Leaking Drain Under Basin Or Sink
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We can all agree that a leaking drain under basin or sink is one of the most common household plumbing issues. Kitchen and bathroom sinks,
Blocked Shower
G★★★★★
4.6 · 2,000+ Google reviews
4.6 · 2,000+ Google reviews
A slow or blocked shower is almost always caused by hair and soap scum building up in the drain. Our licensed plumbers clear the blockage completely and find out why it happened so it does not keep returning.
We can usually be there the same day across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, with upfront fixed pricing.
Why choose Same Day Trades for a blocked shower?
We are local, licensed and insured plumbers who do this work every day, so we get it right the first time, with no mess and no surprises on the invoice.
- Fully licensed and insured plumbers
- Upfront fixed pricing before we start
- Same-day service where we can, with 24/7 phones
- Workmanship guaranteed and the job left clean
- Servicing Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide
Whatever the job, you get honest advice and a tidy, professional result.
What’s more, our solutions aren’t temporary. We believe in investigating the issue in its entirety and providing a permanent solution. If you’re not convinced, all you’ve to do is go over to our website and see our previous clients’ positive reviews.
What causes a blocked shower drain
Shower drains block for a fairly predictable set of reasons, and almost all of them build up slowly over time:
- Hair, by far the most common cause, which tangles and traps everything else
- Soap scum, which coats the pipe and binds hair and debris together
- Skin cells, sand and grit washed down the drain
- Hard-water mineral build-up narrowing the pipe
- Tree roots or pipe damage further down the line
Hair and soap scum together are the usual culprits, forming a dense clog in the waste just below the drain that slowly chokes the flow until the shower starts pooling around your feet.
Signs of a blocked shower
A blocked shower rarely happens all at once, so watch for the early signs: water pooling around your feet and draining slowly while you shower, water taking longer and longer to clear afterwards, a gurgling sound from the drain, and a bad or musty smell coming from the waste. You may also notice the water level rising if you shower for a while. Catching it at the slow-draining stage means it is usually easy to clear; leaving it until the water barely drains at all, or backs up, means a more stubborn blockage. If your shower is draining slowly, it is best to deal with it before it blocks completely.
Why hair and soap are the main culprits
Hair is the arch-enemy of shower drains. Every shower sends strands down the waste, where they catch on the grate, the waste fitting and any slight roughness in the pipe. On their own they might wash through, but combined with soap scum they become a problem. Soap, especially bar soap, leaves a sticky, waxy residue that coats the pipe walls and acts like glue, binding the hair into a dense mat that traps still more hair, skin and grit. Over weeks and months this clog grows until it chokes the drain. This is why a simple hair catcher over the drain prevents the majority of blocked showers.
What you can try first
For a mild shower blockage, a few things are worth trying before you call:
- Remove the drain grate and pull out any visible hair and gunk, using gloves or a hooked tool
- Pour a kettle of hot (not boiling) water down to soften soap scum
- Try bicarb soda followed by vinegar, left to fizz, then flushed with hot water
- Use a cup plunger over the drain with enough water to seal it
Avoid harsh chemical drain cleaners, which can damage pipes and seals and are hazardous. If the shower still drains slowly after this, the clog is deeper and needs a plumber.
When to call a plumber
Call us if your shower will not clear after removing visible hair and plunging, keeps blocking, drains very slowly, gurgles, or smells, or if water backs up into the shower when you use another fixture. These point to a blockage deeper in the waste or the main drain that household methods cannot reach. A shower that repeatedly blocks usually has a build-up well down the pipe, or a pipe or root problem, that needs professional equipment to clear and diagnose. The longer a slow drain is left, the more solid the clog becomes, so it is better to call while it is still an easy job.
How we clear a blocked shower
We clear the blockage properly and find out why it happened, rather than just poking at it. Depending on the job we use:
- A drain machine (electric eel) to break up and pull out the hair and soap clog
- A high-pressure water jetter to scour the pipe walls clean of soap scum and build-up
- A CCTV drain camera to inspect the pipe and confirm the cause if the shower keeps blocking
Jetting is particularly effective on soap and hair because it washes the pipe clean rather than just punching through the clog, so it is far less likely to come straight back.
Hidden shower wastes and traps
Shower wastes are often harder to access than a sink, because the trap and pipework are hidden beneath the floor or behind the wall, sometimes under tiles. This is one reason clearing a stubborn shower blockage is best left to a plumber with the right tools, rather than attempting to dismantle the waste yourself and risk damaging the waterproofing or tiles. We can clear the blockage through the drain itself using an eel or jetter, avoiding any need to open up the floor. If there is a deeper problem with the trap or pipe, our camera shows us exactly what and where it is before we do anything.
Recurring blockages and tree roots
If your shower keeps blocking no matter how diligently you remove hair, the cause is usually a heavy build-up deep in the waste line, or a problem in the pipe further down, such as tree roots or a damaged section. Roots are drawn to drains and grow in through cracks and joints, catching hair and soap and causing repeat blockages. A camera inspection shows exactly what is happening, and we can jet the line clean, clear any roots, and if the pipe is damaged, repair it with no-dig pipe relining so the blockages stop returning.
Smelly shower drains
A smelly shower drain usually comes from hair, soap and skin rotting in the waste, or from a dry or faulty trap letting sewer gas through. If your shower smells even when it drains fine, the cause is often the build-up coating the pipe and waste. Clearing and jetting the line removes the rotting material and the smell with it. We also check the trap is holding water and sealed correctly, since a trap that dries out or is faulty will let odours up from the drain. If the smell persists after cleaning, it can indicate a venting issue, which we can investigate.
Blocked shower or blocked drain?
If only your shower is slow or blocked, the problem is usually in the shower waste or the pipe nearby. If your shower, toilet, basin and other drains are all slow or backing up at the same time, especially if using one makes another gurgle or rise, the blockage is in the main drain or sewer line, which is a bigger job. Either way we can clear it. Our drain repair and camera services let us diagnose and fix the underlying cause, not just the symptom, so you are not calling us back about the same drain soon after.
How to prevent a blocked shower
Most blocked showers are easy to prevent. The single best step is to fit a hair catcher or drain protector over the waste and empty it regularly, which stops the main cause of blockages before it starts. Beyond that, switching from bar soap to a liquid body wash reduces soap scum, and periodically flushing the drain with hot water helps keep residue moving through. Brushing hair before showering catches loose strands, and giving the drain grate a clean now and then stops gunk accumulating. These small habits save you the hassle and cost of a blocked shower down the track.
How much does it cost to clear a blocked shower?
A simple shower blockage near the waste is an affordable, quick job. Costs rise if the blockage is deep in the line, needs a drain machine or high-pressure jetter, or involves tree roots or a damaged pipe needing a camera inspection. Emergency and after-hours call-outs cost more than a standard appointment. Rather than guess, we assess the problem and give you an upfront fixed price before we start, so you know exactly what you are paying. If there is an underlying pipe issue, we will explain the options, including relining, so you can choose the best long-term fix.
Same-day blocked drain service
A blocked shower is more than an inconvenience, standing in a pool of dirty water is unpleasant and unhygienic, so we treat it as a priority. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, and we can usually get a licensed plumber to you the same day across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. We arrive with the drain machines, jetters and cameras to clear the blockage and find its cause in one visit, with an upfront fixed price before we start. Get your shower draining freely again fast, with a plumber who fixes the cause, not just the symptom.
Licensed, guaranteed drain plumbers
Clearing a blocked shower properly takes the right equipment and a licensed plumber who can reach the clog without damaging your tiles or waterproofing, and who finds the cause so it does not keep happening. Our team is fully licensed and insured, we clear the blockage, inspect the line and tell you honestly if there is a deeper issue. You get upfront fixed pricing, tidy work and a guarantee on what we do. For a plumber near you to clear a blocked shower, we cover Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Blocked shower FAQs
Why is my shower draining slowly?
Almost always a build-up of hair and soap scum in the drain or trap. Clearing it restores the flow; if it returns quickly, the blockage may be deeper.
How do I unblock a shower drain?
Remove the cover and pull out hair, plunge, and flush with hot (not boiling) water. If that fails, call a plumber.
Should I use a chemical drain cleaner?
Use them sparingly if at all. They can damage pipes and are bad for the environment, and rarely clear a solid hair-and-soap blockage.
Can I pour boiling water down the drain?
Use hot but not boiling water. Boiling water can warp or damage PVC pipes, which most Australian homes have.
How do you clear a blocked shower?
We use a drain machine or high-pressure jetter to clear the blockage, and a camera inspection if it keeps returning.
Why does my shower keep blocking?
Usually ongoing hair and soap build-up, but repeat blockages can mean a deeper issue like a sagging pipe or tree roots, which a camera inspection will find.
How much does it cost to clear a blocked shower?
A simple clear is affordable; deeper blockages needing a jetter or camera cost more. We give you an upfront fixed price first.
Do you offer same-day service?
Yes. We can usually clear a blocked shower the same day across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
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Why choose us?
Trusted Tradesmen
With hundreds of 5 star reviews, we’re the local tradesmen you can trust.
Transparent Pricing
We make sure you know exactly what you are paying for ahead of time.
Licensed And Insured
You’re in safe hands as our tradesmen are fully licensed and insured to do your job.
Workmanship Guarantee
Our work will be free of defects in workmanship and workmanship will be warranted for life.
Convenient Bookings
We offer convenient booking times that can be worked around your schedule.
Available All Hours
We take calls 24 hours a day and 365 days a year so that we’re always available to be of service.
Trusted Tradesmen
With hundreds of 5 star reviews, we’re the local tradesmen you can trust.
Transparent Pricing
We make sure you know exactly what you are paying for ahead of time.
Licensed And Insured
You’re in safe hands as our tradesmen are fully licensed and insured to do your job.
Workmanship Guarantee
Our work will be free of defects in workmanship and workmanship will be warranted for life.
Convenient Bookings
We offer convenient booking times that can be worked around your schedule.
Available All Hours
We take calls 24 hours a day and 365 days a year so that we’re always available to be of service.