We’ve cleared a lot of blocked showers across London over the years, and the ones in Southwark tend to follow a familiar pattern — older pipe runs, tight access, and build-up that’s had time to set hard. This job in Southwark was a good example of what happens when a shower drain is left to worsen gradually rather than caught early.
What the customer was dealing with
The homeowner noticed their shower tray filling up faster than it was draining. At first, it was slow. Then it got to the point where standing water was pooling around their feet during every shower. By the time they called us, they were concerned it might overflow and cause water damage to the floor or the room below.
It’s a worry we hear often. And it’s a valid one — water that can’t drain has to go somewhere.
The tray had been draining slowly for a while. That’s usually a sign the blockage isn’t sitting in the trap itself but further down the waste pipe, where a plunger simply can’t reach.
How we cleared it
When we arrived, we removed the shower waste cover and inspected the trap first. As suspected, the blockage wasn’t sitting at the surface — it was deeper in the pipe, compacted with hair and soap residue that had built up over time.
We brought in the Salisnake rotary wire machine for this one. It’s a flexible mechanical cable tool that can reach well beyond the trap and cut through the kind of compacted build-up you can’t shift any other way. We fed the cable into the waste pipe and worked through the obstruction until it broke apart fully.
Once the line was clear, we used a Vax wet vac to pull out all the standing water and debris from the trap — leaving the system properly clean, not just temporarily unblocked.
The whole job was done without removing any tiles or fittings. No unnecessary disruption.
The result
We tested the shower repeatedly at full flow. Water drained instantly every time — no pooling, no hesitation.
Before we left, we cleaned the tray, removed all mess from the area, and spoke to the customer about what had caused the blockage and what they can do to slow future build-up. Simple things, like using a hair catcher over the drain, can make a real difference.
They were relieved. Honestly, most people are — it’s one of those problems that quietly causes a lot of daily stress.
Dealing with a slow shower drain in Southwark?
If your shower is draining slowly or not at all, it’s worth getting it looked at sooner rather than later. These things rarely fix themselves, and the longer it sits, the harder the build-up becomes to shift.
We’re local, we’re available, and there’s no call-out charge. Get in touch with BDS Drainage for honest advice and a fast response.
