3 Ways to Fix a Slow Draining Tub without Calling the Plumber

At some point or another, every homeowner has had this experience: You are using our shower as usual when you look down and notice you are standing in a few inches of water.

If you have a slow-draining shower, you don’t have to panic. In most cases, it’s simply caused by a buildup of materials in the drainpipe under your tub. Once you remove these materials — either mechanically, chemically or through the use of forced air — your shower should drain normally.

Unplugging Your Drain

There are three basic tools you can use to unplug a stopped up drain. The first is the trusty bathroom plunger.

The plunger uses the principle of forced air to loosen then push the materials through your drain.

To create a vacuum seal, place a wet plastic bag or your hand over the overflow drain. Then place the rubber head of the plunger over the drain and push it forcefully up and down several times. This may cause dirty or even black water to be pulled up into your tub. But when the drain is cleared, the liquid should go back down.

Using Chemicals

For tougher clogs, you may need to use a chemical drain cleaner. These can be found at your local home improvement store and come in both liquid and crystal form.

These chemicals are highly caustic, so be careful when using them. Always wear rubber gloves and take precautions not to touch the chemicals at any time as they may burn your skin.

Follow the instructions on the package. Some require the use of boiling water while others don’t.

Air Pressure

A third approach to tackling a stopped up drain is to use pressurized air. These canned products also can be found in the plumbing supply aisle of your local home improvement store.

If any or all of these three methods fail to unplug your drain, you may need to contact your plumber because it could be a more seriouis problem, such as a sewer line that needs to be rodded out.