What you might notice
- Water pools around your feet while you shower
- The tub takes a long time to drain after a bath
- A sour or musty smell from the drain
- Gurgling or water rising in the tub when the toilet flushes or the washer drains
Likely causes
- Hair tangled with soap scum just below the strainer or stopper
- Build-up from bath oils, conditioners and body wash
- A clog further down the branch line
- A main sewer line problem, if the tub reacts to other fixtures
Safe things to try first
- Remove the strainer or drain cover (many unscrew or pop off) and pull out any hair you can see.
- For tubs with a stopper, unscrew or lift out the stopper and clean it.
- Use a plastic barbed hair-snake tool to reach a few inches down.
- Cover the overflow plate with a wet rag and use a cup plunger with a little water in the tub.
- Flush with hot tap water. Add a drain screen afterward to catch hair.
If water starts rising or you see sewage, stop and call. Don’t take apart anything you’re not comfortable putting back together.
When to call a pro
- The drain is still slow after removing the hair you can reach
- The tub fills or gurgles when you flush the toilet or run the washer
- More than one drain is slow
- You see water stains on the ceiling below an upstairs shower
What Rooter Champion does
We clear the tub or shower line with the right cable and test the flow. With the $55 drain cleaning you also get a free camera inspection, so you can see what was in the pipe. If the camera points to the main line, you will see the footage before any further work is discussed.
Water rising in the tub when the toilet flushes points to the main sewer line. Local to us? See drain service in Whittier.
Our $55 drain cleaning includes a free camera inspection, so you can see the problem for yourself. Rooter Champion is family-owned, licensed and insured (CA Lic. #1063585).
Common questions
How do I stop my shower drain from clogging?
Use a hair catcher over the drain, clean it after each shower, and clean the strainer every few weeks. That keeps most hair out of the pipe.
Why does my tub gurgle when I flush the toilet?
The toilet and tub often share the same branch line. Gurgling or rising water in the tub when you flush usually means a partial clog further down, often in the main line.
Will a chemical drain cleaner dissolve the hair?
It may eat part of the clog, but it often leaves the rest behind along with a pool of caustic water in the tub. It can also damage older pipes and chrome finishes. A plastic hair tool or a cable is safer and more effective.
What customers say
5.0 stars from 52 Google reviews on our La Habra profile.
“Called the day before for the $55 drain unclogging special. Came out within the 1 hr window, checked and snaked the drains from the shower vent. Thorough and very affordable. Would recommend. Thanks!”
“The young man who showed up was excellent. He explained and showed me via video scope exactly what the issue was and got it back to functional. Great service!”
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Local, family-owned, based in La Habra
Rooter Champion is a family-owned drain and sewer company at 1401 S Beach Blvd Unit A, La Habra, CA 90631. We serve homes and businesses in La Habra, Fullerton, La Mirada, Whittier and surrounding cities, including Brea, Placentia, Anaheim and Buena Park.
Open 7 days, 8am–5pm. We respond within 1 hour. Licensed & insured, CA Lic. #1063585.