If you’ve got a slow bathtub drain, it’s no fun. The slow draining tub leaves you standing in an inch of water, waiting for it to finish draining. The slow draining tub leaves your kids splashing in dirty water. The slow draining tub leaves you worried about your pipes. We have all experienced a slow drain at one time or another. When this happens, most people will reach for a bottle of drain cleaner or pour boiling water down the drain, but these are usually temporary solutions. To solve the problem once and for all, you need to figure out the cause and then treat the issue.
Causes of the slow drain
Bathtub drains installed in homes often develop problems over time. The pipe becomes clogged, rust builds up, and the drain develops cracks that allow water to slowly leak from the drain. Bathtub drains are not like sinks or other fixtures that you can just plug up and remove a stopper from. There are many things that can cause your bathtub drain to slow down, from hair to soap build-up to a clog. Plumbing pipes are also susceptible to a number of issues that can have your water draining slowly. Sticking, slow-draining bathtub drains can be caused by a number of issues, including: hair, face care products, body wash, shampoo and conditioner. These items can create a reaction with the drain’s rubber stopper, causing it to stick and clog. As time goes on, the clog will become more and more severe, until the bathtub drain is completely stopped up.
Fix a slow bathtub drain
While most of these causes are easy to fix, you should avoid the temptation to use tools you aren’t familiar with or don’t know how to use. The reason for this is that a drain that is clogged can quickly lead to sewage backup, which can be a major health risk. And even if the obstruction doesn’t lead to an overflow, it can still cause a lot of damage, like mold and bacteria growth, which can be very unhealthy.
Fortunately, you can fix this problem by scheduling regular drain cleaning appointments with a plumber. This will keep your pipes clear and your bathtub drain flowing like new. If you’re tired of slow bathtub drains and clogged pipes, it’s time to hire a professional plumber. A plumber will fix your slow bathtub drain and unclog your pipe faster and cheaper than you could do it yourself.
Prevent future problems
The drains in your bathtub can become slow because of clogged hair and soap scum. To prevent this problem, clean your bathtub drain and hair trap regularly. Use a plunger to clear the drain of hair and other debris, and to remove hair from the sealing surface of the drain cover and the drain stopper. If a plunger doesn’t work, you may need to remove the drain stopper and clean it with a utility knife. Remove any hair and debris, and replace the stopper.
Avoid pouring oil or grease down the drain, since this can clog your pipes and cause a backup. Similarly, avoid using harsh chemicals in your bathtub, since these can cause serious damage to plumbing and fixtures. Instead, use a drain cleaner designed to work with your type of pipes.
