There’s nothing quite like a relaxing soak in the tub after a long day of enjoying the gorgeous Seattle scenery. But fill that basin up and…oh no, the water’s just sitting there? A clogged bathtub drain can really put a damper on your me-time. Don’t sweat it though – we have you covered!
We’re about to walk through several DIY methods for clearing out even the most stubborn of tub clogs. From the classic plunger technique to getting hands-on with a drain snake, we’ll cover all the bases. You’ll also learn about using chemical drain cleaners safely and some handy natural solutions. We’ll even share tips for preventing future backups so you can soak worry-free. Let’s get that water flowing again in no time!
Identifying the Cause of the Clog
Before you go full-on attack mode against that stubborn bathtub clog, it’s helpful to first identify what’s actually causing the backup. That way, you can pick the best unclogging method for the job and clear that drain like a pro.
More often than not, the usual culprits are things like accumulated hair, soap scum build-up from your favorite bath products, or even a kid’s errant toy meeting an untimely demise. Sometimes you’ll get the perfect storm of all those factors combining to form a super clog. Yuck!
Other times, the clog could originate farther down the drain pipe. Maybe there are roots infiltrating the sewer line from nearby trees or shrubs getting a little too ambitious. Or you’re just dealing with good old-fashioned gunk and grime buildup from years of use.
An easy way to help identify the cause is to remove the bathtub drain cover and shine a flashlight to get a visual. If it’s a surface-level clog, you’ll likely see the offending hairball or toy right there. If not, take a closer whiff – does it smell like sewage backup? That likely means the clog is deeper down the pipe.
No matter what you discover, don’t worry – we’ll cover all the drain-clearing tactics to get that tub unclogged in no time!
Method 1: Using a Plunger
One of the oldest tricks in the book for unclogging drains is good old plunger power. This simple tool has been relied on for decades to bust through clogs, and it’s easy to see why. Plungers are cheap, easy to find, and can often dislodge basic clogs with some good elbow grease.
You’ll want to grab a cup-style plunger designed for sinks and tubs. Those flanged ones are better left for toilets. Run the rubber cup under hot water for a minute to get it flexing and ready to form a tight seal over the drain.
Next, remove any drain covers, strainers, or hair catchers so you have full access to the drain opening. For a bathtub, stuff an old rag or the plunger itself into the overflow drain to block it off. Getting that airtight seal is key.
Now it’s time to get plunging! Position the plunger cup directly over the drain and start forcefully plunging straight up and down while maintaining that seal. Put some muscle into it – you’re trying to build up air pressure to forcefully dislodge the clog. Plunge hard for 15-20 seconds, then take a break to check if the water is draining.
If you aren’t making progress, try pouring a kettle of boiling hot water down the drain first to help loosen things up before plunging again. Or pick up one of those plunger force cup attachments that concentrate the plunging power even more.
With persistent plunging and a little brute force, you should be able to power through lots of basic hair/soap scum clogs using this method. Just be ready to reach your hand in and pull out any nasty gunk that comes loose. Not glamorous, but hey, it gets the job done! Don’t worry, there are still several more unclogging tricks to try if the plunger doesn’t work.
Method 2: Removing the Clog Manually
Sometimes good old-fashioned muscle is needed to clear out a really stubborn bathtub clog. If plunging just isn’t cutting it, it’s time to get your hands dirty and wrestle that blockage out manually!
Grab yourself a drain snake (or plumber’s snake/auger as they’re also called). This is basically a long, flexible metal cable with a hooked or barbed end designed to grab onto hair, toys, you name it – whatever is causing that drain backup.
Start by feeding the snake cable down into the bathtub drain opening as far as you can. You’ll likely need to crank the handle to help work it down the pipe. Once you feel it hit resistance, that’s probably the clog. From there, it’s time to put a little muscle into it – rotate the snake back and forth while pushing down to try and latch onto the blockage.
With some luck and persistence, you’ll be able to snag that gunky clog and yank it free when you pull the snake back out. It may take a few attempts to really get a solid grip, so don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work the first time. Just make sure to fully remove any debris you dislodge so it doesn’t immediately re-clog.
If the clog is being extremely stubborn, you can try spraying some drain cleaner gel down there before snaking again to help break it up. Just avoid using straight liquid drain cleaners with the snake, as the fumes can be pretty hazardous.
It may get a little gross, but with enough elbow grease, that bathtub drain will be flowing freely again in no time! Maybe keep the shower curtain closed though…just in case.
Method 3: Using a Chemical Drain Cleaner
Alright, so you’ve tried the plunger, you’ve tried snaking it with no luck – that bathtub clog is putting up one hell of a fight. When you’ve exhausted all the physical unclogging methods, it might be time to think about cracking open one of those chemical drain cleaner products. You know, the ones that use harsh chemicals to basically eat through whatever is causing that backup.
Now we have to warn you, this stuff is no joke. Most drain cleaners use extremely caustic ingredients like lye, sulfuric acid, or bleach as their main components. Nasty stuff that can really do some damage if you’re not careful with it. Make sure you’ve got windows open for ventilation and keep any kids or pets far away from the area when using these products. Safety first, always.
To use a chemical drain cleaner, first put on some thick rubber gloves and eye protection – don’t skip this step unless you want a trip to the ER. Then slowly pour the recommended amount straight down your bathtub drain, following the instructions on the label. Don’t just mindlessly dump the whole bottle in there. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes so the chemicals have time to work on dissolving that clog.
After letting it marinate for a bit, run the hot water for several minutes to try flushing everything out. You might need to grab that plunger again and really muscle it too if it’s still draining sluggishly. If that clog is still stubbornly sticking around after one treatment, you can try another light application. But don’t go overboard or you risk damaging your pipes over time.
The thing to remember is that these hardcore chemical cleaners are really only meant for occasional use when everything else has failed miserably. The harsh formulas can start corroding and eating away at your pipes if you overuse them frequently. Think of it as an occasional last-resort fix, not your go-to long-term solution.
If you do have to go nuclear with a chemical cleaner, make sure to really flush that drain thoroughly with hot water when you’re done. You might even want to follow up by pouring some baking soda and vinegar down there to help neutralize any lingering harsh chemicals. Don’t want that gnarly stuff sticking around!
Method 4: Natural DIY Solutions
Maybe you’re not feeling too hot about going nuclear with those hardcore chemical drain cleaners on your clogged bathtub. We don’t blame you one bit – that caustic stuff is seriously no joke. But don’t sweat it, you’ve got some more natural, DIY-style options to try before busting out the hazmat suit.
One old trick in the book is just using plain ol’ baking soda and vinegar. Dump a half cup or so of baking soda directly down the drain, then quickly follow it up with an equal amount of vinegar. Let that bubbling science fair volcano reaction go to work for 10-15 minutes, then flush it all down with a kettle of boiling water from the stove. The baking soda and vinegar team up to help break down gross hair clumps, soap scum build-up, and other nasty organic matter that could be causing that clog.
You can also look into an enzyme drain cleaner product from the hardware store or online. These use strain cultures of bacteria and bio-based enzymes to literally digest and eat away at whatever is gunking up your drain over time. Just pour some down before hitting the hay, let it work overnight, and flush it out first thing in the morning. Safer option if you’ve got little kids or pets running around the house.
If you’re looking for something really simple and cheap, sometimes just boiling a few kettles of water and dumping them directly down the drain can work wonders. The intense heat helps dissolve built-up soap scum, wax, or anything else that might be contributing to that clog. Just don’t try this one if your pipes are made of PVC plastic, as the boiling water could potentially warp or damage it.
Or if you’re feeling particularly handy and scrappy, you can even try snaking the drain yourself using an old wire coat hanger. Straighten that sucker all the way out, then carefully try to dislodge the clog by pulling up any hair clumps or grimy gunk you can grab onto down there. It’s free, it’s easy, and it works in a pinch!
These natural methods are generally a lot safer for your pipes and better for the environment than those super caustic drain cleaners. Sure, they might take a little more elbow grease to really power through, but they’ll get that bathtub draining again without hazardous chemicals. Save those super heavy-duty drain openers as an absolute last resort.
Preventing Future Bathtub Clogs
Okay, you’ve put in some serious work and finally conquered that nasty clogged bathtub drain. Take a well-deserved victory lap! But before you get too comfortable, it’s probably wise to take some preventative measures going forward. Trust me, you do not want to be dealing with this backed-up drain nonsense again anytime soon.
One super easy thing is to get yourself a drain hair catcher or strainer cover. These cheap little gizmos just fit right over the drain itself and catch all that gunky hair before it even has a chance to go down and wreak havoc. The key is actually remembering to clean it out regularly so it doesn’t get overloaded and useless.
You can also make it a weekly habit to dump some baking soda down the drain followed by vinegar, then flush it all out with hot water. That little science experiment helps break down any soap scum buildup, stray hairs, or residue that might be starting to congeal before it turns into a full-fledged clogged situation. Staying ahead of the game is clutch.
If you’ve got a drain that’s just constantly slow and needs some TLC, look into getting a basic drain cleaning tool like a zip-it or even just an unbent wire coat hanger to snake through and pull out gunk regularly. Just be gentle and don’t go scratching up the pipes.
And be mindful of what kinds of nasty things you’re sending down that drain! Obviously hair, soap scum, and the occasional kid’s lost action figure are bad enough. But things like cotton balls, feminine products, excessive toilet paper, and whatever else can quickly turn into a plumber’s total nightmare clog. Do yourself a favor and keep that stuff in the trash where it belongs.
A little preventative drain maintenance really does go a long way towards avoiding nasty clogged drains down the road. Unless you just really get a sick kick out of snaking pipes and dumping chemical cleaners everywhere…in which case, you do you!
When the Unclogging is Too Tough, Call a Seattle Plumbing Pro
At the end of the day, some clogged bathtub drains are just too stubborn for any DIY method to handle. You can plunge until you’re blue in the face, snake it until you’re seeing drains in your dreams, dump every homemade concoction known to man down there – and it still won’t budge. When you’re at your wit’s end and about to start taking a sledgehammer to the tub, it’s time to call in a professional.
The good news for Seattle homeowners is you’ve got a local plumbing superhero on call. Gene Johnson has been unclogging the most hellish of drain clogs for over 48 years. Our team has the industrial-strength equipment and hard-earned expertise to power through even the gnarliest of backups that leave you stumped.
Whether it’s a bathtub, shower, sink, or any other drain giving you issues, the Gene Johnson crew will have it cleared out quickly and efficiently. No more guesswork or harsh chemical cleaners – just tried-and-true plumbing skills. We’ll get to the root of the problem and make sure it doesn’t happen again anytime soon.
So don’t keep wrestling with that clogged drain anymore. Save yourself the headache and funky smells by calling in the big guns at (206) 792-7495. Gene Johnson will get your drains flowing like a dream again in no time!
