Summer changes how a house gets used. Kids are home from school, houseguests are cycling through the guest bathroom, and everyone seems to be showering off sunscreen, chlorine, and grass clippings at the same time. All that extra traffic adds up in the pipes, and a shower or sink drain that worked fine in April can start backing up by July.

Why Summer Puts More Pressure on Your Drains

A slow shower drain is rarely a coincidence during the summer months. More people showering more often means more hair, sunscreen residue, and soap scum washing down the same drain every day. Sunscreen and body oils are especially sticky culprits. They coat the inside of a pipe and give hair and debris something to cling to, so a drain that could handle daily use in the winter starts to slow down under summer’s heavier load.

Kitchen sinks take a hit too. Cookouts, garden vegetables, and extra dishes mean more grease and food scraps heading down the drain, and outdoor faucets and hose bibs see more use for watering, washing cars, and filling kiddie pools. All of it adds up to more strain on your home’s plumbing system during the busiest months of the year.

If you already worked through a spring plumbing checklist earlier in the year, summer is the point where that maintenance either pays off or where the issues you meant to get to finally catch up with you.

Try This Before You Call a Plumber

If the shower or bathroom sink is draining slowly but not completely blocked, a simple at-home method is worth trying before reaching for a chemical drain opener.

1. Remove visible hair and debris. Take off the drain cover and pull out any hair or buildup you can reach by hand.
2. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain. Let it sit for a few minutes to start breaking down grime along the pipe walls.
3. Follow with a cup of white vinegar. The fizzing reaction helps loosen buildup that baking soda alone can’t reach.
4. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then flush the drain with hot water to carry the loosened debris away.

This combination is gentler on pipes than store-bought chemical cleaners and works well on minor clogs caused by soap scum and light hair buildup. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also recommends skipping chemical drain openers in favor of boiling water or a drain snake, since harsh chemicals can damage pipes and septic systems with repeated use. This method will not fix a deeper blockage, a partially collapsed pipe, or a clog further down the line, so if the drain is still slow after trying this once or twice, it is time to call in a professional.

When a DIY Fix Isn’t Enough

Some warning signs indicate a bigger problem than a quick baking soda and vinegar treatment can fix. Watch for water pooling around your feet well into a shower, gurgling sounds from other drains when you run water, or a clog that returns within a week or two of clearing it. These are usually signs that the blockage sits further down the line, where it needs professional-grade tools to reach and remove safely.

Recurring clogs in multiple bathrooms at the same time are another sign of trouble. When more than one drain in the house is slow at the same time, the problem is more likely in the main line than in any single fixture, and that is not something a bottle of drain cleaner can fix.

If you have tried the DIY route and the drain is still fighting you, Mullen offers professional drain cleaning throughout South Charleston and the Kanawha Valley. Our technicians can identify exactly what is causing the clog and clear it without the guesswork or the risk of damaging your pipes with repeated chemical treatments. If your summer household has a drain that won’t cooperate, schedule service and we’ll get it flowing again.

FAQs About Clogged Drains 

What will dissolve hair in a shower drain?

A mixture of baking soda and vinegar can help break down light hair buildup, especially when followed by hot water. For a heavier clog made mostly of hair, a plumber’s drain snake is usually more effective, since it can physically pull the clog out rather than trying to dissolve it.

Does dish soap really help unclog a drain?

Dish soap can help with grease-based clogs because it breaks down oils and fats that build up along pipe walls. It works best paired with hot water and isn’t as effective on hair clogs or blockages further down the line, which typically need mechanical clearing.

What do plumbers use instead of chemical drain cleaners?

Professional plumbers rely on tools like drain snakes, motorized augers, and hydro jetting rather than chemical cleaners. These methods physically remove the clog instead of relying on chemicals that can damage older pipes with repeated use.