What to Do About a Slow Draining Bathtub

Water collecting around your feet during a shower is one of the first signs of a clogged bathtub drain. This may just seem annoying, but it can actually start to cause larger issues in your home’s plumbing if left for too long, so as soon as you start to notice a slow-draining tub, it’s best to address it.

It’s not a fun task, but the earlier you tackle your bathtub’s drain, the easier it will be. Taking on the problem as soon as you notice will keep any blocks or build-ups from growing into complete clogs, and can save you time, money, and a call to the plumber.

Why Is My Bathtub Draining Slowly?

A slow-draining bathtub is almost always caused by clogs in the upper tub drainage section. These are usually caused by build-ups of hair, oil, soap scum, and mineral deposits like limescale over time, but can also happen when something like a hair tie, toy, or shampoo bottle cap accidentally ends up down the drain.

Because clogged drains usually happen gradually, the symptoms may be slow or minimal at first. You’ll start to notice a little bit of water left in the tub after you finish a shower, which might take longer than usual to clear out completely—or if you’ve left it longer, you may find yourself up to your ankles in water when showering.

Some of the less common causes of bathtubs draining slowly are issues with your home’s main sewer line, an old pipe breaking down over time, or your plumbing system’s vents being blocked. These are all problems that will need to be addressed by a plumber.

How to Fix a Slow Draining Bathtub

If your tub’s draining issues are being caused by common clogs and blockages, especially in their earlier stages, there are a few DIY fixes you can try.

Clear the Stopper and Drain Area

Pop-ups and other attached bathtub drain stoppers are prone to catching debris, but if you try to fix the issue soon as you start to notice a slower-draining bathtub, you may be able to remove clogs before they move further down your home’s plumbing system.

• Remove the drain stopper by hand, with a screwdriver, or using pliers, depending on what’s needed for your tub’s stopper type.
• Using your hand or needle-nose pliers, pull any hair that is stuck on the bars of the drain.
• Clean the bottom of the drain stopper, then put the stopper back onto the drain.

Plunger

If you’ve already started to notice water collecting when you take a shower, you will need to unclog the bathtub drain. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use a plunger, like you would with a toilet. You’ll need a standard, or cup-style plunger which is also used to fix slow-draining sinks.

• Use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the plate covering the tub’s overflow drain. This is the round metal piece above the floor drain, and below the shower head.
• Dry and cover the overflow drain with two to three overlapping strips of duct tape.
• Remove the tub drain stopper and set it aside, then fill the bathtub with two inches of hot water.
• Hold the plunger vertically and fully cover the drain with its cup, creating a seal between the plunger and the bottom of the tub.
• Push and pull the plunger up and down quickly several times.
• Remove the plunger and check if the tub is draining, taking care to remove any hair or clogs before they can go back down the drain.

Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Dish Soap

You can also unclog a drain using baking soda and vinegar, dish soap or dishwashing detergent, and a few cups of boiling water. Hot water will begin to loosen any built-up clogs, the dish soap will break down stubborn oil or scum, and the foaming reaction of mixing baking soda and vinegar will help to agitate and dislodge the clogs.

• Use a kettle to bring four cups of water to a boil.
• Pour a generous amount of dish soap into the tub drain.
• Pour two cups of the boiling water slowly into the drain, followed by one cup of baking soda and one cup of distilled white vinegar.
• Wait until the fizzing in the drain stops, and re-boil the remaining two cups of water in the meantime.
• Flush the tub drain with the rest of the boiling water.

Plastic Drain Snake

Hair clogs in the upper section of a bathtub drain can usually be snagged and removed with a plastic removal tool. This is a long piece tool with a handle and barbed, teeth-like edges that typically costs less than $5, and acts as a more basic version of a drain snake.

• Start by removing the drain’s stopper, and setting it aside.
• Hold the hair removal tool by the handle, so the barbs are facing up.
• Without twisting, push the hair removal tool straight into the tub drain until you feel it hit the bottom.
• Slowly pull the hair removal tool straight up— if no hair is caught on the tool, try again or move to another method.

Plumber’s Snake

If the more inexpensive methods above don’t work, a plumber’s tool called a drain snake or auger should be able to unclog most bathtub drains. This is an electric device with up to 25 feet of cable and a spiral piece of metal at the end to catch and remove clogs, and starts at around $30.

• Tape cardboard or sheet plastic the bottom of the tub, up to the overflow drain.
• Remove the overflow drain plate with a flat-head screwdriver. If your tub’s overflow drain has a lever, it will need to have its linkage removed, too.
• Kneeling in the bathtub and while the snake is still off, insert the auger end of the snake into the overflow drain’s opening. Feed as much of the snake in by hand as you can.
• Turn on the snake to a slow speed, and slowly feed the cable into the overflow drain.
• When the snake has gone as far as it can, turn the machine on reverse and extract the cable.
• Remove hair and other debris on the end of the snake cable, then repeat the process until the auger comes up clean.

Chemical Removers

Although they should not be a regular solution and should always be used with care, chemical removers are extremely effective in breaking down all sorts of materials that cause bathtub drains to clog. Look for products that contain hydrochloric acid, caustic soda (also called sodium hydroxide), or sulfuric acid when selecting your chemical cleaner.

Before you start, carefully review the instructions on the bottle. Make sure your bathroom is well-ventilated by opening doors and windows, and wear any recommended protective gear, including gloves or face masks. Follow the instructions exactly, then flush the drain with hot water.

Call a Plumber

If none of these DIY methods work, it’s time to call a pro. Plumbers will have professional-grade drain snakes, which can be used to clear clogs through up to 100 feet of drain line—even reaching the main sewer line. A plumber will also be equipped to deal with issues found in your home’s wider drainage system, including the vents and main sewer line.

How to Prevent a Slow-Draining Bathtub

The best way to prevent a slow-draining bathtub is to stop it from clogging in the first place. Hair is the main culprit of bathtub clogs, and stopping your hair from falling out while showering is impossible. But you can prevent it from reaching your home’s plumbing system with the help of a drain cover or drain protector,

Flushing out your tub’s drain by slowly pouring hot water and baking soda down it regularly can also help to break down and dislodge any potential blocks, preventing them from building up and growing over time to create a complete clog.