How To Clear A Clogged Bathtub Drain

Drain clogs, made of debris, hair, and soap, form slowly as scum builds up in your drain pipe and eventually blocks it. Before you pour dangerous chemicals down your clogged bathtub drain or hire a costly professional, give these quick solutions a try. You may find you save both time and money.

First, check if your drain is completely clogged. If the water still drains down, albeit slowly, you can often rid yourself of the problem simply by running hot water for five minutes. Often, water alone is enough to dislodge the hairballs and dirt. Pour a cup of salt, followed by boiling water. This method usually unplugs anything except metal or plastic, as the water takes the clog/ build-up with it.

If using a plunger, a more efficient method, use a rag to stuff the overflow plate. If you have difficulty or the overflow plate itself has build-up lodged around it, remove it and its components, and wash thoroughly. Then stuff the hole. Push water down the drain with the plunger. This should push the clog on through. You can then screw the cover plate back onto the bathtub. You can also plunge the drain, and the rag in the overflow hole will prevent the suction from escaping out it. If you see the clog, try to pull it out.

If this does not work, you have more methods to try. Unwind a coat hanger and insert it into the bathtub drain. You can use any other flexible wire that is strong enough to push the clog through. Jiggle the wire back and forth and push it as far as it will go to dislodge whatever is blocking your drain. Another option is getting into the drain pipe through the overflow hole.

Yet another inexpensive and effective tool to use is a cable auger, otherwise known as a plumbers stake. The tip is inserted into the drain hole. Then the binding screw on the snake is tightened and twisted to latch onto the clog and remove it. Plumbers stakes can reach deeper into your drain pipe, up to 2 feet.

Chemical drain cleaners are able to reach further than any other do-it-yourself method. The chemicals present in them are caustic and are hazardous when mixed with either water or other chemicals. If you must resort to them, wear gloves and safety glasses, and read the instructions on the back of the bottle carefully. You can not use them if your bathtub is backed up. Wait 30 minutes and then run hot water.

Sometimes the clog will be too far down for these methods to reach. Call a plumber but be prepared that hiring a professional will cost you time and money. For that reason, if the clog is less than three feet in or you are unsure, you would be wise to try these quick fixes out first.

Of course prevention is the always the best option. Make sure the grate is in place and clean the drain hole often, and it is recommended you remove it entirely to clear it of scum trapped in the screen and directly under it. But if you do need a quick fix for a clogged bathtub drain, try these simple solutions.

Get the low down on the best ways to clear a clogged bathtub drain now in our complete overview of easy plumbing solutions on http://magicplumbing.com/