Clogged Shower Drain: How to Clear Hair Clogs and Keep Them Away

Standing water in the shower is usually a hair clog within a few inches of the drain cover. Remove the cover, pull the clog, and use a snake only if needed.

By Kadir Özbek · Updated

Short answerMost shower clogs are hair and soap within the first few inches of the drain. Remove the drain cover, pull out the clog with a plastic barbed strip or needle-nose pliers, then flush with hot water. If that does not work, a small hand auger will reach a clog in the trap.
Difficulty
Easy
Time
15–45 minutes
Typical cost
$0–$25

A shower that leaves you standing in water is one of the most common drain complaints in any house. Unlike a deep sewer problem, a shower clog is almost always close to the surface, because hair, soap and conditioner residue bind together just under the drain cover. With the right approach you can clear it in less time than it takes to wait for the water to drain.

How a shower drain is built

Under the drain cover is a short vertical pipe leading to a P-trap below the floor, which you cannot see without access from below. Many shower drains have a cross-shaped strainer just under the cover, which is where hair collects first. Tub-shower combinations have a different setup: a stopper mechanism in the tub drain and an overflow plate on the end wall, which also connects to the drain.

Diagnose the clog

  1. Water drains slowly and you can see hair under the cover. Clog at the strainer. Start with Fix 1.
  2. Cover is clean but water still pools. Clog further down, usually in the trap. Go to Fix 2.
  3. Toilet gurgles or water rises in the tub when you flush. The problem is in a shared drain line. See “When to call a plumber”.
  4. Water drains fine but smells bad. Gunk in the drain body or a trap that has dried out in a rarely used shower. Clean the drain and run water regularly.

Fix 1: Remove the cover and pull the clog

  1. Remove the drain cover. Some pop off with a screwdriver, some have one or two screws, and some twist out.
  2. Put on gloves. Pull up visible hair with needle-nose pliers.
  3. Slide a plastic barbed drain strip down the drain as far as it will go, then pull it back slowly. It will bring up most of the hair tangle.
  4. Repeat until the strip comes back clean, then run hot tap water for a minute.
  5. Reinstall the cover.

For a tub with a stopper, remove the stopper (many lift and twist out) and clean the hair wrapped around it before using the strip.

Fix 2: Use a hand auger

If the strip does not reach the clog, feed a small hand auger down the drain, turning the handle as you push. When it meets resistance, keep cranking to grab or break up the clog, then pull the cable back slowly. On a tub, you may get better results running the auger through the overflow opening after removing the overflow plate, because it avoids the stopper parts.

A cup plunger can also help for a shower stall. Fill the base with an inch or two of water to cover the plunger cup, seal it over the drain, and plunge firmly a dozen times. On a tub, cover the overflow opening with a wet rag first or the pressure escapes through it.

Skip the chemical drain openers

Chemical openers are tempting, but they can splash, may not reach a hair clog, and leave caustic water standing in the shower if they fail. In homes with septic systems, the EPA specifically advises avoiding chemical drain openers and using a drain snake or boiling water instead, because the chemicals can kill the bacteria the system relies on. With a hair clog, mechanical removal is the more reliable fix anyway.

Prevent the next clog

  • Install a hair catcher over the drain and empty it after each shower.
  • Brush long hair before showering so less of it goes down the drain.
  • Every few weeks, remove the cover and pull out what has collected before it compacts.
  • Run hot water for a minute after showers with heavy conditioner or oil-based products.

Common mistakes

  • Pushing the clog deeper. Pull the clog out rather than forcing it down with a coat hanger.
  • Scratching the finish. Metal augers can scratch acrylic and fiberglass; wrap the cable where it enters the drain.
  • Mixing chemical products or plunging after using one.
  • Losing small screws from the drain cover. Put a rag in the drain while you work.

When to call a plumber

Call a plumber if water backs up in the shower when you use the toilet or washing machine, if several drains are slow at once, if the auger cannot clear the clog, or if you see water damage on the ceiling below the shower. These are signs of a blockage in a shared or main drain line, or a leak in the drain itself, which need professional equipment and possibly access from below.

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