Standing water in the bath or a puddle forming in the shower means one thing: a blocked drain. In most cases you can sort it without calling anyone — but it depends on where the blockage is.
What causes bathroom drains to block?
The main culprits in bathrooms are hair and lint, soap and shampoo residue that builds up into a sticky mass, and limescale in older pipes. Under the basin, the P-trap often fills with a black sludge that smells and restricts flow.
- Hair and lint — collect on the drain cover and inside the trap
- Soap and limescale build-up — coats the pipe walls over time
- Foreign objects — bottle caps, jewellery, sponge fragments
How to clear a blocked drain — simplest methods first
Start at the drain cover: unscrew or lever it off and pull out anything visible. Then try a plunger — fill the bath with a few centimetres of water, press the plunger firmly over the drain and pump vigorously ten to fifteen times. If that does not shift it, check the P-trap under the basin: unscrew the access plug or remove the whole trap, clean it out, and reassemble.
A drain snake (also called a plumber’s auger) goes further into the pipe and breaks up deeper blockages mechanically. Available at any DIY store. When using one, take care not to scratch enamel baths or shower trays.
Chemical drain cleaners — yes or no?
Caustic soda-based products do dissolve hair and grease, but they also degrade rubber seals in the trap and accelerate corrosion in older pipework. Never mix alkaline and acid-based cleaners. In buildings with ageing cast-iron or galvanised pipes — common in Warsaw’s older districts — it is better to avoid aggressive chemicals altogether.
When to call a plumber
If the blockage comes back every few weeks, if every fixture in the flat drains slowly at the same time, or if you hear gurgling from the pipes — the problem is in the soil stack, not your individual trap. That needs a CCTV inspection or a professional high-pressure jetter. Leave a request in the form and we will come out, assess it, and tell you exactly what is needed.
How to prevent future blockages
- Fit a hair catcher over the shower drain — cheap and very effective
- Once a month flush with boiling water (avoid pouring directly onto cold ceramic)
- Clean the P-trap mechanically every few months
- Never pour cooking fat down a sink