What dissolves hair in a shower drain?

Products that genuinely dissolve hair are strong caustics that also attack seals and older pipes, so they are best avoided. Mechanical removal wins: a plastic barbed drain stick costs a few dollars, hooks the hair mat directly, and takes about a minute. Prevention is even cheaper, since a simple hair catcher over the grate stops the mat forming at all.

How do I know if my main sewer line is blocked?

Look for symptoms at more than one fixture. A toilet that gurgles when the shower runs, a shower that backs up when the washing machine empties, or an overflowing floor waste at the lowest point of the house all point to the main line. A single slow shower with everything else draining normally is just a local hair blockage.

How much does it cost to unblock a shower drain in Sydney?

Clearing hair from the grate yourself costs nothing beyond a drain stick. If a plumber needs to machine-clean the line, a standard drain clear in Sydney typically runs $150–$350, with a CCTV camera inspection around $200–$400 on top if the blockage keeps returning and the pipe needs a proper look.

Can I use a wire coat hanger to unblock the shower?

You can, but it tends to scratch chrome grates, push the mat further down, and occasionally wedge itself in the trap. The plastic barbed strips sold at hardware stores grip hair far better, flex around the bend, and cost less than a coffee. If a tool is going more than arm's length into the pipe, the job belongs to a plumber.

Why does my shower drain smell even when it is draining fine?

Usually biofilm, the slimy layer of soap and bacteria coating the pipe and the underside of the grate. Scrub the grate and the first reach of pipe, then flush with hot water and detergent. If the smell persists in a shower that is rarely used, the trap may have dried out and just needs a jug of water to reseal it.

What dissolves hair in a shower drain?

Products that genuinely dissolve hair are strong caustics that also attack seals and older pipes, so they are best avoided. Mechanical removal wins: a plastic barbed drain stick costs a few dollars, hooks the hair mat directly, and takes about a minute. Prevention is even cheaper, since a simple hair catcher over the grate stops the mat forming at all.

How do I know if my main sewer line is blocked?

Look for symptoms at more than one fixture. A toilet that gurgles when the shower runs, a shower that backs up when the washing machine empties, or an overflowing floor waste at the lowest point of the house all point to the main line. A single slow shower with everything else draining normally is just a local hair blockage.

How much does it cost to unblock a shower drain in Sydney?

Clearing hair from the grate yourself costs nothing beyond a drain stick. If a plumber needs to machine-clean the line, a standard drain clear in Sydney typically runs $150–$350, with a CCTV camera inspection around $200–$400 on top if the blockage keeps returning and the pipe needs a proper look.

Can I use a wire coat hanger to unblock the shower?

You can, but it tends to scratch chrome grates, push the mat further down, and occasionally wedge itself in the trap. The plastic barbed strips sold at hardware stores grip hair far better, flex around the bend, and cost less than a coffee. If a tool is going more than arm's length into the pipe, the job belongs to a plumber.

Why does my shower drain smell even when it is draining fine?

Usually biofilm, the slimy layer of soap and bacteria coating the pipe and the underside of the grate. Scrub the grate and the first reach of pipe, then flush with hot water and detergent. If the smell persists in a shower that is rarely used, the trap may have dried out and just needs a jug of water to reseal it.

Drains

How to unblock a shower drain

By Terry, licensed plumber (Lic L10959) · 16 April 2026 · 4 min read

Quick answer

Hair is the usual culprit. Remove the grate, pull out visible hair with gloved fingers or a cheap plastic drain hook, then flush with hot water. Follow with a plunger if water still pools. If several drains gurgle or back up at once, the blockage is in the main line and needs a licensed plumber with a machine.

How to unblock a shower drain - Terry's Plumbing, Berala

Most shower drains slow down long before they block completely. Water pooling around your ankles is the early warning, and the cause is almost always the same: hair, bound together with soap scum into a surprisingly tough mat just below the grate. Shaving in the shower, long hair and washing the dog all speed the process up.

Get the hair out first

Lift or unscrew the grate. Most modern grates pop out with a flat screwdriver, and older brass ones unscrew. A gloved finger will reach the first clump. For anything deeper, a cheap plastic barbed strip from the hardware shop, sold as a drain stick or hair snake for a few dollars, does a better job than any chemical. Feed it down, twist, and pull the mat out. It is unpleasant for about ten seconds and then the problem is usually solved.

Flush and plunge

Run hot water for a minute to wash away the loosened soap scum. If the drain is still slow, use a plunger: a little water in the base of the shower, seal the cup over the drain, and give it a dozen sharp plunges. In bathrooms with a separate floor waste nearby, cover the second opening with a wet cloth so the pressure works on the blockage instead of escaping through the other hole.

Soap scum and buildup

Soap scum coats pipe walls over the years and narrows the pipe, which is why an older shower blocks more easily than a new one. A flush of hot water with a cup of bicarb followed by vinegar will not clear a real blockage, whatever the internet says, but it does help keep an already-clean pipe fresh. For genuine buildup, mechanical cleaning is what works.

When it is not the shower at all

Here is the important distinction. If only the shower is slow, the problem is local and the steps above will fix it. If the shower backs up when the washing machine drains, if the toilet gurgles when the shower runs, or if the lowest floor waste in the house overflows, the blockage is in the main sewer line, not the shower. No amount of plunging in the shower recess will reach it.

Main line blockages in Western Sydney are commonly tree roots, especially in older suburbs like Berala, Auburn and Lidcombe where clay pipes from the 1950s and 60s are still in the ground. Roots find their way in at the joints, and a high-pressure jetter or electric eel is the only real fix, ideally followed by a camera to see what let them in.

Terry has cleared a few thousand shower drains since 1986, and the honest summary is this: the shower itself is a five minute fix you can do yourself, and the main line is not. Knowing which one you are dealing with saves you either a call-out fee or a wasted afternoon. If several fixtures are misbehaving at once, stop plunging and get a licensed plumber with a machine onto it, and you will know the cost before any work starts.

Frequently asked questions

What dissolves hair in a shower drain?: Products that genuinely dissolve hair are strong caustics that also attack seals and older pipes, so they are best avoided. Mechanical removal wins: a plastic barbed drain stick costs a few dollars, hooks the hair mat directly, and takes about a minute. Prevention is even cheaper, since a simple hair catcher over the grate stops the mat forming at all.
How do I know if my main sewer line is blocked?: Look for symptoms at more than one fixture. A toilet that gurgles when the shower runs, a shower that backs up when the washing machine empties, or an overflowing floor waste at the lowest point of the house all point to the main line. A single slow shower with everything else draining normally is just a local hair blockage.
How much does it cost to unblock a shower drain in Sydney?: Clearing hair from the grate yourself costs nothing beyond a drain stick. If a plumber needs to machine-clean the line, a standard drain clear in Sydney typically runs $150–$350, with a CCTV camera inspection around $200–$400 on top if the blockage keeps returning and the pipe needs a proper look.
Can I use a wire coat hanger to unblock the shower?: You can, but it tends to scratch chrome grates, push the mat further down, and occasionally wedge itself in the trap. The plastic barbed strips sold at hardware stores grip hair far better, flex around the bend, and cost less than a coffee. If a tool is going more than arm's length into the pipe, the job belongs to a plumber.
Why does my shower drain smell even when it is draining fine?: Usually biofilm, the slimy layer of soap and bacteria coating the pipe and the underside of the grate. Scrub the grate and the first reach of pipe, then flush with hot water and detergent. If the smell persists in a shower that is rarely used, the trap may have dried out and just needs a jug of water to reseal it.

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NSW Licence L10959 · 40+ years experience