I had a fancy new shower, including brand-new plastic drainage, installed as part of a full central heating/shower installation in December 2008. Within a few weeks, it started to drain slowly and now fills up very quickly. I've tried putiing some very nasty chemicals down the pipe, inlcuding one described as 'industrial' on the label. It made almost no difference.
My plumber is stumped. He is sure the pipe has sufficient slope to take waste away quickly and for the first few weeks this was happening. I could have a full-power, leisurely shower without filling up the glass box like some Harry Houdini stunt. The waste water runs to a pipe on the outside of the building, which doesn't appear to be blocked.

If I want to investigate properly, I'll have to take out the ceramic shower tray and glass enclosure, which I really don't want to do.

Help needed!

Ann, February 2009

Change your plumber.

To begin with he should be fixing this problem gratis after such a short time. Secondly he should not be stumped - not if he's a proper plumber. Thirdly he should not be suggesting that the shower tray and screens be removed to solve the problem.

The slow draining is due to either a blockage or a shifted drain pipe. A non-cowboy tradesman should be able to fix it in an afternoon. I am very suspicious of your current plumber who appears to be treating you very poorly.

Good luck...

Peccavi, February 2009