A blocked drain in the bathroom or shower is the most common "minor" plumbing issue in an apartment. Usually it is hair and soap to blame, not "something serious with the pipes." That is why 70% of cases can be solved without a plumber, as long as you know what to unscrew.
What builds up in bathroom pipes
- Hair — the main "building material" of clogs in the tub and shower trap. It knots into felt, and soap and shampoo stick to it.
- Soap and shower gels — greasy emulsions that harden on the pipe wall like a layer of plasticine.
- Sand and sediment — if there are kids in the family and beach trips, this is a category of its own.
That is why in the bathroom blockages are almost never "sudden" — they build up for weeks. Water drains slower and slower, then stops altogether.
What to try yourself
- Remove the trap grille or the tub drain strainer. Often the whole hair clump is right there and can be pulled out with tweezers.
- Check the trap. Under the tub, if accessible — the trap unscrews by hand. Place a bucket. Remove the "cup" and rinse.
- Plunger. Fill the tub with 3–5 cm of water, cover the overflow with a wet cloth, work the plunger over the drain. 10–15 strokes.
- Hand snake of 3–5 m — feed it through the drain, past the first bend after the trap. Turn clockwise.
If all four steps fail, the clog is further down the pipe (past the trap) or in the shared outlet. That is plumber territory.
What not to do
- Pouring boiling water into a plastic pipe — joints can leak. Into metal, it is fine.
- Using concentrated alkaline cleaners "just in case" — they can damage PVC pipes and seals, especially if you then immediately try a snake: the caustic will splash in your face.
- Dismantling the tub "just in case" to reach the trap — if the trap is behind a closed panel, let the plumber decide whether removal is needed.
How the plumber works
- Runs the drains with an electric snake 5–10 m long — breaks up the hair ball and deposits.
- If there is grease buildup on the walls (in a stack shared with the kitchen), hydro jetting will be suggested.
- Replaces the trap if the old one is falling apart — plastic traps last 7–10 years.
- Checks the outlet into the stack — often it is not the tub itself but the pipe under the floor that is blocked.
Prices
- Tub or shower drain cleaning with a snake — ILS 250–400
- Dismantling and replacing the trap — ILS 300–450
- Cleaning with hydro jetting — from ILS 600
- With tub panel removal or under-tray access — +ILS 150–300
Frequently asked
Why does the tub smell like sewer even when there is no blockage?
The trap has most likely dried out — this happens when the shower or tub has not been used for a while. Pour a few litres of water through and the smell goes. If it stays, there may be a cracked trap or an incorrectly installed outlet.
Do drain tablets and gels actually help?
As prevention — yes, once every 2–3 months they remove grease film and soften hair clumps. But once water is not draining at all, gel only works on the top layer and usually does not reach the plug — use a snake instead.
The shower drain empties slowly even though we just finished a renovation — is that normal?
No, it is almost always an installation mistake: either the wrong pipe slope or construction debris (cement, grout) left in the drain. Call a plumber and show the contract with the renovation crew — this is often a warranty issue.
Can I just pour in "Krot" and forget about it?
In plastic pipes in the tub or shower — better not. Concentrated alkalis soften seals, and if reagent-laden water stays in the pipes, it slowly eats into the system. Mechanical cleaning is safer.