( Source: dengarden )
By Paul Goodman
 

In my experience is that it's always worth trying to avoid the expense of employing a plumber if you can help it, and fixing a slow-draining bathtub yourself often isn’t anywhere near as challenging as many people think. Most clogged bath drain issues can be resolved by using some easy, affordable, and straightforward tools and methods.

Once you have fixed the bathtub drain, you should work on preventing or reducing the chances of it happening again—see my suggestions at the bottom of the page.

Six Ways to Fix a Slow-Draining Bathtub

1. Use baking soda and vinegar (the natural alternative to chemicals).
2. Use a commercial (chemical) clog remover.
3. Use a plunger.
4. Remove the drain stopper to inspect and gain access.
5. Use a plumbers’ snake.
6. Call a plumber.

I will go into each of the above methods in detail below. Generally speaking, the list starts with the easier, less-involved, and cheaper methods and progresses to more-involved and expensive methods. So if in doubt, start with #1, and work your way down through the list.
 

In my experience, clearing a clogged bathtub drain can often requires a combination of more than one of these methods.

Before You Begin to Fix Your Bathtub Drain

Plumbing is messy work. Put on some old clothes before you start. You may want to put down some old towels around the work area to soak up any water that spills. Stagnant water is unsanitary, wearing a pair of rubber gloves will protect your hands from germs.

1. Baking Soda and Vinegar

A more natural solution than using cleaning chemicals, this method will clear moderate blockages.

How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

1. Pour a half cup of baking soda down the drain opening.
2. Pour a cup of white vinegar down the drain opening.
3. The combined ingredients should foam for five minutes.
4. Run the hot water and allow it to run through the drain for a minute or so.
5. Examine the bathtub drainage to determine if it still is slow.

Note: The two main advantages of this method are that it is ecologically preferable, and won't cause damage to plastic pipes. It is not that effective on serious blockages, however, and you may still end up having to resort to chemicals.

2. Commercial (Chemical) Clog Remover

Widely available at hardware stores and supermarkets, strong chemical cleaners are designed to unblock drains. Follow the instructions on the label or box carefully.

How to Unclog a Shower Drain Using Chemicals

• Read and follow the directions on the packaging, including the correct amount of the product to use. This amount you use will vary.
• Use gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes.
• Don't mix together different chemicals. This can cause poisonous gas.
• Pour chemicals down the drain opening.

Note: Chemicals should not be used lightly. They can cause damage to your drainage pipes, especially if used repeatedly. Using chemicals is typically a fast, straightforward, and affordable method with a fairly high success rate in my experience. You can reduce the need for chemicals, however, by minimizing future blockages occurring (see the bottom of page)!
 

3. Use a Plunger

Plunging can be successful, though it depends on the nature of the blockage, the location of the clog, and the design of your drain. The plunger requires suction to work. So if the clog is deep and made of mainly hair, for instance, this method may not be effective.

How to Unclog Your Bathtub Drain Using a Plunger

1. Add petroleum jelly to the edge of the suction pad to get a better seal.
2. Add enough water to the bathtub so that the pad of the plunger is submerged.
3. Plunge the bathtub drain opening vigorously.

Note: If using one plunger doesn't work, try using the two plunger method. Put one plunger over the overflow panel, so that the cup seals it off and hopefully gives you better suction, and simultaneously plunge the drain opening using the other plunger. As a method, plunging is always worth a try, as the time and costs involved are relatively small.
 

4. Remove the Drain Stopper to Inspect and Gain Access

If you've tried the above methods and none of them have worked, it's time to get down and dirty. You need to unscrew and take off the overflow plate, then remove the stopper.

The stopper works by lifting and dropping a plunger to open and close the drain. It is operated by a small lever. If the stopper is not working correctly, it can be stuck in a semi-closed position, restricting water flow. The positioning of the plunger can be easily adjusted with the lock nuts that hold the plunger to the threaded rod.
 

If the stopper works okay, then the problem is likely to be a clog, and you will need to use a plumbers' snake. You can use the overflow for access.

Note: Hair and soap can often accumulate underneath the drainage strainer too. So I would recommend removing that too for inspection and access. Some strainers can be removed manually, while others have screws that need to be removed first.
 

5. Use a Plumbers’ Snake

This is another inexpensive method for fixing a slow bathtub drain. The success rate is high if the issue your dealing with is a clog.

How to Unclog Your Bathtub Drain Using a Plumbers' Snake

1. Feed the snake down until the clog is reached. You can gain access to the drain via the overflow, once you've removed the stopper (see above). An alternative route is via the drain opening, after you've removed the strainer.
2. Turn the handle to bring it back up.
3. Run water to check the drain, and make sure that the clog is completely gone.
4. You may need to repeat the process several times.

Note: Clogs caused by invasive roots will require more than a plumbers' snake to fix.

6. Call a Plumber

If you are unwilling to take your drain apart and don't feel comfortable with using chemicals (or they simply don't work), then you will have to call out a professional plumber. It’s obviously the last resort if you are looking to save money.

That said, it is also the least trouble.
 

What Causes a Tub to Drain Slowly?

Typically the cause of a slow-draining bathtub is a clog that is restricting water flow. Clogs are usually made up of knotted hair, dirt, grease, and/or soap. They can be difficult to remove because hair can wrap around parts of the drain.

Clogs happen more frequently in homes where one or more of the bathtub users has long hair, as short hair is much less likely to get caught in the drain system.

Causes of Clogs in Bathtub Drains

Symptoms of a Slow-Draining Tub

Slow draining means that the water stays in the tub for much longer than it should after you have pulled the plug. The water either takes longer than it should to disappear, or in more serious cases, remains indefinitely. The problem can develop gradually over a period of time and may not be noticeable immediately. It's common for many people to disregard the issue until it has become serious.

Unfortunately, once the drainage problems have begun, they will typically only get worse over time unless action is taken. This is because clogs tend to gather more debris such as hair, dirt, and soap over time, and become bigger and more firmly attached. The sooner that you deal with the problem, the easier it can be to resolve.
 

How to Prevent a Bathtub From Slow-Draining

Prevention is almost always better than cure, of course. So once your drainage problems are resolved, don't forget to minimize the possibility of your bathtub drain getting clogged again. Below are two things to try.

• Firstly, you should certainly think about buying a good drain protector, if you don't already have one, to prevent hair, children's toys, plus other small items and debris from clogging the drain.
• Secondly, a secure soap dish can often help, as soap contributes to clogs forming by binding knots of hair together into larger clumps. (It goes without saying that loose soap falling into the tub, or onto the floor can also cause serious accidents due to people slipping.)

Is There a Good Drain Protector That You Can Recommend for a Bathtub?

There are lots of great products out there that will do the job effectively. Bear in mind that there are different types of bathtub drain stopper and the protector you buy will have to take this into account.

Common types of bathtub drain stopper include:

• Push-and-pull
• Lift-and-turn
• Toe-touch
• Pop-up
• Flip-it
• Trip lever