Not much more in your home is unsanitary than a shower that fills with water because the bathtub drain will not drain properly.
You can get by with a bathtub that drains slowly for a short period of time, but it will only get worse as time goes on. To avoid the mess that is a backed up shower, you need to somehow re-open the drain to allow the water to move through freely.
Typically, when you put the bathtub drain into the open position, all of the water drains out and down the drain hole. But, sometimes the bathtub won’t drain and then the water just sits at the bottom of the bathtub.
This is the time you need to address the problem and get the issue repaired quickly. Most of the causes of this situation are easily fixed, but most of them will require a licensed professional plumber to be called in.
When a bathtub begins to drain slowly, it is almost always hair that has built up and gets stuck in the drain or the drain pipe system. Usually you can see this hair and remove it rather easily, but some hair related clogs are too large or too deep to reach. If this is the case, you may need to use industrial drain cleaners to break through the clog. The following measures will help you clear most tub clogs and send your bath water quickly swirling on its way.
Here are a few scenarios that will cause a tub to back up and refuse to drain normally:
- Over time, your bathtub drains will always develop clogs. This happens when hair and soap scum meet up in the drain pipe and combine as one. Shaving cream or shaving gels are especially good at developing stubborn clogs in your bathtub drains. Sometimes objects like shampoo or conditioner bottle caps or razor top plastic will get washed down the drain and these items can also cause clogs.
- If you have a bathtub and shower combo, the drain stopper that you use to block the flow of water out of the tub drain may have gotten stuck. This usually happens with build-up over the years, and will prevent water from going down the drain normally. Easy fix here as you can simply pull the drain stopper out of the drain to make sure that it isn’t blocked by a chunk of hair or any other objects.
- You can also try using a drain plunger or a plumbing snake to clear the drain of a clog. These items are found in all home improvement stores and are simple to use. If you are unable to remove the drain clog, then you will need to contact a professional plumber to have your drain cleaned properly.
A backed up bathtub is a gross situation because the water that is trapped in the tub is filled with bacteria, and will multiply and turn into a cesspool if left untreated.