The shower tray siphon gets clogged when dirt such as hair, remnants of cosmetics, etc., gets into it. Ideally, it should be cleaned regularly (e.g., with boiling water and salt) to prevent clogging, but sometimes the shower tray siphon still gets blocked and requires immediate action. How to clean the siphon? Here are some methods.
Cleaning the siphon - home methods
A clogged shower tray siphon not only prevents showering in the cabin but also poses a risk of flooding the bathroom. To prevent the drain from fully clogging, it's good to regularly unclog the siphon. Chemical agents aren't always necessary, as their fumes are hazardous to health, and the preparations themselves are toxic to the environment. What methods can be used for naturally unblocking pipes?
- Use a combination of baking soda and vinegar - pour a glass of soda over a glass of vinegar and immediately plug the drain to prevent the mixture from escaping. After about 30 minutes, pour water down the drain.
- Use aspirin - drop 2 tablets into the drain and pour vinegar over them. It will boil briefly - once the noise ceases, pour water down the drain. Be especially cautious, do not lean over the shower tray.
- Use a flexible thin wire - sometimes pouring products into the shower tray siphon isn't enough to unclog the drain, and mechanical removal of the debris that got stuck is necessary. Most often, removing the drain cover and taking out the hair or other dirt is enough.
- Use a rubber plunger - it works based on pressure. The pushed dirt reaches larger pipes, from where it should flow freely.
How to dismantle the shower tray siphon for cleaning?
Sooner or later, pouring water with soda won't suffice, and it's necessary to thoroughly clean the drainage set. Some blockages may be under the drain cover, which can simply be removed to check. Others may be somewhat deeper, requiring the siphon to be taken apart step by step. How to do it?
- Remove the drain cover,
- take out any debris trapped under the drain cover,
- dirt may also be under the siphon insert - remove it and clean it,
- gently clean the drainage set.
Once every component is cleaned, most of the accumulated dirt should be removed. If water still doesn't drain freely, it means the siphon cleaning wasn't completely successful.
Cleaning the siphon - chemical agents
If after removing the debris, water still accumulates in the shower tray, it means not all residue was removed. The clogged shower tray drain must be treated with appropriate chemical preparations. Strong corrosive substances, which can "eat away" all the dirt that's accumulated in the drain, are in question. Extra caution is required when using them - wear gloves, avoid getting too close to the siphon, and do not lean over. Strong corrosive substances are unsuitable for use in aluminium installations.
It should be remembered to remove the drain cover before applying the chosen preparation. Then pour or sprinkle - depending on the agent - the clogged drain and wait a few minutes. A strong chemical should act inside the drain, dissolving any remaining blockages. After this time, pour a large amount of water into the drain and thoroughly rinse the bottom and walls of the shower tray.
Clogged siphon - tips
Even without hydraulic knowledge, it's easy to deal with siphon cleaning. The easiest method is to use gels and granules that dissolve the accumulated dirt. The shower tray siphon can also be disassembled into individual elements to clean each one. In most siphon models, it's easy to remove the cover where most dirt accumulates.
Baking soda is recommended for preventive use, as it should be poured over with water to remove material residues from cosmetics or left after bathing pets.