Practical Ways to Unclog a Bathtub Drain

Clogged bathtub drains are an unwelcome guest in every home. When you are finished bathing, you'd like to have the bath water drain out without any problem. Overtime, your bathtub drain can become clogged with all sorts of material, including hair and soap. If that's the problem, here are some suggestions to help you service the clog.

Before you use a chemical drain cleaner, consider some alternative solutions. Here's another solution might just work, and if it doesn't you can always revert to the chemical solution. One solution is to empty a cup of salt down the drain, followed by flushing with a kettle full of boiling water. Follow the salt and boiling water mixture with plenty of hot water to completely flush out the clog and the drain line. This usually works quite well, unless the drain is plugged with something plastic or metal. Next, try using a plunger.

The bathtub's overflow should be plugged when using the plunger. In order to do this, you have to remove the two screws that attach the overflow plate and then remove the components, including the stopper. With the parts removed, it's a good time to clean them up. After plugging the overflow opening with a cloth, you can use the plunger to push the water and the clog down the drain and into the sewer. Having forced out the troublesome clog from your drain, you can now replace all the parts and begin a general clean-up.

If these two solutions haven't worked, try clearing the clog by pushing a straightened wire into the drain. A wire coat hanger always works well for this. Because coat hangers are both strong and flexible, they are easily pushed into a tub's drain pipe. Use a pair of pliers to make a short loop for a handle on one end. Wrap one end of the hanger wire with a cloth or wear a glove in order to get a firm grip on the wire. Push it through the drain as far as you can, working it back and forth as required. The wire should do the trick, but if it doesn't you can try pushing it down through the overflow opening.

More obstinate clogs will call for using a plumber's snake. Every household should have one just for clearing out stubborn drains without using harsh chemicals. The coiled tip at the end is routed into the drain until it reaches a stoppage. Then it is rotated until it pulls out the clog or works its way past the stoppage which could be a bend in the pipes. You rotate the cable and the tip by tightening the thumbscrew on the handle and rotating the assembly around in a clockwise direction. When the coil encounters an obstacle, the tip grips and spins it loose as you rotate the handle. If it's just a bend in the drainpipe, the snake will work itself around the corner and you can push it further into the pipes. If using a plumber's snake doesn't unclog the drain, there may be a more serious problem that requires a plumber's expertise.

If none of these attempts to clear the clog work satisfactorily, try the chemical solution. Chemical drain cleaners are usually safe for septic systems, but are caustic and dangerous when mixed with water. Avoid mixing together any chemical drain cleaner and any other cleaners, including bleach. Wear safety glasses and protective gloves before opening the container and emptying the contents into the drain. Read all the precautions printed on the product label before using it.

Still having trouble with your drain? If so, the clog must be so far into the sewer system that the chemicals aren't having any effect on it. If all else fails, find the nearest commercial drain cleaners and get a quote from them for doing the job for you.

I hope you found this article helpful and practical. For further practical home repair tips, why not browse through the articles at Practical Repairs.com