How to Unclog a Linear Drain?

04.11.2022

Category: Technical advice

Author: Mexen

A modern bathroom is not just a place for bathing and refreshing - these days it also serves aesthetic functions. It is here that we take a relaxing bath after a long day and care for our grooming. More and more people are choosing a modern shower cabin instead of a traditional bathtub, even forgoing a tray, which is replaced by a solution known as a linear drain. Many people do not know how to properly clean a linear drain. In reality, cleaning a linear drain is no more difficult than maintaining a standard drain in a shower tray.

What is a Linear Drain?

In modern bathroom designs, we often see walk-in showers, not traditional shower cabins with trays. As a result, an integral part of shower cabins installed directly on the bathroom floor is obviously the linear drain. It is precisely due to this that we ensure proper water drainage from the shower. This type of drain is installed in the floor, which makes cleaning it easier.

How to Clean a Linear Drain?

Many people think that cleaning a linear drain is much harder than a standard shower tray drain. We dispel this myth: keeping it clean is easy - provided you do it regularly.

Remember Regularity When Cleaning the Linear Drain

Even the highest quality linear drain can get clogged - especially when people with long hair use the shower. It is good to clean the entire drain once a week or two, so we avoid complete clogging and problems with water drainage. When cleaning, we pay attention to the condition of the cover, the siphon's clearance, etc.

Why Clean the Linear Drain and What Problems Might Arise?

Regular cleaning of the linear drain helps prevent the most common problems with such an installation - it is worth remembering, however, to choose a high-quality drain when buying one. Otherwise, you may encounter the following problems:

persistent clogging, and consequently, standing water,
unsightly scratches and discolorations,
difficult and complicated installation,
problematic siphon cleaning.

Step-by-Step Linear Drain Cleaning

To properly clean a linear drain, you don't need more than 10 minutes - it's really simple! Of course, this is about regular cleaning. If you do it, for example, once every six months, you might be prepared for a slightly longer process. How to take care of a shower cabin with a linear drain?

Wash the drain cover with water and a chemical agent, and rinse everything thoroughly with hot water.
Clean the filter that collects dirt.
Siphon cleaning - if you can, remove the siphon and rinse it with hot water.
Place the siphon, filter, and cover back in place.

Done! That's all it takes to clean a linear drain.

Unblocking a Linear Drain - Products

To clean a linear drain, we have two options:

home methods
chemical preparations

For the home method used to clean a linear drain, the well-known mixture of baking soda and vinegar is often employed - it comes in handy when cleaning many bathroom elements! We pour the powder into the drain and pour vinegar over it (beware - it will foam, and a strong, pungent vinegar smell will rise in the bathroom). Then, wait a few to several minutes for the mixture to start working to unblock the pipes. After that, rinse everything with boiling water.

If home methods do not work, choose one of the products intended for unblocking pipes - however, use them with special care. These preparations are not only highly corrosive but can also negatively affect the entire installation.

How to Clean a Linear Drain - Summary

As you can see, cleaning a linear drain is not a difficult task. The key to success in this case is regularity and choosing a good quality installation. Opting for a shower cabin without a tray, it is worth remembering that the longevity of the drain is also influenced by proper installation and good surface protection.