Having a bathtub in the bathroom is everyone’s dream. It not only offers a relaxing time but also increases the aesthetics by several notches.
Installing it in the bathroom is itself a cumbersome task. From selecting the right size to the best design, there are so many things you have to do.
But what’s more worrisome is the post-installation maintenance. If you leave the bathtub as it is without caring for it, your investment is surely going down the drain.
The most common problem with a bathtub is clogged drains, which, if not solved immediately, can render it useless.
Now, a bathtub drain can get clogged due to various reasons. Besides, the event is mostly frequent, occurring after every two to three weeks.
Calling a professional every time your bathtub’s drains are blocked isn’t feasible. On the other hand, you can’t leave the condition unattended.
So, the best option is to try a few DIY hacks that can unclog a bathtub drain easily. These tricks are super easy and won’t require professional plumbing knowledge.
Table of Contents
Why a Bathtub Pipe Can Become Clogged?
1. Hair Buildup
You may not realize that a few hair strands passing through the metal mesh into the bathtub drain pipe can clog the waterway.
It doesn’t happen overnight. Rather, hair strands continue to accumulate & form a mesh, blocking the waterway and clogging the drain further.
2. Debris and Dirt
Old bathtub drains are most susceptible to clogs caused by deposits of solid particles like sand and mud.
These can block the water channel, causing your bathtub to overflow if left unattended.
3. Soap Scum
Another factor clogging a bathtub drain is soap scum. It is a sticky layer forming on the inner walls of the pipe when soap foam mixes with minerals.
Removing the soap scum on time can prevent damage to the drain pipe.
4. Iron Deposits
If your house gets hard water supply, the iron content in it can cause the drain pipe to get clogged.
Solid iron deposits narrow the pipe’s diameter, clogging it with time.
Also, if any solid particle enters the pipe, the narrowed lumen won’t allow it to pass through.
5. Grease and Oils
One of the most common causes of clogged bathtub drain is deposition of oil and grease molecules.
Shampoos, body lotions, soaps, and other products that you use every day are high in these. They can trap in the debris and smaller solid particles entering the pipe’s hollow structure.
How to Know My Bathtub is Clogged?
Most people end up with a rusty, corroded, and damaged drain pipe after a couple of months of using the bathtub. Although the signs of damage are prominent, they are often ignored.
And that’s primarily because people are still in the dark about these symptoms. They only come to realize that their drain pipes need professional treatment when the situation worsens, like a bathtub overflowing with water.
So, rather than waiting for such times to come, you should keep a look out for the clogging signs. At least then, you can use the DIY hacks to remove the clog from the bathtub drain without any professional help.
- Keep an eye on the water movement. If it takes longer than usual to get drained, you are most likely to have a clogged pipe in hand.
- Partial blockage can also clog the bathtub drain. Water pooling around the mouth of the pipe is the most common symptom. So, keep an eye on the bathtub after you are done using it.
- Sometimes, you can see bubbles in the water being drained. Gargling sounds may accompany the sight. This also indicates that your bathtub drain is blocked and the diameter has been reduced.
- When drain pipes get clogged due to the deposition of solid particles, odor is the best way to identify the problem. It is usually a pungent smell that will increase in intensity as you move closer to the pipe’s opening.
- Severe clogging can block the entire water channel in the drain pipe. If that’s the case, you will see water rising back into the bathtub even after draining it.
How to Fix a Clogged Bathtub Drain Using DIY Hacks?
Blocked drain pipes are serious and should be attended immediately. But most of the time, the clogs are smaller if noticed earlier. In these cases, you fix the problem by yourself without calling a professional plumber.
1. Removing Hair Mesh and Debris From the Drain
Open the plate covering the drain pipe and check the inside using a flashlight. If you see a mesh of hair or debris nearby, removing it will become easier.
For this, you can try two different approaches.
- First Approach
- Wear gloves first.
- Take a long tweezer to pull out the mesh stuck near the drain’s opening.
- Be very careful while grabbing the block of hair or debris so that you won’t mistakenly drop it.
- Second Approach
- If tweezers cannot reach the mesh, use a bent wire hanger.
- Ensure the loop formed is angular enough to grab the mesh.
- Pull it out slowly and steadily from the drain pipe.
2. Pouring Boiling Water Into the Bathtub Drain
If you don’t have PVC pipes connecting the bathtub drain, this will be an excellent DIY hack. Boil water in a kettle till you see steam rising from inside.
Now, pour it slowly into the pipe. Be careful while doing this, as splashes of hot water can cause serious injuries. Repeating it a couple of times will dissolve soap scum and deposition on the pipe’s inner walls.
3. Using Baking Soda and Vinegar Mixture
Hardened debris is hard to remove. Even if you pour boiling water, the bathtub drain may not be free of clog completely. So, try this DIY come eco-friendly hack.
It is suitable for all pipe times, including the PVC ones. First, pour about half a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by white vinegar to the drain.
You will see fizz coming out from the pipe’s opening. Leave it undisturbed for about 30 minutes. After that, flush everything using hot water so that the debris can be washed off.
Final Thoughts
DIY hacks are life savers for fixing a clogged bathtub drain. You won’t need any extra tool or skillset to try out these methods. But if the blockage is severe, these tricks may not work. For that, you need a professional intervention.
So, do not contemplate much about calling a plumber for help in case the DIY techniques don’t work.
