How Do I Fix a Slow Drain in My Bathtub?

There are many reasons your bathtub drains slowly. There are simple ways to fix a slow bathtub drain that will save you the expense of calling a plumber. Any combination (or all) of these can cause a slow bathtub drain.

• A lack of regular drain cleaning
• A buildup of hair
• A buildup of soap, oil, or other bathing beauty aids

This could be the problem. Don't buy a caustic, store-bought chemical drain cleaner. There are safer and more effective ways to clean your bathtub drain. To access your drain manually, first, remove the drain stopper.

Different types of drain stoppers

You can use a variety of drain stoppers to prevent water from rushing into your tub. No matter what type of drain stopper you have, you will need to remove it before you can get rid of the debris. These steps will help you remove the specific type of stopper.

Drop Stopper

This is the most popular type of bathtub stopper. The knob at the top allows you to open or close the drain. This stopper can be removed by removing the cap and the screw. This will allow you to access any debris stuck in the drainage crossbars. Once you have this access, you can remove hair and other debris from the drain.

Leveraged Bathtub Stopper

These can often be found in older Sacramento houses. This type of stopper is attached to an overflowing plate. You may have to remove this plate before you can remove it. To ensure that no residual debris remains in the pipes, it is best to flush this type of stopper with hot water.

Push stopper

This can often be the most frustrating stopper because it is not easy to remove. This stopper is not removable or unscrewed like drop stops. To remove the stopper, you can hold the base and unscrew it. You will be able to access any debris once the stopper has been removed. The base can also be removed if you need to reach deeper.

After you have cleaned your drain, make sure to use these five tools to maintain your drain.

Go Deeper

After you have removed the drain stopper, you might need to reach further into the pipe in order to remove slow drains. These are some of the techniques that can be used to finish the job.

Bent Wire

You can reach into pipes with a stiff wire such as a clothes hanger and a hook bent into the end to pull out clogs. Be careful not to push debris into pipes as it can cause the clog to worsen.

Hot water or homemade flush

After you have cleaned out hair and other debris from your drains, flush them with hot or a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. These methods are safer than most store-bought chemical cleaners, and they can be just as effective.

Toilet Plunger

This simple tool is essential for every homeowner. This simple tool can be used to suction slow drains.

Drain Auger

A tub can be used to access your pipes and remove any clogs. You may have one but you must know how to use it properly to avoid causing or increasing damage to your pipes.