Home > Shower Plumbing Information > Shower Plumbing Questions > Plumbing - both toilet and shower backed up?

Plumbing - both toilet and shower backed up?

The toilet periodically goes "blub, blub" and all the water goes away. The shower doesn't drain properly. Is there a drain where both come together that might be blocked? What should I do? I really don't want to call a plumber for something i might be able to do myself...

Public Comments

  1. Draino
  2. if you do it yourself you will need a snake, probably a 25' should do it. you can get one at home depot or ace hardware.
  3. Get some cheap fireworks from B&Q (they will now be reduced). Light the fuse and put it in the pipe - hold the plunger over one end to stop the gas escaping. Wait for the music and your pipe will be unblocked - 100% guarentee. This only works about 2-3am.
  4. I would get a plumber. A snake I think is also called a worm and expensive. Try the 3rd answer.
  5. Run alot of water so the shower gets partially filled with water, about a inch or so, then start plunging with a plunger. Keep this up about 10 or 20 times, it really shouldn't take that long until you start seeing the black gunk start loosening up and coming out of the drain. Keep plunging until you think it's fairly clear and let the water drain out and clean up whatever you can of the gunk. Now start the water flowing again, hopefully you won't be able to fill it up like you did before but if you can, then try plunging more to see if any more of the black stuff comes out. You might want to plunge the toilet a couple times too, and possibly even the bathtub if it's separate.
  6. The blub, blub from the toilet does not necessarily mean that it has a drain problem. Some toilets stop up easily. Snake out the toilet and the tub. You can purchase a snake from your local home repair store. Ask for directions on how to use the snake. It is hard to tell how far the blockage may be so you can use a small snake first and a longer one if necessary. You can also plunge out the tub with water in it, but be sure to block off or tape off the overflow drain as the pressure will just come back out it. There may just be a hair and slime clog in the tub drain causing this. You could use Drano but it may eat at any metal ruining the finish of the shower drain. Be sure to ask at the store, because they will point you in the right direction. Call a plumber at last resort.