What are the causes of blocked showers and how do I clear them?

by Tony Strong tony@serviceteam.co.uk

The very first visual sign of a blocked shower is reduced pressure and amount of water coming out from the shower head. Another sign is indiscriminate spurt of water in unusual directions. These signs can only mean one thing - you have a blocked shower. But before you move and replace your shower head, you should know what causes it so it won't happen again. Likewise, you should know how to clear those clogs without spending too much money.

Common Causes of Blocked Showers

If you have a newly built home, chances are the debris from the construction is the cause of the clogged shower. Small pieces of plastic, pipe shavings, and bits of wood left by workers can find their way to the shower that will eventually cause it to become clogged. The pipelines should have been flushed with water before the nozzle is fixed.

Hard water is usually the type of water supplied by most cities. This type of water leaves bits of residue and mineral deposits in the showerhead's faceplate. These sediments can block the small holes of the shower thereby reducing the water pressure.

Molds and bacteria thrive in places where there is moisture. A shower head or a water pipeline for that matter is a very good area for them to live and multiply. They build up on the faceplate over a period of time causing the blockage.

Clearing Out the Blockage

When you are definitely sure that you have a clogged shower, then it is time to remove the things blocking it.

1. First thing to do is to gather all the materials you will need in cleaning your shower. The things needed are: distilled white vinegar, denture tablets, scrub brush, and a big basin.
2. Next is to remove the showerhead with a wrench.
3. Pour the vinegar into the basin and immerse the showerhead. Leave it for several hours. For stubborn mineral deposits, warm the vinegar before soaking the showerhead.
4. After several hours, remove the showerhead from the basin of vinegar. Get your scrub brush and then scrub the showerhead to get rid of the sediments. Rinse it with water.
5. Liquefy the denture tablets in hot water. Pour the mixture into a container and add the showerhead into it. Soak it again for several hours.
6. Remove the showerhead after several hours and then scrub off the remaining sediments from the showerhead. Finally, rinse it with water.

When you have done all these steps, you should have a showerhead that is as good as new. There are, however, some preventive solutions to problems related to blocked showers.

One is to employ a soft water system which takes out the minerals from hard water. You should consider the cost as it is an expensive solution.

Another option is to buy a self-cleaning shower head and replace your old one. These types of shower heads have plungers that wipe the faceplate every time the head is adjusted to various positions. These small plungers prevent the build up of sediments on the shower head.

Always remember that a routine maintenance will keep your shower at pristine condition with no loss in water pressure.

We'll unblock your shower in London.

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