Shower blocked/clearing

[leakingroof]

Hi,

Having issues with my shower drain trap. When the shower starts the water is slow to drain and the water starts building up in the tray. After a few minutes suddenly the drainage increases and all the water built up in the tray will drain within a few seconds. Normal Good drainage is resumed for a few seconds before it starts backing up again and tray starts filling up.

There is no set time to this and the water doesn’t seem to drain away when the water level rises to the same level Everytime. It seems completely random. Sometimes it the drainage is just slow and the build up in the tray never fully drains.

I have tried every product I can get my hands on incase it is a blockage and I have checked the drain trap for usual hair etc

Any help would be appreciated

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

I'd suspect either partial blockage or a dip in the waste pipe. Water builds up as it cant get away quickly enough until it gets to a point where the pipe fills and induces syphonage, which then rapidly empties the tray, before the suction breaks and the process repeats itself.

 

[leakingroof]

I'd suspect either partial blockage or a dip in the waste pipe. Water builds up as it cant get away quickly enough until it gets to a point where the pipe fills and induces syphonage, which then rapidly empties the tray, before the suction breaks and the process repeats itself.

Do you know of any decent drain unbloxkimg products? I have used most of the off the shelf ones I can find

 

[HERTS P&D]

Try a wet vac, £40 from wickes.

Andy

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Chemicals may not have a lot of effect, I certainly wouldn't use them, partly as they're dangerous and partly as I dont think they're very good at cleaning out pipes. If the water is still flowing, albeit slowly, then the chemical can just pass over whatever the restriction is. Full pipe, byt the time its got to the point of the blockage, it may be so dilute its nigh on useless.

Mechanical means are superior, either try a wet vac, as Andy has suggested or a Plumber's 'Snake'. Either way, wear full arm protection, stout gloves and eye protection is a must, any trace of chemicals remaining can have catastrophic results if you get it on yourself.

 

[BoilerBob]

I’d check the pipes first to make sure the fall is ok. Bob

 

[Madrab]

What kind of access do you have to the trap/pipework from the shower?

 

[leakingroof]

What kind of access do you have to the trap/pipework from the shower?

None. I would have to cut the plaster/plasterboard in the kitchen below

 

[Madrab]

You can try a plunger to start with. Fill the tray up with a bucket of water and catch it before it all drains away and then plunge to see if you can move whatever is causing the restriction. cheap as chips