guard can help prevent this from happening.