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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Why is my shower not draining?

42 replies

StealthPolarBear · 14/02/2011 12:02

It's very odd - the water backs up until about 5 minutes into the shower, when it's as if someone has "pulled the plug" and it drains away, and tends to run freely from then.
Obviously we've de-haired the drain, put unblocker/bleach down, sometimes helps, sometimes doesn't, but if it was blocked it wouldn't ever clear, would it? Same as if the water pressure was just too high. So what can be causing this?

OP posts:
MackerelOfFact · 14/02/2011 12:08

Have you tried plunging? I love plunging. Maybe there's a layer of slime or something which only gives way to water when there's a certain amount of weight bearing down on it?

bobs · 14/02/2011 12:10

Try plunging - I got the most enormous hairball out the last time I did it - way down where fingers can't reach!

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 14/02/2011 12:25

OK, two votes for plunging can't be wrong - off to buy a plunger :o

Mackerel - yes, that's exacly the sort of thing! This all started when we had the really cold weather, so we actually wondered if there was a layer of ice forming in the pipes that took a few mins to defrost

OP posts:
MackerelOfFact · 14/02/2011 12:33

Listen to me, I sound like I have a clue what I'm talking about - I don't! But plunging never fails to work for me, and I am always fascinated by the grot that emerges!

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 14/02/2011 12:34

Yes, I'm quite excited about the thought of a good plunge :o
Pleased I'm not pg though - that sort of thing would have sent me racing for the toilet

OP posts:
LilQueenie · 14/02/2011 12:36

same problem a while ago. Plunging wouldnt shift it. In the end a pipe was removed to get the blockage futher along.

LoveInAColdClimate · 14/02/2011 12:37

I also recommend plunging - we had recurrent problems with our shower not draining and spent a fortune on hideous chemical products to try to unblock it, none of which worked for more than a few weeks. Then finally tried plunging it (which I had foolishly imagined could not possibly work) and it has been fine for absolutely months now.

Anonymousbird · 14/02/2011 12:47

Ok, am a plunging virgin, but my shower is also slow to drain... I had assumed if you "plunged", the blockage simply eventually kind of broke up and washed away. All these posts suggest that the gunge is going to miraculously appear before me?!?!? Is that right?! It comes UP the shower drain?

Any particular tips on technique, or just go for it and plunge vigorously????

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 14/02/2011 13:03

I'm back and ready to plunge!

Will let you know how I get on

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 14/02/2011 13:16

well, I plunged
It made som interesting gargling noises (as did the sink Hmm and a tiny amount of gunge came up, but not enough to explain a blockage
Am I not doing it right?
Should I just carry on and plunge for longer?

OP posts:
caughtinanet · 14/02/2011 13:19

I too have shower drainage issues and I am now inspired to plunge but like anonymousbird I thought plungers pushed the stuff down rather than sucked it up.

Anonymousbird · 14/02/2011 13:57

Where do I buy a plunger? Homebase?

caughtinanet - if I can get one on the way to school, I'll report back later on!!!

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 14/02/2011 13:59

yes, they should have one i imagine
we have a village general sho which sells everything- was £1.09! It's the place i went when i needed pipe cleaners a few years ago...the sorts of things you'd otherwise have no idea where to get them from

OP posts:
fridayschild · 14/02/2011 14:01

will plunging work in the bathroom sink too?

I'd hate to miss out on all the fun!

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 14/02/2011 14:05

that was going to be my next job!

So seriously - have we reached a consensus? Up or down? Because if it's up, I'm doing something wrong

OP posts:
MackerelOfFact · 14/02/2011 14:10

OK, when I the plughole needs a good plunge, I run the hot tap and stick down either some soda crystals, or bicarb followed by vinegar and wait for about 10 minutes. Flush it through again with hot water (boiling is best) and then fill the basin/tray/bath so that the rubber bit of the plunger is just about immersed in water.

Then, plunge vigorously! Keep going until you feel satisfied that there is unlikely to be anything left.

This method is purely anecdotal however.

MackerelOfFact · 14/02/2011 14:11

I find plunging the bathroom sink to be less effective because the contours of the basin are to steep for the plunger to get good purchase on the porcelain.

Anonymousbird · 14/02/2011 14:13

!!!!!! Mackerel

Well, I have soda crystals, that does sound like it's worth a go!!

Oh, this is so romantic. What a day I'm having, worrying about my soil pipe and now getting ready to plunge my shower. Cor.

Silly thing is, if I sort it before DH gets home, he'll be more impressed than if I'd bothered with a nice meal, bottle of wine etc.. (which I'm not doing, so the plunging had better work damn it!)

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 14/02/2011 14:16

Mine too :o
It is dishwasher day too, and I have a snotty letter to write to the window-fitting people, if I can get all tha done DH will be so impressed
better get off my arse & stop MNing realyl

OP posts:
LessNarkyPuffin · 14/02/2011 14:16

Be careful using soda crystals with plastic pipes.

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 14/02/2011 14:18

TBH I was so pleased when he replaced the bulb in my headlight yesterday - is this middle age then? Flowers and chocolates replaced with sink plungers and headlight bulbs?
Maybe I should service the hoover too - make his year!

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/02/2011 14:21

my shower is the lowest thing in the house. When is started not draining properly tried all the usual, but nothing worked. So just lived with a slow draining shower. A few months later we had to get dynarod out as our sewer was blocked all the way to the street. It just showed up first in my shower.

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 14/02/2011 14:22

new thread about valentine's day!

OP posts:
MackerelOfFact · 14/02/2011 14:30

Ooh I serviced the hoover the other day! I had to call my Dad to tell my how to get into it, but it was strangely satisfying to discover that the odd noise eminating from the motor was caused by clump of hair underneath the belt thingy that rotates the brush bit.

Seriously, men make out they do all these jobs because they're technical and difficult, but in reality it's because they are BLOODY FUN.

Anonymousbird · 14/02/2011 16:55

Shit, SPB, I need to live where you live. £4 in frigging Homebase!

Anyway, not been brave enough to try yet... get the DC fed first I think