I have a slow tub drain, what’s a safe and effective way of clearing it out?
thanks. I usually buy Drano O or something.
11 Responses to “I have a slow tub drain, what’s a safe and effective way of clearing it out?”
Tegan Briggs Said:
I have heard that baking soda works.
Makai Goss Said:
First clean out the trap.It is accessed from the other side of the wall that the drain is on and is a can looking thing under the tub.
Ernest Parmar Said:
Usually the problem is right under the drain with a collection of hair and other yuck. I unscrew the drain cap and fish it out with something small with a hook, like a knitting needle. If you have a drain that doesn’t have a screw in cap and you can’t see the clog, a plumbing snake that you can buy at the home store should do the trick. I try to avoid chemicals.
Jasmine Forrest Said:
You can usually clear a tub drain effectively with a plunger and some hot water . what you need to do is remove the screw(s) that are on the cover plate to the over flow on the tub . remove the assembly and than gently put a rag in the overflow pipe . this will give you backpressure when you plunge it . than just run some hot water and plunge until it runs clear . you might find that the trip lever assembly is full of hair , soap etc … If your tub has the kind that you step on (tip toe ) to close the drain you can unscrew that and plunge that way .
Nora Hampshire Said:
your tub drain is probably clogged with hair. I would suggest using liquid plumr or drano and once the drain is running better, then get a strainer (sold at bed bath, and beyond, walmart, etc ) that goes over tub drains to keep so much hair from getting into the pipes.
Janelle Tate Said:
Slow tub drain is usualy caused by hair trapped right at the drain itself. If you use a small instrument with a little hook on one end ( like a knitting needle) you can almost always pull the plug out. What is left can be cleared away with a product like Drano. In extreme instances you may need to use a snake which you can buy at any hardware store or rent one at the local rental outlet.
Alexus Brookfield Said:
Drano doesn’t work and poses a risk to either you or a plumber you hire if the clog gets too bad. Drano is VERY caustic and can cause severe skin burns if you have to reach into the drain for some reason. It just sits on the clog and doesn’t make much of a dent in it. Brute force is the only real way to get rid of a clog.
It depends upon the clog; if its mostly sediment the best way is to take off the drain grate and plunge the heck out of that sucker with one of those heavy duty black bottomed plungers. The standard brown ones don’t give enough suction; a heavy duty one is only about $5 and will last for years.
If its a hair clog I usually plunge for a few minutes to loosen everything up; then I’ll go in there with a long piece of slightly hooked heavy wire (usually an unwound wire coat hanger) and fish around until I can grab on the hair and pull it out gradually. It usually takes a few rounds of plunging and fishing to clear out a bad clog.
I’ve lived in 2 places with horribly slow drains so far and these methods have been very effective.
Kelis Mansbridge Said:
get the pipeline maintained once $$$$, try not to drop many thing in tub flus
Vincenzo 131 Said:
Dollar General’s brand of Liquid Plumber Gel.
Works great!
Kristen Wynne Said:
you take apart the waste and overflow and run a handsnake sown the drain
Vivian Cannon Said:
as a fast and inexpensive first attempt try a ZipStick.
I have heard that baking soda works.
First clean out the trap.It is accessed from the other side of the wall that the drain is on and is a can looking thing under the tub.
Usually the problem is right under the drain with a collection of hair and other yuck. I unscrew the drain cap and fish it out with something small with a hook, like a knitting needle. If you have a drain that doesn’t have a screw in cap and you can’t see the clog, a plumbing snake that you can buy at the home store should do the trick. I try to avoid chemicals.
You can usually clear a tub drain effectively with a plunger and some hot water . what you need to do is remove the screw(s) that are on the cover plate to the over flow on the tub . remove the assembly and than gently put a rag in the overflow pipe . this will give you backpressure when you plunge it . than just run some hot water and plunge until it runs clear . you might find that the trip lever assembly is full of hair , soap etc … If your tub has the kind that you step on (tip toe ) to close the drain you can unscrew that and plunge that way .
your tub drain is probably clogged with hair. I would suggest using liquid plumr or drano and once the drain is running better, then get a strainer (sold at bed bath, and beyond, walmart, etc ) that goes over tub drains to keep so much hair from getting into the pipes.
Slow tub drain is usualy caused by hair trapped right at the drain itself. If you use a small instrument with a little hook on one end ( like a knitting needle) you can almost always pull the plug out. What is left can be cleared away with a product like Drano. In extreme instances you may need to use a snake which you can buy at any hardware store or rent one at the local rental outlet.
Drano doesn’t work and poses a risk to either you or a plumber you hire if the clog gets too bad. Drano is VERY caustic and can cause severe skin burns if you have to reach into the drain for some reason. It just sits on the clog and doesn’t make much of a dent in it. Brute force is the only real way to get rid of a clog.
It depends upon the clog; if its mostly sediment the best way is to take off the drain grate and plunge the heck out of that sucker with one of those heavy duty black bottomed plungers. The standard brown ones don’t give enough suction; a heavy duty one is only about $5 and will last for years.
If its a hair clog I usually plunge for a few minutes to loosen everything up; then I’ll go in there with a long piece of slightly hooked heavy wire (usually an unwound wire coat hanger) and fish around until I can grab on the hair and pull it out gradually. It usually takes a few rounds of plunging and fishing to clear out a bad clog.
I’ve lived in 2 places with horribly slow drains so far and these methods have been very effective.
get the pipeline maintained once $$$$, try not to drop many thing in tub flus
Dollar General’s brand of Liquid Plumber Gel.
Works great!
you take apart the waste and overflow and run a handsnake sown the drain
as a fast and inexpensive first attempt try a ZipStick.
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