How to replace a shower drain

Shower drains cop a beating. Hair, soap scum, dirt - it all builds up over time and eventually something gives. You might notice water pooling around your feet, a bad smell, or a drain that just won’t clear no matter what you try.

Some of these problems are easy fixes you can sort yourself. Others point to something more serious going on in the pipes. We’ll walk you through what’s involved in replacing a shower drain, how to handle basic blockages at home, and when it makes sense to get a plumber involved.

Working out what’s wrong

Before you start pulling things apart, have a look at what’s actually happening. Is the water draining slowly? Can you hear gurgling? Is there a smell coming up from the drain?

Slow drainage and gurgling usually mean there’s a partial blockage somewhere. A bad smell could be built-up gunk in the trap, or it could be a problem further down the line.

If you’ve tried clearing the drain a few times and it keeps coming back, or if you’re noticing water where it shouldn’t be, that’s worth getting looked at properly. We can run a CCTV drain inspection to see exactly what’s going on inside the pipe without any guesswork.

How to unblock a shower drain yourself

You can sort out a lot of minor blockages without calling anyone. Here’s what to try:

• Pull off the drain cover and clear out any hair or gunk you can see. This is the cause of most slow-draining showers and takes about 30 seconds.
• Pour boiling water down the drain to break up soap scum. One thing to watch - don’t do this repeatedly if you have PVC pipes, as the heat can soften them over time.
• Use a plunger. Make sure there’s enough water in the base of the shower to cover the plunger, then give it a few solid pushes. This can shift blockages sitting a bit deeper.
• Try a drain snake for stubborn clogs. Feed it in gently and twist to break up whatever’s stuck. Don’t force it - you can crack older pipes if you go too hard.

If none of that works, or the blockage keeps returning within a few weeks, there’s likely something deeper going on. That’s when it’s time to call us for a proper drain cleaning.

Signs your shower drain needs replacing

A blocked drain is one thing. A drain that actually needs replacing is another. Here’s what to look for:

• Blockages that keep coming back even though you’re cleaning regularly. This usually means there’s damage inside the pipe - a crack, a collapse, or root intrusion - that traps debris in the same spot every time.
• Persistent bad smells that don’t go away after cleaning. If the odour sticks around, there could be a break in the pipe letting sewer gas escape, or a buildup in a section you can’t reach with household tools.
• Water that barely drains even after you’ve cleared the visible blockage. This points to a problem further along the pipe - often a partial collapse or heavy scale buildup.
• Visible cracks, rust, or leaks around the drain fitting. Once the drain or surrounding pipe starts deteriorating, patching it up only buys you time. Replacement is the cleaner fix.

Any of these on their own is worth investigating. If you’re seeing two or three together, you’re almost certainly looking at a drain repair or replacement.

What’s involved in replacing a shower drain

This isn’t really a DIY job. Shower drains connect into your waste plumbing, and getting the seal wrong means water damage to your subfloor - which gets expensive fast. Here’s what the process looks like when we do it:

1. We remove the drain cover, grate, and any tiles or sheeting needed to access the drain assembly underneath.
2. The old drain fitting gets disconnected from the waste pipe. Depending on the setup, this might mean cutting the pipe or unscrewing a threaded connection.
3. The new drain goes in and gets connected to the existing plumbing. Getting the height and alignment right here is critical - if it’s even slightly off, you’ll get pooling water or leaks.
4. We seal everything up, test it with running water, and check for leaks before putting the floor back together.

If the pipe itself is damaged (not just the drain fitting), we might recommend pipe relining or a full drain replacement depending on the extent of it.

Keeping your shower drain clear

A few simple habits go a long way:

• Clean your drain cover every couple of weeks. Pull it off, clear the hair and gunk, and rinse it. Takes a minute.
• Fit a mesh strainer over the drain. They cost a few dollars from Bunnings and catch most of the hair before it gets into the pipe. Easily the best preventive measure.
• Watch what goes down the drain. Oily bath products, chunks of soap, and dirt from muddy boots all contribute to buildup over time.
• Book a professional clean every year or two. We use hydro jetting to blast out buildup that household methods can’t touch. It’s the most effective way to keep your drains running well long-term.

When to call us

If you’ve tried the DIY options and your shower drain is still giving you grief, or if you’re seeing signs of damage, get in touch. We’ll diagnose the problem and give you straight advice on whether it needs a clean, a repair, or a full replacement. Check out our drain cleaning and drain repair pages for more detail, or contact us to book in.