How to Fix a Slow-Draining Bathtub: A Step-by-Step Guide

A slow-draining bathtub is frustrating for all. It creates an unpleasant experience and disturbs your daily routine. The accumulation of water in the tub and its slow movement indicate clogs in plumbing pipes. If you don’t fix the problem immediately, one day, the water flow will stop completely. It may also damage the home plumbing system. 

So, let’s consider effective ways to fix this problem. By following these methods, you can restore the smooth functionality of the bathtub. It will help maintain a hygienic & enjoyable environment in the bathroom and prevent bigger plumbing issues. 

Causes of Slow Bathtub Drain

• Lack of Periodic Cleaning & Maintenance

Remember, operational blockages occur in a bathtub when you use it for a long time & don’t clean it. The quality of tap water also contributes to the problem. Water with a high quantity of calcium and magnesium salts may deposit on the walls as limescale. Little by little, the throughput capacity of the pipes decreases to a great extent. 

Remember, the metal pipes are subject to corrosion if you don’t clean them regularly. Over time, their walls will become loose and attract more contaminants. The gradual accumulation of soap residue, hair, fabric, sand, and other solid particles results in a plumbing clog. 

• Man-made Blockages

These problems occur due to faulty installation of the bathtub or sewer pipes, excessive water pressure, and system failures (such as freezing). Moreover, an insufficient slope of the pipes and a mismatch between the height of the bathtub and the inlet of the riser can also cause the problem. 

Remember, eliminating man-made blockages is a labor-intensive process. You should not try to fix it yourself if you don’t have any prior experience with plumbing work. Contact us immediately at Parzival Plumbing for its solution. We operate in Costa Mesa and offer an instant solution to all plumbing problems. 

• Pipe Damage

Sometimes, a slow-draining bathroom is caused by damaged plumbing pipes. In such a situation, our plumbers in Irvine may replace them with new ones to fix the problem. 

How To Fix a Slow-Draining Bathtub?

As soon as you experience a plumbing problem, let us know immediately. We work in the following sequence to fix a slow-draining bathtub–

Correct Diagnosis of The Problem

Soon after reaching your premises, our professional plumbers in Newport Beach examine the problem carefully. They will let you know whether the problem is simple or complex and suggest possible ways to fix it. 

Removing the Drain Cover

Our plumbers will remove the drain cover using a wrench or screwdriver. If your bathtub drain cover is heavy, use a bit of force carefully. Once removed, they might use different methods to clean the drain. 

Using Chemical Solutions

Our plumbers may use chemical solutions to clean clogged bathtub pipes.

• They pour liquid into the drain hole and wait for some time. 
• They flush the system with a strong stream of hot water. 

During the chemical cleaning of drain pipes, our plumbers follow the essential security guidelines to prevent unpleasant happenings from taking place. They use rubber gloves and a mask & ensure ventilation of the room to keep everything under control. 

Using A Plunger

Our plumbers in Newport Coast may use a plunger to clean the bathtub drain if the water pressure in the pipeline is much higher than the air pressure. They create a vacuum in the plumbing system by filling the associated plumbing fixtures with water. It will be the sink in the bathroom and the kitchen, or the bathtub itself.

Once the vacuum is created, our plumbers make several forward movements with the plunger. They perform this action multiple times until the blockages are destroyed completely. At last, they fill the bathtub with hot water and drain it completely to flush out any remaining debris from the plumbing pipe. 

Using A Plumbing Cable

Remember, a plumbing cable can easily break down clogs in pipes. It is a flexible steel spring with a hook or special attachment (auger, harpoon, pick, sliding knife) on one end and a handle for convenient rotation on the other. Our plumbers in Mission Viejo use this tool in the following sequence- 

• They remove the trap under the bathtub for easy access to the sewer.
• Push the cable to its maximum length until it stops at the blockage.
• They remove the cable and clean the debris collected in the spring. Repetition of this step multiple times destroys the blockage. 
• At last, they use a siphon and flush the pipes with hot water under high pressure.

Cleaning the Overflow Drain

Remember, the slow bathtub drain problem is also caused by water overflow. It can accumulate debris over time. In such a situation, our plumbers use a small brush or a pipe cleaner to clear the debris. 

Final Inspection For Plumbing Issues

At last, our plumbers inspect the bathtub and related plumbing infrastructure to look for plumbing problems. They will troubleshoot any remaining issues to ensure the plumbing system works smoothly. 

Prevention of Blockages & Clogs

To avoid blockage in plumbing pipes (which ultimately leads to a slow-draining bathtub), you should take the following steps- 

• Use a drain cover. It will protect small objects from entering drains. It will eliminate plumbing clogs to a great extent. 
• If possible, rinse the drain with hot water after every bath. It will flush away any remaining soap or debris. 
• Use our drain cleaning & maintenance service at least once in 60 days or before. We will clean drains and sewers completely. It helps ensure a smooth flow of water in pipes and a healthy plumbing ecosystem in homes. 

Conclusion

A bathtub draining slowly can disturb your life & may indicate a more serious plumbing issue developing in drains and sewers. Don’t ignore this problem. Act fast & follow the above-mentioned methods to clean a slow-draining bathtub with great ease. Parzival Plumbing can fix this problem with absolute perfection. Get our services today & eliminate the problem immediately with our help.