While they may seem like they work on every type of clogged drain, they can actually make some clogs worse. You are strongly urged to call a plumber before dumping liquids down the drain, even those that are frequently advertised on television. This may signal a much deeper clog further down your drainpipe, requiring plumber intervention. Still not working? Help is on the wayĪfter plunging for several minutes consecutively, perhaps water still is not freely flowing. You may need to repeat this process several times depending on the amount of debris preventing water from freely flowing. After the last downward push, pull the plunger up and off so you hear a sucking sound. Making sure the entire lip of the plunger cup is affixed to your tub, quickly but forcibly push the plunger up and down 10 to 12 times. Hot water helps dissolve built-up soap and other unwelcomed nastiness. Once removed, put one to two inches of hot water into your tub. You want to make sure the stopper is removed, which may require unscrewing or wiggling it back and forth while pulling it up. Proper plunging techniques Work smart, not hard Once sealed off, the process of plunging may commence. An excellent way to accomplish this is by covering the entire disk with duct tape, which will prevent air or water flow from coming out of the upper drain area. Since plungers rely on the power of suction, you will need to address the overflow opening before plunging. While it does not look like a drain because it does not have a perforated cover, look closely at the bottom of the disc and you will see a small opening. The problem with most bathtubs is that there are actually two drains: the one below and the one that lines up with the faucet spout above, called the overflow drain. Normally, one takes a plunger to the bathtub drain clogged and jars any debris loose. ![]() Seal your overflow (upper) drain Yes, you should have two When nobody is around to assist you and your bathtub drain is clogged, several quick fixes listed below may be a temporary solution until a plumber can get there to perform their work. ![]() All of a sudden, you are taking a shower with five inches of water gathering around your ankles. Because they sustain so much abuse, it is common to have a bathtub drain clogged. Reinstall the stopper and linkage and screw the overflow plate to the end of the tub.Loaded with hair, excess soap and hair care products, miscellaneous gunk and that occasional razor, our bathtub drain gets as much attention as garbage disposals, sinks, and toilets.Tighten the lock nut to secure the stopper. If it appears that the stopper was sitting too low in the drainpipe, raise it by turning the rods to shorten the linkage. With the clog cleared, inspect the stopper at the end of the linkage rod.Work the drain snake down the overflow hole, only this time, allow the water to run while you snake out the drain.Turn on the water and check to see if the tub is draining any better.Repeat two or three more times, extending the snake further down the drain each time. ![]() Tighten the thumbscrew to lock the snake in place, then crank the handle and push the snake down the drain. Feed a drain snake down the overflow hole.Use pliers, if necessary, to pull the plate, linkage rods and stopper out from behind the tub. Unscrew the overflow plate from the end of the tub. ![]() Steps for clearing a clogged bathtub drain In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to fix a slow draining tub.
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