If you find yourself standing in a puddle of dirty murky water after taking a shower because your bathtub won’t drain, it’s time to figure out what is going on. If this is the first time you have noticed a slow moving drain, it is likely a small clog that is close to the surface of your system. At Lutz Plumbing, we have the experience you want when it comes to dealing with clogged drains and other plumbing emergencies. With the countless snaked drains we have dealt with, we know exactly what causes backups to occur. From small soap scum and hair clogs, to large tree roots growing into your main sewer line, we are ready to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Here are the 5 most common reasons your bathtub won’t drain and what you can do about it.
Reason #1: The Obvious Culprit – Hair Clogs
Hair clogs are a common reason that your bathtub won’t drain. Soap scum builds up over time, and combines with any hair that might get into your bathtub drain. Once too much soap scum and hair accumulate, a stubborn blockage will occur right at the drain stopper. If hair clogs are a consistent issue in your home, take the time to brush your hair before taking a shower or bath. By removing loose hair before you get into the shower, you will help eliminate the potential for hair clogs in the shower. If anyone in your home has long hair, it is even more important to take this step before getting into the shower.
How to Safely Remove It Yourself
You can use a Zip-It tool to try and clean out any hair and soap scum that has accumulated near the end of your drain stopper. Take a look at your stopper to see if you need to unscrew it, or the stopper twists off. It is possible that you will need a special tool to remove your stopper. You can slide the Zip-It tool below the stopper, even if you can’t get the stopper off of the drain. This tool will help you grab any clog that may be close to the surface of your tub. Do not use harsh liquid drain cleaners to take care of a clog, as harsh liquid drain cleaners can cause significant damage to your pipes over time. The corrosive chemicals in liquid drain cleaner can cause holes in your pipes to develop. While a harsh liquid drain cleaner might work once, it isn’t going to work on clogs that are deep in your plumbing system.
Reason #2: A Blocked P-Trap
The P-Trap is the U-Shaped pipe under the tub that blocks odors from coming into your home from the sewer system. This U-Shaped area holds water, creating a water seal that prevents gases from coming into the building. Sometimes the P-Trap will collect small debris, which may build up and cause a clog to occur.
How to Un-Block a P-Trap
For a P-Trap in your bathtub, you can try plunging the drain to see if the water drains afterwards. Start by adding some water into the tub to create a better seal over the drain. Use the plunger vigorously for several minutes to try to clean out the P-Trap. Check to see if the water starts to drain once you have plunged it. You can also try using a snake to clean out the P-Trap if you are able to get the stopper off the end of your drain. Sometimes a simple combination of vinegar and baking soda can be used to clean the P-Trap because it causes a foaming reaction that cleans your pipes.
Reason #3: Issues with the Drain Stopper
Sometimes your drain is not able to open fully because the mechanical stopper is out of alignment. If the stopper is not properly aligned, or it is clogged with debris, your drain is not going to drain correctly.
How to Fix a Drain Stopper
You can try removing the stopper, and putting it back in to see if you get it aligned. It is possible that you do not have the right tools to remove a drain stopper, and you will want to have this done by a professional instead. You can also check to see if the stopper is broken and needs to be replaced. If you have no idea what to do with a drain stopper, it will be easier to have a plumber take care of this for you.
Reason #4: A Clogged Venting System
A clogged venting system may seem like it has nothing to do with a drain that won’t work, but your plumbing system needs proper ventilation to work correctly. A blocked vent on the roof can cause drainage issues throughout the house. If you are experiencing clogs throughout your home, it’s time to call on a professional to see what the problem is.
How to Fix a Clogged Venting System
Unless you are a trained professional, you should not be trying to fix your clogged venting system on your own. The plumbing system throughout your home is complex, and only a professional will be able to diagnose a clogged system. Once this problem has been identified, you will need a professional to take care of the problem for you.
Reason #5: A Main Sewer Line Clog
A main sewer line clog is impossible to fix on your own, and requires the services of a professional plumber. Warning signs of a main sewer line that is starting to clog include:
- Multiple drains are going slow at the same time throughout the home
- You hear a bubbling or gurgling noise when the toilet flushes
- Water is backing up in the lowest points in the house
Fixing a Clog in Your Main Sewer Line
A main sewer line clog is deep in your plumbing system, and you will need to contact a professional to handle the problem for you. This is not an issue that you can try to fix yourself, even if you have a professional grade snake that reaches the entirety of your plumbing system. A main sewer line can become clogged from debris that has gone down your drains, or from tree roots that grow into the plumbing system. A professional will come to assess your main sewer line, and use the tools needed to clean out your main sewer line from any blockages.
When Your Bathtub Won’t Drain
If your bathtub won’t drain, the problem can range in severity from a simple hair clog, to a major clog in your main sewer line. The most common issues are a hair clog close to the surface, a blocked P-Trap, problems with the drain stopper, a clogged venting system, and a clog in your main sewer line. Although you can try to remove hair and soap scum from the drain stopper area using a Zip-It or similar tool, harsh drain chemicals should never be used because they are corrosive to your pipes.
Call Lutz Plumbing for Drain Cleaning Help Today
If you have tried the simple fixes and your tub is still draining slowly, don’t wait for the clog to get out of control. Contact Lutz Plumbing for professional drain cleaning. We have the tools and the know-how to get things flowing again, fast. We are ready to take care of your plumbing system 24 hours a day, seven days a week.