Clogged drainage pipes also cause reduced water flow in the building and plumbing troubles down the road. Take one cup of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Heres What to Do. Youll need: a Phillips head screwdriver, a flat head screwdriver, needle nose pliers, and a plumbers snake. Use your foot to get the front end of the snake securely into the drain opening before extending it down as far as it will go. Design a bathroom of your style with top-rated bathroom remodelers from Bath&ShowerPros. There could be a more serious plumbing issue than a mere clog going on. All, you need to do is to have a couple of things by your side and you will be good to go. Hot water is usually effective for melting grease, clearing soap residue, and dislodging other clogs. When that happens, slow your moves down even more. Even if your tub doesn't have a slow draining problem, it's good practice to clean out the tub drain once a year or so. Start by removing the drain cover thats keeping things from entering your drain. I am an ex-plumber, now retired. Imagine youve just had a refreshing soak in your bathtub with calming mood music, aromatherapy candles, bath salts, and a glass of red wine. Another possible first recourse is to use a plunger though this may not help if your tub wont drain due to hair buildup, since you may not get enough suction for the clog to loosen. Here are some of, Water or sewage backing up in a toilet, sink, or bathtub, Gurgling noises as other plumbing functions happen, such as the water flowing out of a faucet, Theres poor pressure in the system, resulting in a weak toilet flush or light stream from the faucet, Water-dependent utilities react to one another, such as the toilet malfunctioning when the washer is being used. When a bathtub doesnt drain, its important first to identify the cause of the clog. Whether you dont have a plumbers snake lying around the house (and arent excited at the prospect of being elbow-deep in grime), or if that clog just wont budge, its always best to turn to a professional. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Home. It may be that you simply left a washrag or towel on top of the drain, and its preventing water from going down. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, hair falls, be it naturally or because of hair damage. Instead of using store-bought chemicals, you can use chemicals found in your kitchen to clear the drain. Wear gloves and protective goggles and follow the instructions on the label. Whether you have made it to this last step because you have tried steps 1-5, or because you dont feel comfortable or dont have access to the chemicals or tools you need, this last resort will be the most expensive option. Keep on snaking until you no longer feel the tension and the plumbers snake uncoils fully. When dealing with a slow emptying drain of any kind, one of the first things to try is baking soda and vinegar. Then, place the plunger over the shower drain and run the water, so that the water level comes up to an inch or two high. Are you looking to eliminate plumbing problems and clogged drains for good? The problem could be an improper unclogging technique or even worse: a corroded drain, an old or unprofessional pipe installation. Plunging or using drain cleaning chemicals also may work. Wait a few minutes for water to make its way down the tub. 2 liters of boiling water should be poured down the drain after waiting about 15 minutes for the fizzing to stop. Its best to look for reviews online or ask friends and family for recommendations. You can begin with removing big particles of dirt or soap from the standing water. There are few things more disgusting and unsanitary than when you have standing water in your bathtub that wont go away. You should always start with natural solutions such as plunging or vinegar and baking soda mixtures. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. Remove as much as possible. Make sure you plug the shop vac into a safe location away from water before turning it on. With the water out of the way, you're ready to begin. In this case, a plunger can be a great solution for unclogging the drain. It is also important to never mix chemicals, as this can produce poison gases, and to make sure to wear protective gloves and eyewear so that none of the chemicals touch your skin or get into your eyes. Wear rubber gloves and use a container to scoop out all the standing water in your tub. Please see our. If this doesnt work, you can try a similar process with chemicals. If you decide to hire someone to help with your bathtub drain, research the plumber you are considering hiring. Preventing a bathtub from clogging can save you from the headache of fixing a slow draining tub. Remember! If you dont have the time, dont feel confident working with tools or chemicals or simply dont want to get messy, calling a plumber can be a great solution. This means that you need to put a pair of rubber gloves on your hands and then start. How to Hire a Junk Hauling Company the Right Way? After you removed all the water, it is time to pour 0.5 cups of baking soda into the drain. Use the plunger vigorously for a minute or two, and then run the water to see if the clog has become unstuck and the water drains freely again. Remove the hair or grime that clogs the tub. If youre at your wits end and nothing you try works, youll have to call a plumber and have them unclog your drain for you. Drain snakes work by reaching into the drain itself and physically pulling out hair and other things causing clogs. Otherwise, you will need something stronger to get rid of the clog. To protect your hands and eyes, wear gloves and goggles. Note: You should not handle chemicals carelessly. In this case, the bathtub won't drain completely or it may drain extremely slowly. [11, 5 Best Bathtub Water Filters Reviewed & Buyer's Guide, What is the Best Water Filter in Every Category, 10 Best Water Filter Pitchers to Consider This Year, 10 Best Carbon Water Filters For your Home, 12 Best Emergency Water Filtration SystemsReviewed, 15 Best Fluoride Water Removal System Reviewed, 7 Best Water Filters to Remove Coliform Bacteria Reviewed, Ultimate Guide on How to Filter Tap Water, Use a plunger to unclog a clogged bathtub drain, Use chemical cleaners to clear clogged drains, How to use chemicals to unclog a shower drain, Typical causes for your bathtub not draining, How to prevent a clogged bathtub in the future, Consider professional assistance if necessary. Plunge Your Bathtub to Unclog Your Bathroom Drain Before you start, make sure to remove any standing water. So, lets see how you can actually accomplish this method. 7 Ways to Unclog a Bathtub Drain with Standing Water 8. If one method does not work for you, you can always try another. If possible, use a non-toxic cleaner to avoid damaging the plumbing and pipes. Snake the Drain to Clear Clogs To begin, remove the tub's drain cover or drain plug. However, if nothing else works, you should go to your local hardware store and purchase some Drano. Snake it with a 5/16 to 1/4 inch cable. I have these in all my bathroom sinks and our 2 tubs and they work great. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Shower or Bathtub Flooding or Wont Drain? Pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. But if the method cleaned the grimy sludge out, turn on the faucet and check the water flow. support@tubshroom.com. I recommend this drain snake from Amazon because you can use it with a drill or without. Snakes are handy tools as they are long enough to reach any solidified trash. Once the water starts draining, turn on the water tap and allow running water to go down the drain for five to ten minutes to ensure that its completely unclogged. Now comes the time when you need to grab a plunger and start plunging hard until you get rid of the clog. Getting rid of the oil and dirt collected during the day is one reason to take a bath. Thats because one of the top reasons a shower wont drain is because of a combination of hair and soap scum buildup. This will ease you the rest of the steps. Reheat the water if it's warm and pour it into the drain. The most common cause of clogs in your bathtub is hair goes down the drain. Therefore, if the clog was not taken care of after running over 10 feet of cable, it may have traveled up the vent line after colliding with the trap. Also clean the drain cover to get rid of any hair or gunk that may be tangled in it. Next, check for any visible blockages getting in the way of the drain. Unfortunately, clogs are not the only reason bathtubs fail to drain. You won't be able to chemically clean the drain when standing water remains. Shower Drain: How to Clean and Unclog Them Easily. All forms of pipe damage contribute to the tub getting clogged and pipes keeping water standing, which can ultimately cause a lot of trouble, notes Damp Hero. This will start to cause a reaction. Information provided on Forbes Home is for educational purposes only. Start by checking the drain for visible blockages and obstacles. Compare Quotes From Top-rated Local Bathroom Remodelers. It doesnt pose a threat to your health, though. Step 1: Clear Out Hair and Other Blockages Empty the tub of any standing water and remove the drain stopper. Why Is My Tub Draining Slowly or Not at All? When you are using chemicals or hot water, make sure to be extra careful. For all DIY enthusiasts looking for advice on how to tackle it yourself, then look no further. Rinse after their use with a strong spout of hot water. Open up your drain. Unscrew the metal overflow plate (its usually under your tub faucet). It gets worse when you have a lot of standing water inside the tub. Make sure to check your container of Drano before buying it to make sure it has this capability because not all of them do. So, follow these steps to unleash the cleansing power of salt + baking soda + boiling water combination: Chemical solutions replace hard manual work in just a couple of minutes. First, youll have to remove any standing water in the bathtub using a wet vac or a sponge and bucket. Avoid bath products that contain ingredients that dont dissolve well in water. Yet, all warnings for damaged pipes from boiled water are valid for PVC pipes. Founded by Hubert Miles, Certified Master Inspector. 625 70K views 3 years ago Unclogging a tub drain with standing water using a plunger and a toilet flapper. What a bummer! To start the unclogging process, youll first have to get standing water out of your bathtub. At A1 Choice Plumbing & Drain, we get calls all the time about a clogged bathtub that won't drain, or drains very slowly. Install a hair catcher: Installing a drain guard is the best technique to stop hair from traveling down the drain. Keep the snake handle as close as possible to the overflow drain opening. This will help prevent soap scum and other debris from building up. Heres What You Can Do When You Have Hard Water, Do You Have Hard Water You Might Need a Water Softener, How to Avoid Causing Damage to Plumbing System, Dangers Of Rusted Pipes And Why Pipe Descaling Is Important, How Drain Repair And Pipe Relining Can Help Reduce Risk, Things To Consider When Buying The Right Drain Cleaners, The Benefits of Hydro Jetting for Commercial and Residential Properties, 7 Ways to Maximize the Dorm Room Space Without Getting in Trouble, 7 Effective Ways to Keep Pests Out of Your Garden. 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