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 Weird Shower Drain Issue
Author: mikepetrat73 (MI)

Okay, In the last couple of days my shower will fill up with water and it will not drain. But after I remove the water with a suction tool that I have, it will work great. My son took a shower last night no issues. I jump in the shower this morning and it fills up with water. I again remove the water and it works fine. I ran the water for 15 minutes both times with no issues. I feel that it is a air lock issue but I have never had any issues till now. Everything else in that bathroom works great. What are your thoughts?/

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 Re: Weird Shower Drain Issue
Author: packy (MA)

temporarily remove the cover that has little round holes in it. try that being careful not to drop anything down the drain. see what happens.

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 Re: Weird Shower Drain Issue
Author: srloren (CA)

I suppose it could be air locked. Is it an addition to the original home? Is the home older when they were using cast iron pipe? It was not as smooth as ABS pipe. It could that it is not properly vented. If you don't have a plumbers snake, you can purchase a drain balloon from Home Depot. (about $9.00 I think) It fits on the end of a garden hose. Remove the hair screen and place this balloon down inside the pipe farther than the length of the balloon and have a window open so you can shout for your helper to turn on the water but be prepared to turn it off immediately. Your water pressure should clear the drain. Don't leave the water on too long or you could be backing up into your tub, depending on whee in the line the you insert the balloon. But a plumbers snake works best. Before you attempt doing this check out your roof for vents to try to determine which way your drain travels, how far it is to a 3" line and where the water would go if you left it on too long. If you have a clean out at the front of your home open it to see if you can hear the water draining. Other than that call your favorite plumber.

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 Re: Weird Shower Drain Issue
Author: packy (MA)

quote.. I ran the water for 15 minutes both times with no issues.
i highly doubt there could be a stoppage if he ran the water for 15 minutes...

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 Re: Weird Shower Drain Issue
Author: mikepetrat73 (MI)

I ran the snake down which I forgot to mention in my post with negative results.. It has not been doing it the last few days and there is no way I can get on the roof due to the -14 degree weather we are having.. Its a newer home so it is PVC pipe to the roof. It will have to wait till spring before I get up on the roof.

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 Re: Weird Shower Drain Issue
Author: KCRoto (MO)

I have seen this happen in floor drains when it has a backwater ball that keeps sticking, but never a shower that wasn't full of hair.

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 Re: Weird Shower Drain Issue
Author: hj (AZ)

You ARE describing an "air lock" caused by a double trap in the line, but cannot tell you what is causing it, since it can happen for other reasons than just 2 "P" traps in series.

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