So, why won't your drain snake go down the bathtub drain? The answer may be that you are either using the wrong kind of drain snake, or you are trying to force it through a P-trap, or you are forcing the snake cable through the pipe too quickly or the clog is just too darn big.
The overflow plate is often located just above the drain and is used to prevent overflow. Insert the drain snake: Feed a drain snake down the overflow hole. Tighten the thumbscrew to lock the snake in place, then crank the handle and push the snake down the drain.
If you force it, sometimes the cable can bend back on itself or kink. Instead of forcing the cable, extend the snake cable a few inches at a time until you reach the clog. Really big blockage – Sometimes the blockage in your bathtub drain is simply too large to be dislodged with a drain snake.
Common reasons why a bathtub won't drain include soap scum, hair, bath bombs, cosmetic products, and damaged pipes. You can fix such plumbing problems using boiling water, baking soda and vinegar, a plunger, or a plumbing snake.
You might try sucking the drain out with a shop vac and then try snaking it again, if there is debris in the bottom of the trap it can be difficult to get the snake to turn.
Drain Snaking Can Impact the Clog If Done Incorrectly
Drain snaking requires proper knowledge and skills to do it right the first time. When done incorrectly, the materials of which the clog consists can wrap around the snake and become lodged in the pipe.
If you're looking for an easy and chemical-free solution, you can clear a slow drain with a plunger. To clear a slow drain, you can use a cup plunger to unclog it or a similar type of drain plunger. A cup plunger can be used to clear various types of drains, whether it be in your kitchen, bathroom, or even basement.
Try a Plunger
Fill the tub with a few inches of water to cover the drain opening. Place the plunger over the drain, ensuring a good seal. Plunge vigorously for about 30 seconds. Check if the water drains.
Use ½-1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar, plus a bit of water if you want to dilute things a little bit more. Pour it down the drain and let it sit for 30-60 minutes. Sometimes, this mixture can break up clogs that even Drano can't touch!
Bend the end of the snake about 3 or 4 inches from the end before you insert it so it will more easily go around the corner when it encounters it. You can also try pulling back on the cable just a bit when you get to a corner.
Unclogging a bathtub drain is an easy process, and can take about 20 minutes of your time to do the process completely.
On average, the cost to snake a drain can range from $100 to $300. However, keep in mind that this is just an estimate, and prices may vary depending on the factors.
Pour a pot of hot boiling water into the bathtub drain. Pour a cup of vinegar and ¼ cup of baking soda into the drain and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. Pour another pot of boiling water down the drain and check if the clog is removed by running the water. Once the clog is cleared, replace the strainer and the stopper.
Pour boiling water down the drain.
Use a funnel so that the hot water doesn't harm anything else in the tub. Wait fifteen minutes and attempt to run water from the tap. If the clog is made up of a grease or soap build-up, the heat should melt it away.
If your bathtub is draining slowly but isn't clogged, old pipes or a faulty stopper may be to blame. Water cannot always flow freely through old, corroded pipes.
CLEAR THAT CLOG
The best way to clear that clog is by pouring Drano® Max Gel Clog Remover straight over the drain (even if there's standing water).
The best solution, especially if you still have standing water on the shower floor or in the drain, is to get a shop vac (in wet vac mode) and use it to suck up the standing water and vacuum away all the debris clogging the drain. This works 95% of the time!
For this home remedy, all you need to do is pour a pot of boiling water down the bathtub drain. Then pour a mixture of one cup baking soda and one cup vinegar into the drain. Insert the drain plug, or close the filter, and wait 5–10 minutes. Finally, flush the drain with another pot of boiling water.
Combine baking soda and vinegar. Mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar (about 1 cup of each) and pour the blend down the bathtub drain after a pot full of hot (not boiling) water. Cover the drain after you pour the mixture for up to 10 minutes.
If your snake isn't unclogging your drains, it could be because the thumbscrew is loose, the clog is too severe, or the auger is dirty. Or maybe you just need a refresher on how to use a drain snake. A drain auger (snake) is a simple, inexpensive necessity for every homeowner.
A straightforward yet effective approach to addressing a clogged drain pipe involves simply using hot water mixed with dish soap. This method, ideal for tackling minor blockages, leverages the degreasing power of dish soap combined with the force of hot water to dislodge and dissolve clog-causing residue.