There's nothing more inconvenient than a tub that won't drain, and it's a problem that most homeowners encounter. There are a few common causes for this—such as hair clogs, soap scum, or damaged drain pipes—but it needs immediate attention, either by troubleshooting yourself or calling a professional plumber.
You can also try a baking soda and vinegar mixture to clean out clogged bathtub drains. First, pour boiling water down the pipe. Then pour in about half a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of white vinegar into the drain. When baking soda and vinegar are mixed, they create a chemical reaction that foams up.
Generally, backed-up bathtubs indicate a plumbing problem on your sewer line or drainage pipes. Usually, you may get more warning signs on your different drainage systems that should prompt you to act on the issue.
4. 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). It works by dissolving the remaining hair and gunk—and boom!
When you are using a baking soda and vinegar solution to clean out your drain, you are actually causing the rubber and plastic that are used for the drain's pipes to be eaten away by the mixture. Over time, this rubber and plastic will break down, causing the drain to become even more blocked.
If water starts coming out of the drain in a main floor tub or shower, or if the toilets start filling up when you use a drain or run the washing machine, most likely you have a main sewer line clog.
If your drain is clogged with hair, baking soda can dissolve hair in a drain. To try this safe and easy method at home - first, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Then pour a cup of vinegar (white vinegar) down. Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes.
If the water is still not draining correctly, there might be a blockage in the P-trap, aka the elbow-shaped pipe under your sink. Food, grease and other debris may be stuck in the pipe, causing your sink to drain slowly or not at all because the water hits a snag on its way down.
Use Boiling Water
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective. Boiling water helps break down grease and soap holding the clog together to clear the blockage. This method is easy and only requires one or two steps. Most important is to boil water on a stove using a kettle or saucepan.
About 80 percent of the time, you can fix slow-draining or clogged tub drains in about five minutes, without chemicals and without a $100 plumber bill. In most cases, you'll only need a screwdriver and a stiff wire or a bent coat hanger.
If used water takes a long time to drain, that can be a sign of a clogged vent stack. Debris blocking the vent won't allow air to get inside and push the water out of drainage pipes. Any drain in your home that takes forever to drain can be due to a blocked vent.
Clean Your Drains
One way to try to clear a clogged sewer drain is to create a solution out of vinegar and baking soda. Mix 1/3 cup of each and pour them down the drain lines immediately, while they're still fizzy. The chemical reaction should help break down any build-up that could be causing a sewer clog.
Can you leave baking soda in the drain overnight? It is safe to leave baking soda (and vinegar) to work overnight to unclog a drain.
Some people say weekly, bi-monthly or quarterly. However, we feel that cleaning your drains monthly should be sufficient to avoid major plumbing issues. A monthly cleaning will allow you to use safe cleaning methods which will save you time, energy and money in the long term.
Drano Max Gel Clog Remover
It will work through standing water in the pipe to get to the clog itself and dissolve it. It works on hair, food, soap scum, and general buildup in your pipes that can lead to slow draining or even backups. This gel should not be used in toilets, however.
Yes. This product is designed to pour through standing water. However, it is formulated to work effectively on slow flowing drains. Therefore, for particularly stubborn clogs that cause standing water in drains, we recommend using Liquid-Plumr® Urgent Clear®.
Using a snake is also more invasive and time-consuming than using a chemical cleaner is, and can often become a dirty job. When it comes to getting at and removing major clogs or clogs that are deep down in your pipes, however, a plumber's snake is your best bet.
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.