Struggling with clogged shower drains in an old house – any tips?
Asked by حسین سالاری 
8 months ago
Last Updated: May 7, 2024
Has anyone dealt with the issue of shower drains getting clogged all the time in an old 1925 house?
Oh no, my plumbing is also clogging up and my house was built in 1926
You might want to consider calling a plumber in case you need a repipe…
Yeah, be prepared for a potentially costly fix. You might still have a drum trap that has corroded. It’s not a cheap or easy repair, so don’t be surprised if you’re advised to replace the entire sewer line in your home. In my area, the code mandates updating the entire system from the vent to the main sewer line. Hopefully, in your area, the rest of the line is in good shape and this code doesn’t apply to you. You might be able to just swap out the drum trap for a modern P trap. Best of luck.
Consider getting insurance for your sewer line before starting any work.
Hey, what’s that over there?
In my neighborhood, there’s a service called home serve that mentioned. It costs around $15 a month with a 30-day waiting period
Make sure to check your venting.
I work with older systems. It all depends on the type of pipes used in your neighborhood, but I specialize in cleaning and restoring very old systems.
In my 1928 house, we had a unique suction device as a drain stopper. After encountering frequent clogs, we realized the issue was with the stopper itself. I recommend replacing the drain and trap sooner rather than later to avoid any similar problems.
While renovating our 1967 home, we discovered that the main drain was disconnected under the kitchen, likely due to a tree root. To prevent further root damage, we opted for a trenchless drain pipe, which was quite expensive but worth it in the end.
Hey, you might want to call a plumber. We’re not sure if your plumbing is original or if it has been changed in the past century. Also, we don’t know if you’re connected to the city sewer or have a septic tank. There are just too many factors to consider here.
Hey there, I actually called a plumber first. Just curious about other people’s experiences too. Thanks!
A seasoned individual understands that there isn’t sufficient information to form an opinion, so be cautious of those who jump to conclusions. The distinction between a Sewer and Septic system is significant; septic tanks may require pumping and lead to the same issue you’re facing, sometimes drain fields fail and need to be replaced, rendering pumping the septic tank ineffective. It could also be a pipe blockage. If you’re connected to a city sewer, do you reside above or below the road? Does the sewer system have a downhill flow towards the city sewer, or is there a pump system to lift it up? Forming any opinion without knowledge of your specific system is futile. I encountered a similar problem, chose a company with a 100% guarantee. They initially snaked the drains which temporarily fixed the issue, then used a larger snake all the way to the septic tank, inspecting the tank each time it was opened. On the third attempt, they excavated the entry point to the septic tank, where there’s a smaller tank that overflows into the main tank. There was a buildup between the small and large tanks that the snake couldn’t reach. However, this information is irrelevant to those without a septic tank system.
My husband is a carpenter and we have a reliable plumber, no septic. Thank you for sharing this info!❤️
It’s likely a problem with the ventilation system