My basement shower drain cloggs frequently. I have been able to open it three times in the past six months with chlorox. I plan to refinish the shower stall but I wonder if I need to do something with the drain before I go to that expense. The shower pan drains into an open "cup" with a floating ball in the bottom. When clogged, the "cup" overflows and water comes out from under the shower pan. The shower drain opening does not line up well with the drain pipe with the floating ball so it probably would be difficult to get a snake past the ball. A plunger has no effect since the pipes are not joined under the shower pan. The airconditioner and water softner also use this drain. Should I refinish the shower stall and hope that chlorox will keep the drain open, or is there a better way?

My basement shower drain cloggs frequently. I have been able to open it three times in the past six months with chlorox. I plan to refinish the shower stall but I wonder if I need to do something with the drain before I go to that expense. The shower pan drains into an open "cup" with a floating ball in the bottom. When clogged, the "cup" overflows and water comes out from under the shower pan. The shower drain opening does not line up well with the drain pipe with the floating ball so it probably would be difficult to get a snake past the ball. A plunger has no effect since the pipes are not joined under the shower pan. The airconditioner and water softner also use this drain. Should I go ahead and refinish the shower stall and hope that chlorox will keep the drain open, or is there a better way?


Hi Tom,
The first thing I would do,(after I snaked out and cleared the drain line,) is to tear out that old floor drain and install a "P" trap in line with your shower drain so that there is a direct hookup. I would take the AC condensate and softener discharge lines and tie them in to the trap raiser so everything's under the floor line. You failed to say if you are installing a tile shower floor or a shower base. At any rate the drainage should be your first concern. That should be taken care of before you sink any money into remodeling the shower stall. Hey! You know that drain isn't right. Fix it and quit worrying about future clogs. Good luck! Tom

Thank you for the advice which I plan to follow. However, before I tear out the old shower base and floor drain is there a possibility that there may be a situation where it would be very difficult or impossible to install the "P" trap? I am just wondering if there is some valid reason that the "P" trap wasn't used in the original installation.

Thank you for the advice which I plan to follow. However, before I tear out the old shower base and floor drain is there a possibility that there may be a situation where it would be very difficult or impossible to install the "P" trap? I am just wondering if there is some valid reason that the "P" trap wasn't used in the original installation.


Hey Tom,

A "P" trap was used. It was built into the floor drain. What you need to change is the floor drain to a "P" trap that can connect direct to the shower. Once you remove the floordrain you will be left with a drain pipe that you can install a trap on. Let me know how you make out. Tom