A clogged bathtub can be a huge nuisance, and if not handled with care can turn into a real disaster. A lot of times, it’s as easy as using the plunger and force whatever’s blocking the drain out. However, there are more steps to this process than simply jamming the plunger in a bathtub full of water.
There are several ways you can approach this. Some small clogs can be removed by cleaning your stopper. However, deeper clogs may require additional tools and a little more time. We spoke to the experts at OneStop Plumbers to bring you a few tips on how to easily unclog your bathtub.
Here are Expert Shares 5 Steps of Unclogging Your Bathtub:
1. Gather The Essentials:
Some of the essential items you need to tackle this issue include:
- Bucket
- Screwdriver
- Towels or rags
- Rubber gloves
- Plunger
2. Get Water Out Of the Tub:
Before you start unclogging your bathtub, make sure you remove any standing water that might have been stuck there. Use a bucket or a cup to pick up the water and dispose of it in the toilet or sink. Once all of it or at least a good part of it is out, you can start working on unclogging the bathtub.
3. Remove The Stopper:
A lot of bathtubs have a stopper or a strainer on the drain meant to prevent hair or other debris from clogging them. So the first step if you have one is to remove it. Some stoppers can be removed manually, but others have to be unscrewed from the drain.
4. Add Few Inches Of Hot Water:
If removing the stopper does not get the water going down the drain, you are facing a serious clog. In this case, the first thing you should do is add a few inches of hot water to the tub until the water level reaches the cup on the plunger. This will help create the pressure you’ll need to get the clog out.
Since plunging through the water can get messy, we recommend slipping into older clothes and wearing rubber gloves and boots.
5. Use The Plunger On The Drain:
Every household needs to have a plunger in cases like this. If you don’t, make sure you buy one as soon as possible, because you never know when you might be facing an emergency like this.
You should place the cup of the plunger beneath the hot water and over the drain. Hold it straight up and using the handle repeatedly press the head down closer to the drain and pull it back up. Do this repeatedly for 30 seconds then pull the plunger up.
If you managed to break the clog you should see debris or dirty water coming out of the drain as you remove the plunger head. This is to be expected, as the plunger is meant to pull whatever is clogging the drain out.
If this not do the trick, repeat the entire process two to three times. Once you see the water running down the drain you know you were successful. However, if this does not help you may be facing a more difficult clog that may require the tools and expertise of a professional plumber.
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