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When a shower drains slowly, how far should you trust a plunger?
For a shower that drains slowly but isn’t backing up elsewhere, I’m unsure whether a plunger is a gentler first try than a hand auger, or whether either can cause trouble when the blockage isn’t near the drain opening. A plunger seems less likely to snag something out of reach, but I wouldn’t want to force water past a blockage or make a poor seal around the drain.
Does the choice depend mainly on whether the strainer or stopper can be removed and how much access that gives? I’m also curious how you judge whether an auger can reach the likely clog without forcing cable through an unknown bend. What symptoms would make you stop trying DIY clearing, especially if water is standing or another drain starts backing up?
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2 replies
For a slow shower drain with no other drains affected, I’d lean toward a plunger first only if the opening lets it seal properly; a poor seal makes that attempt less useful. A hand auger may reach farther, but access alone doesn’t tell you what bend is ahead - if the cable meets firm resistance, I wouldn’t force it. Neither method is risk-free, and worsening or spreading symptoms would make me stop DIY attempts.
A small amount of water left in the shower after use wouldn’t, by itself, make me stop. If water is accumulating, approaching overflow, or draining worse despite a cautious attempt, I’d stop rather than keep plunging or feeding a cable. Another drain backing up is a stronger warning to stop DIY clearing and get the problem assessed; it may involve more than the shower opening.
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