- A
- B
- C
- D
- Determine the right diameter of a drain cleaning cable
- Differences of rak and ROWO / ROTHENBERGER drain cleaning machines
- Drain cleaners - Application and operation
- Drain cleaning cable & co. - terms and intended use
- Drain cleaning cable or chemical pipe cleaner?
- Drain cleaning cable: function and correct application
- Drain cleaning device or drain cleaning cable - which is better?
- Drain clogged: how to remove a drain blockage in the siphon
- Drain stinks - what to do?
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- X
- Y
- Z
- #
Clean blocked drain in shower and bathtub
Cleaning the drain in the shower or bathtub is often a particular challenge, as the siphon is not freely accessible, unlike the sink. The siphon is located under the shower tray or, accordingly, under the bathtub. As in the washbasin, it serves as an odour seal to the sewage pipe and is therefore indispensable. At the same time, foreign bodies, especially hair, settle in the bend due to its U-shape and make the water run off poorly. The good news is: If the siphon is the cause of the drain blockage, it can be removed relatively easily. The first step depends on which model of siphon is installed.
TIP: If the water not only drains badly in the bath or shower, but also in the washbasin, the blockage is located at such a low point in the pipe that the drains from the shower, bath and washbasin are already connected. Therefore, carry out the drain cleaning with the appropriate drain cable from the washbasin, as it is much easier to remove the siphon there and get into the pipe on the wall.
Drain blockage in older showers & baths
Old shower trays and bathtubs often have a classic siphon installed, as we know it from the washbasin. These shower trays and bathtubs can be recognized by the fact that they sit slightly higher than the floor in the bathroom. The drain usually consists of a classic strainer with 6 holes. There is a slotted screw in the middle. This must not be opened.
ATTENTION: Never open this inner screw in the drain to clean the pipe! This is because the drain is screwed to the shower tray or bathtub with the screw with a seal. Unscrew the screw, which also loosens the drain from the tub. The seal is often broken and must be replaced, otherwise water can seep through between the tub and the drain. This water then does not end up in the drain pipe, but in the brickwork or on the floor below the shower or bathtub, and can cause serious water damage there!
If the drain blockage sits in the siphon of the shower or bath, use our specially designed, very simple siphon cable. It is only 6mm wide, 40cm long and extremely soft and flexible. It is noticeably softer than our 6mm x 1.5m version due to the thinner wire. The small wire tip is completely sufficient to loosen hairs and even pull them out. Because it is very narrow at 6mm, it also fits into the small holes of the drain strainer.
If a clogged siphon of an old shower or bathtub is not the problem, the drain blockage behind it must be removed. Since the necessary pipe cleaning spirals usually do not fit through the siphon, it must unfortunately often be dismantled to get to the blockage. The showers or bathtubs usually have a so-called inspection opening for this. These are tiles attached to the side of the drain, which are removed to reach the siphon. The best way to find them is by knocking: Since the space under the tile is hollow, the inspection opening can be clearly identified acoustically by hollow knocking.
These tiles are for example secured by simple metal hooks, but can also be glued. If these metal hooks are bent to the side, the tiles can be removed and the siphon will come out. This can now be removed. The drain cleaning cable is then led into the exposed pipe. When assembling the system, it is important to note that the seals may need to be replaced. If in doubt, observe the siphon for a few days to see if there are any leaks.
Drain blockage in modern showers & baths
Modern showers and bathtubs have a flat siphon. You can recognise these shower trays and bathtubs by the fact that they are almost floor level. The drain is not a "classic" model with a visible strainer, but usually covered with a round, chromed plastic cap that can be pulled off. The visible drain has a plastic trap that sits inside. This can be pulled out and cleaned. In the now completely exposed drain, you can feel with your hand where the opening for the drain pipe is located on the side. For hygienic reasons you should wear rubber gloves. A drain cleaning cable can be inserted into the side opening if the blockage is deeper. The best way to do this is to use a drain cable with drill tip or a drain cable with brush. We will also show you how to do this in this video for our drain cleaning cable with brush:
Never loosen screws, even with a flat siphon, as the drain is also attached to the drain pipe and leaks can occur!
Further instructions on how to clean the pipe with drain cleaning cables and how to remove drain blockages can be found in our Guidebook on how to properly use a drain cleaning cable.
