Is this normal? Walk in shower

[DreamThrum]

I recently moved into a house with a walk-in shower, I've always had a shower over a bath before. It seems like I'm having to clean the drain really frequently, like every 6 weeks or so, otherwise it starts getting blocked. And cleaning this drain is the worst job known to man. It's not really getting blocked up with hair so much, it's mainly mould. I'm wondering if this is normal for a walk-in shower? Or if there could be something non-ideal about how it's been installed.

I use to live in a place with a walk in shower and bath in the bathroom.

The shower would get regularly clogged with hair not mould, and I would have to take the plug apart to clean it out.

The annoying thing was no-one took a bath so the bath was cleaned to remove a layer of dust every few weeks.

I'm not sure. I need to put a bottle of drain unblocker down about once every two months.

I just pour a bottle of drain unblocker when the water starts to not run out so quick, before it actually gets blocked. It might be every 2 months but I just buy a new one in my weekly shop when I've used it. So it's there for next time.

I clean ours out every couple of weeks or so, before it gets manky and mouldy. No need for strong chemicals then.

We clean ours every three months but put bicarb and white vinegar down every 6 weeks which keeps it clean and unclogged.

@mommybear1

We clean ours every three months but put bicarb and white vinegar down every 6 weeks which keeps it clean and unclogged.

Does this clear mould? How much of each do you use?

Is this a specific thing with walk-in showers, something to do with the low profile tray? Because I've had a couple of cubicle showers in the distant past, and numerous over-bath showers, and I've needed to pull some hair out occasionally, but I've never had to deal with big chunks of mould until this shower.

The gradient for the waste pipes is usually not as steep in a walk-in shower. A shower with a tray will normally have a streeper drainage angle.
One of those form over function modern trends.
Wet rooms fill me with fear of hidden damp issues.

Yes, I get this with my shower. I clean the hair out on a weekly basis but I think some hair gets trapped in there and mixes with lumps of hair conditioner and soap scum.

Wet rooms fill me with fear of hidden damp issues

The only place I had a wet room I was living on my own but I couldn't have worked out how to unclog the drain. Luckily it only started blocking just before I moved out.

I have a walk in shower with tiled floor and in built drain. I have to clean hair out of the drain about once a month. There’s a bit of mould when I do, but not much, just a little around the edges of the drain cover. So this doesn’t sound normal to me OP.

Is there a blockage further down maybe that means water is sitting there for a long time? Or do you use any unusual products that mould likes to live on??

Is it mould or that grey slimy scum that is leftover soap/shampoo?

@minipie

I have a walk in shower with tiled floor and in built drain. I have to clean hair out of the drain about once a month. There’s a bit of mould when I do, but not much, just a little around the edges of the drain cover. So this doesn’t sound normal to me OP.

Is there a blockage further down maybe that means water is sitting there for a long time? Or do you use any unusual products that mould likes to live on??

I don't think there is a blockage, as it flows freely once I clean the wretched drain. The only slightly unusual product we use is shampoo bars, not sure if they are associated with mould.

@ChristinaBlang

Is it mould or that grey slimy scum that is leftover soap/shampoo?

I guess soap scum is the foundation of it, but there is definitely mould involved, it's black rather than grey.

A bath drains far more quickly than a shower due to pressure when you pull the plug out. Also, a shower drain has a trap so there’s always water in it.
I clean mine out every 2 weeks and it can be pretty grotty. There’s only 2 of us and we dont have a bath.