There is nothing more frustrating than looking forward to a nice hot bath or shower and finding it’s not working properly. Whether your bath or shower is completely blocked or is simply taking a long time to drain, something needs to be done to ensure you can get back to your normal routine.

The Problem

Bath or shower blockages

If your bath or shower overflows, the damage could be costly and troublesome to clear up. The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to call in the professionals to help. If the blockage isn’t too severe, it’s something which you may be able to deal with on your own.

How to unblock a bath

Get the Right Equipment

Before you begin, make sure you’ve got a pair of rubber gloves close by. When it comes to blockages in the bathroom you never know what the cause could be, but there is a good chance you don’t want to be getting too much of it on your hands!

Clear the Blockage

The first thing to try is to pour a solution down the plug hole in the hope of breaking down whatever it is that’s causing the blockage. Do this by pouring a small amount of baking soda down the drain, followed by a small cup of white vinegar. The result will be a relatively small chemical reaction which you’ll be able to hear as the solution bubbles away, breaking down any debris which is caught in your drain. If this does the trick, flush through gently with warm water. Avoid using any chemicals such as caustic soda to clear a blocked drain as these can be harmful if they come into contact with skin. Residue from heavy chemicals can remain present on the exposed area of a drain, presenting a hazard for several hours after use. If you wish to use a small amount of bleach to help clear your drains then make sure that you read and follow the advice given on the back of the bottle to ensure that you and your family stay safe.

Clear the Drain

While breaking down the debris is always a good place to start, sometimes it isn’t enough to tackle the problem head on. This method might allow water to pass once again, but it’s always a good idea at this stage to clear the drain fully, even if only to prevent future blockages. If you remove the panel on the side of your bath or shower, this will reveal a U bend similar to that which you may find under your kitchen sink. More often than not, a blocked bath or shower is caused by a build-up of grease or gunk in this bend of piping.

You should be able to remove the U bend with relative ease, ensuring that you have something to catch any water when the pipe is removed. The U bend can then be cleaned thoroughly by hand. Be sure not to run any water through the plug hole until the pipe is replaced.

Get Some Help

Sometimes a blocked shower or sink can be difficult to deal with. If you’re not confident in dealing with pipes and drainage systems then give us a call at J&F Drainage on 07758 088472 / 01253 428865 and we’ll be round to help you solve the problem.