Why is my shower not draining?

[StealthPolarBear]

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?

Well, it seems to have worked and I can confirm that the gunk most definitely comes UP, and if you are quick you can grab it. We had a razor cover (previous tenants as it isn't one of ours) come up, so that won't have helped!!

Well, here I am in my 42nd year on this planet, and finally, I've plunged new depths a shower!

Have you tried caustic soda?

Cme back to read this thread and my -at least 2 of you are having such fun this Valentine's day
To confirm - if the blockage is near the top it will prob come up - and yes you have to grab it before it disappears again. If it's near the bottom, go out and check the drain after plunging and you might see some sort of hairy gunk sitting winking at you
Be a bit careful with the kitchen sink as over vigorous plunging can force water through the joints in the u-bends underneath so as well to put a bowl there.
Have funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

Ok, so it didn't drain that well when I showered this morning, but a marked improvement on having half an inch of water around my feet. Suspect I need another go at it!

OK, I've taken the plunge today, nothing came up but there was a lot of gurgling in the basin. Is this good or bad?

Shower tomorrow morning will be the real test

Caustic soda? A response would be nice.

Sorry, I don't have caustic soda.
I have soda crystals but someone up above ^ cautioned against this....

I am going to have a go as I get out of the shower tomorrow morning...

jalopy - I usually use cautic soda and water which works for a while but the blockage either builds up again or moves back into place so used a two pronged approach today.

Have used caustic soda in the past but don't know if it really worked. Think it's supposed to be good as dissolved dead skin cells, food gunge, fat etc but don't know about hair. I personally like to see the product of my blockage!!!

Almost as satisfying as the Amateur Arse Doctor thread

Caustic soda is powerful stuff. It will dissolve hair and other gunk. You've got to be careful using it, though.

caughtinanet, how was your shower?
Ours was FANTASTIC
So even though nothing came up, it obviously dislodged something
Going to start on the sinks next :o
(The clean everything...urgh)

I believe we have an improvement... re-plunged and very little gunk came up compared to yesterday, so hopefully it has broken up/flowed down now. Still not the fastest though, but not filling the shower tray at least!

Our shower is at ground level (we live in a bungalow) - wonder if having virtually no "drop" might be a factor?

Heartened to hear these happy tales of MNers taking the plunge.

Anon, I would imagine gravity would have a lot to do with it, yes. Also the angle of the pipes underneath, the shower tray at my parents house used to drain badly, when they replaced the bathroom it turned out that the pipe underneath was positioned almost horizontally (no idea if this is normal or not).

SPB - sadly I have to report that I'm rather underwhelmed.

There was a definite improvement in the drainage but not perfect by any means. I think I need to repeat the process and hopefully clear the blockage.

The problem is that it just seems to build up again, I think its my hair which seems to fall out loads.

I'm all for plunging and perhaps you could try a long stiff yet bendy wire with a hook on the end? Happy fishing
sooo satisfying
horrific.

excellent news Anon
what a shame, caught. Maybe you just weren't truing hard enough!! :o