Level access shower not draining - any ideas?

Stu999 · 2025-01-16T17:20:24+0000

My new place (rental) has a level access shower but the drain is very odd. Pretty much 75% of it is obscured by the way the drain fitting is designed (nothing looks broken).

The result is it hardly drains even when the shower ‘tap’ is barely open.

I’m a bit reluctant to put a load of bleach / harsh chemicals down it as the fittings are all plastic.

Any suggestions on how to remedy this? Only thing I could think of it to get one of those flexible, fibre optic type inspections cameras to see if there’s a blockage.

At the moment the shower tray starts to fill up when I shower. Luckily there is a lip around the edge so the floor doesn’t get soaked. However, none of the gunk from showering clears down the drain properly so it always looks dirty, even if I’ve just cleaned it.

Edit - couldn’t find a generic pic online of the same fitting. Apologies for the gross pic but this illustrates the problem:

I’ve just cut my hair so little bits of hair are from that. They’re still around despite a couple of attempts to clear it up.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 2025-01-16T17:43:07+0000

Seeing as your in a rental I would call the agent first before you do anything.

Say its not draining properly and you don't want to risk it overflowing and causing damage.
Can they want to send someone round to look at it.

This is one the few benefits of renting, as when you move in these sorts of thing really should be fixed at the vendors cost where as when you move into a purchased property you get the joy of that sort of fix yourself.

If you do want to try to fix it, its probably hair so try to feed something into the drain carefully with a small hook on the end and twirl it around a bit.

It could have course just be a poor installation.

Stu999 · 2025-01-16T17:47:38+0000

@Mercenary Keyboard Warrior - you’re right of course I could just involve the landlord but if there’s an easy fix I’d give it a go. I’d agree it probably will be hair.

Participant · 2025-01-16T18:32:37+0000

If you're feeling adventurous, unscrew and disconnect the trap and pour water directly into the waste pipe below. If it's still slow draining, then the fall or gauge of the waste pipe could be insufficient, or it could be blocked.

If it flows well then the tray may not be level or the trap is clogged.

Stu999 · 2025-01-16T18:42:00+0000

Participant said:
If you're feeling adventurous, unscrew and disconnect the trap and pour water directly into the waste pipe below. If it's still slow draining, then the fall or gauge of the waste pipe could be insufficient, or it could be blocked.

If it flows well then the tray may not be level or the trap is clogged.

I'd probably balls that up TBH.

pastymuncher · 2025-01-16T19:27:12+0000

It may be worth a shot with one of these. They are great because they work on the push down and pull up which loosens gunge in both direections.

Orifice · 2025-01-16T22:49:07+0000

Looks like a Wirquin Twisto trap. Meant to self clean, but in reality are a nightmare. No real way to clean them due to the vortex design.

I got one with my shower tray and threw it away. Call your landlord.

Stu999 · 2025-01-16T23:08:44+0000

Orifice said:
Looks like a Wirquin Twisto trap. Meant to self clean, but in reality are a nightmare. No real way to clean them due to the vortex design.

I got one with my shower tray and threw it away. Call your landlord.

Thanks, good ID. I think this one is badged as a Mira Vortex (shower tray is Mira), but they look identical.

It looks like a really poor design.