A shower that drains slowly is almost always hair tangled with soap scum. In Temecula the scum part is worse than in many places, because hard water reacts with soap to form a thicker, stickier film. Rancho California Water District's imported supply averaged about 15.7 grains per gallon of hardness in 2021.
Step 1: remove the drain cover
Most covers unscrew or pry up. Pull out any hair you can see. A plastic barbed drain tool from a hardware store reaches a few inches further and costs a few dollars.
Step 2: hot water and dish soap
Pour a squirt of dish soap followed by a kettle of hot (not boiling) water. Soap cuts the film; heat softens it. Boiling water can soften PVC joints and crack porcelain.
Step 3: plunger
Use a flat cup plunger. Cover the tub overflow with a wet rag so pressure goes down the drain, then plunge firmly 15 to 20 times.
Step 4: small hand auger
A quarter-inch hand auger reaches the trap. Feed it in, turn it to grab the hair, and pull it out. Run hot water for a minute afterward.
What not to use
Skip caustic chemical drain openers. They rarely dissolve hair, they generate heat that can damage older ABS and PVC joints, and they make it hazardous for whoever opens the drain next.
When it is not just the shower
| What you notice | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Only the shower is slow | Hair and soap in the shower drain |
| Shower and tub in the same bathroom slow | Shared branch line |
| Water comes up in the shower when the toilet flushes | Main line backup |
| Several fixtures slow at once | Main line or lateral |
If water rises in the shower when you flush or run the washer, stop using water and call. That is a main line problem, and the shower is just the lowest drain. See drain cleaning.
Preventing the next clog
- A mesh hair catcher over the drain.
- Hot water down the drain once a week.
- A water softener reduces soap scum everywhere.
If the clog keeps coming back, a camera inspection finds the cause. Read about hydro jetting for recurring buildup.