Symptoms
- Water pools around your feet during a shower
- Drains fully but slowly after you finish
- Gurgling sound as it drains
- Slight odor near the drain
Likely causes
- CommonHair and soap scum buildup in the drainThis is by far the most common cause and builds up gradually with regular use.
- PossibleClogged P-trap under the drainDebris can lodge in the curved trap section just past the visible drain opening.
- PossibleBuildup further down the branch drain lineSoap and mineral scale can narrow the pipe over years, especially with hard water.
- Less commonMain line blockage affecting multiple fixturesIf other drains in the house are also slow, the clog may be further down the shared line.
What to do
- Remove the drain cover, usually held by one or two screws or a simple twist.
- Use a flashlight to look into the drain and pull out visible hair clumps with gloved fingers or a bent wire hook.
- Insert a plastic drain-cleaning tool (zip-style barbed stick) a foot or two down and pull out remaining debris.
- Pour a pot of very hot (not boiling on plastic pipe) water down the drain to help clear soap residue.
- If still slow, try a mixture of baking soda and vinegar followed by a hot water rinse after 15 minutes.
- For a deeper clog, use a hand auger (drain snake) fed a few feet into the line.
- Replace the drain cover and run water for a few minutes to confirm normal drainage.
Tools and parts
- Flashlight
- Gloves
- Plastic drain tool
- Hand auger (if needed)
Drain hair catcherSearch: “shower drain hair catcher”
When to call a pro
Call a plumber if snaking doesn't help or multiple drains in the house are slow at once, which suggests a main line issue.
Safety
Use caution
Avoid chemical drain cleaners in a slow shower drain; they can damage older pipes and are hazardous if they splash back.