How to fix a slow draining sink, bath, shower drain and how to clean a showerhead

Over the last week, this Santa Rosa Plumber has received several calls related to slow draining water either from a sink, bath, or shower. The drains have not become completely clogged but there is an obvious obstruction prohibiting water from draining at a normal rate. Most of the time the obstruction is a buildup of materials like hair, soap, and grease. Over time these things build up layer upon layer until eventually there can be a complete obstruction at which point you have a pretty big plumbing problem and need to call a plumber in Santa Rosa. Well, I want to help you avoid the plumbing problem before it becomes a plumbing nightmare. So how do we unclog the shower drain? You may think this sounds crazy but use the plunger that is sitting right near your toilet.  And this is how you use a plunger to unclog your shower drain: You want to make sure you have a tight seal so that plunger creates powerful suction. I suggest using Vaseline. Put a decent amount of Vaseline on your finger and place it on the entire circumference of the rim of the plunger. This will help form a tighter seal. You then want to fill the shower with enough water that the head of the plunger is submerged in the water, which will also help create downward pressure on the plunger and an improved seal. Now you are ready to plunge, and plunge like you have never plunged before. There is a good chance you will be able to slough off some of the caked up debris. Another useful tip is to run the shower with very hot water prior to plunging, which will help loosen the oil based materials that are building up in your pipes.
Clogged or slow draining sinks for the most part have the same buildup of debris as your shower or bath. The plunger can also be used in this situation but may not as effective due to the contour of your sink. Baking soda and vinegar have been effective in the past, or a plumber’s snake, which is always effective. With the plumber’s snake sometimes it does take a professional Santa Rosa  plumber to effectively clear the drain. And then there are chemicals. I personally like to avoid chemicals but sometimes it might be the only option. When using chemical you want to make sure you are dressed in appropriate protective equipment, which includes gloves and goggles. Be sure to follow the directions because these chemicals can be quite destructive. One thing to be aware of as well with chemicals is that if you over use them they can potentially damage your drain pipes, which could turn into a busted pipe anywhere along its route. If it bursts under your house you have a real big plumbing emergency on your hands and will need to call a plumber in Santa Rosa right away.
I hope you, the reader, have found some of this information useful. As I mentioned before we have received quite a few calls recently about clogged drains, sinks, showers, and baths, and our hope is to reach you before you need to reach out to us. Of course, Santa Rosa Plumbing Service is just a phone call away. If you need a Santa Rosa plumber, give us a call at 707-289-6500. We look forward to hearing from you.