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Do you have to call in a plumber every month for your shower drain issues?

If you have answered ‘yes’, then read the article given below and find out the main causes of a clogged shower drain.

1.  Long, Hot Showers

Since we tend to shower every day, we think we know exactly how to do it. However, there are many bad habits that we are unconsciously practicing while taking our routine shower.

A lot of people take long, hot showers after spending a tiring day at the office. The drain issues arise if these showers become a regular practice. However, this doesn’t mean you cannot take long therapeutic showers occasionally.

A long hot shower creates a perfect environment for mold and fungus growth. Thus, you might notice irregular mold growth in your drain or in the bathroom itself.

Solution

Keep your bathroom ventilated, especially during shower time. This means you should keep the window open and the fan switched on. There shouldn’t be excess humidity in the washroom. You may require opening the bathroom door after the shower. Other than this, try to minimize your shower time. Ideally, it should only be around 10 minutes. Or you should avoid using hot water as it clogs the drains. If the issue continues, call a professional plumber.

2.  Hard Water

Hard water can ruin your water pipes and drains. It contains sulfate and phosphate minerals that can block the nozzles of your shower head. You would have noticed the dry and flaky substance located on your shower head. That’s hard water residue.

Solution

Instead of taking it lightly and ignoring the residue, you should wipe your shower head with vinegar. This will ensure a smooth flow of water in the drain and pipes. There are some other methods of cleaning shower drains as well. You may use those to prevent any blockage formation.

Call a plumber to check the hardness of the water. They may recommend using a water softener if the pH level of water will be too acidic or alkaline.

3.  Hair in the Drain

This is one of the most common problems with the shower drain. When you take a shower, hair roots become weak, causing lots of hair fall. Longer showers cause more hair fall, and weaken your roots further. This hair will gather in the drain and accumulate over time, causing severe blockages if the issue continues. Hair combined with oil, soap, and conditioner residue becomes oily and greasy. It can completely block your shower drain, preventing the water from going through.

Solution

If you are currently facing this issue, then you should call a professional plumber to provide drain cleaning service.

If you want to avoid this issue in the long run, you need to make sure that hair doesn’t go down the drain. There are various drain covers easily available in the market. You should cover your shower drain with it. It will collect hair and then you can easily pick up and discard of the fallen hair.

4.  Bacteria Filled Loofah

We hang our loofah near the shower after we’re done using it. It might seem like the perfect place to store this shower accessory, so you can easily reach for it the next time you shower. However, it might be causing some hidden troubles for you. When you are taking a shower, the warm and wet environment with increased humidity speeds up the growth of bacteria and mold. Given this, when you scrub your body with that bacteria-filled loofah, you are inviting diseases. Thus, your shower loofah can cause shower drain issues by providing the ideal condition for mold to grow.

Solution

After taking the shower, take your loofah and allow it to dry completely. It should be placed in a dry place until your next shower. Other than this, before using it on your body, make sure to wash it with an antibacterial soap, so that it becomes clean and free from bacteria.

You can also opt for drain cleaning in Forth Worth to avoid the issue.

5.  Water on the Floor

We do not leave standing water on the floor in the kitchen or any other room in our home. However, there’s standing water in our bathroom. Leaving the water on the floor can cause various issues such as destroying the grout, wrapping the floor, and creating the conditions for mold growth.

Solution

You can use a shower mat to collect excess water. Make sure to use a water wiper after taking the bath. If you find unexplainable standing water on your bathroom floor, call a professional plumber as it can indicate a serious plumbing issue.

6.  Sand, Dirt, and Debris

Even though this issue isn’t common for every household, it can block your shower drain easily. If you go to the beach often, or have kids who like playing outside in the sand, then you should be careful about sand, dirt, and debris accumulation in your shower drain.

Solution

Use a strong water flow to make the sand, debris, and dirt flow quickly from the drain to pipes without causing any blockage. However, you should try to rinse it once outside your homes with a hose or a beach shower. The purpose is to remove some of the dirt and debris before bringing it into the shower, where it can damage the delicate drainage system. You may also call a plumber for drain cleaning.

7.  Trash

Another common reason for shower drain issues is trash. Be careful with razor coverings, toothpaste caps, shampoo caps, and other small items that can fall into your shower drain.

Solution

Its solution is covering your shower drain with a drain cover. If something has got stuck in your drain, immediately call a professional plumber in the Fort Worth, TX area.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth  is a professional plumbing service with a team of well-trained and qualified plumbers in the Fort Worth, TX area who can solve all your plumbing issues. We are available 24/7. Get your shower drain inspected by us and get expert advice from the professionals.