3 Tips To Fix A Slow Bathtub Drain
Taking a warm shower at the end of a busy day can be refreshing. What should be an enjoyable experience can quickly turn into a burden when you discover that the drain in your bathtub isn't working properly.
The last thing you want to do is stand in a pool of dirty bathwater because your tub isn't draining fast enough. You should take immediate action to address a slow bathtub drain so that you can avoid the inconvenience a clogged drain can create.
1. Clean Your Drain Stopper
Bathtub drains are equipped with stoppers that can seal off the drain completely. These stoppers allow a tub to serve as both a soaking vessel and a place where you can take a shower.
Hair and soap scum can build up on the surface of the stopper over time. These materials can inhibit the flow of water through the drain, causing water to back up into the tub while you are showering. Remove your stopper and clean all surfaces completely to help restore proper water flow.
2. Flush the Drain Pipe
Once the stopper has been cleaned, you should flush the drain pipe before installing the stopper once again. Clogs can form deeper within the drain pipe before they affect the stopper.
A wire hanger that has been straightened out can be snaked down your drain to help loosen any debris caught in the pipe. You can also use a plunger to help push clogs through the drain pipe so that water can flow freely through the drain while you are taking a shower.
Follow up with a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and hot water to help loosen any debris that is clinging to the interior walls of your drain pipes.
3. Contact a Plumber
If simple clog-clearing techniques have no effect on the rate at which water drains from your tub during a shower, you will need the help of an experienced plumber. Slow drains can be caused by clogs that are deep within your home's plumbing system.
A plumber can utilize a fiber optic camera to identify the clog. A specialized hydro jet can then be used to shoot pressurized water directly at the clog to restore proper function to your bathtub drain.
Don't overlook a slow bathtub drain. If you don't take action to correct the problem, clogs could get worse. Clean the stopper and drain pipe as best you can, then rely on the services of a professional plumber for more intensive drain cleaning. For more information, reach out to companies like Equisure Inspectors.