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How to Repair a Bathtub Drain

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Knowing how to repair bathtub drain issues will save you a great deal of trouble should any arise. Apart from not having to hire a plumber to work on your bathtub drain, you also don't have to spend money on labor for tasks that require easy fixes. The key is to understand how bathtub drains work and know how to disassemble and then put the drain parts back together.

Types of Bathroom Drain Stoppers

There are several types of bathroom drain stoppers. These include the following: Push Lock or Foot Lock Drain – Pushing down on the drain stopper will either hold or release water. Roller Ball Drain Stopper – Pushing down on this bathtub stopper will also hold water, but you'll need to pull it up to release water into the drain. Lift and Turn Drain Stopper – As its name suggests, this type of bathroom drain stopper works by lifting and turning it. Lifting and turning it in opposite directions will either hold or release water. Pop-Up Drain Stopper – This bathtub drain has a lever-type stopper where the lever controls the hold-and-release position of the stopper. Plunger Drain – Also a lever-type stopper, this type is similar to the pop-up drain. The difference is the stopper or plunger is not visible. The lever moves the hidden plunger up to hold water and down to drain it.

Clogged Bathtub Drain

Slow draining and stuck bathtub water are two of the most common tub problems. The main cause for both issues is a clogged drain, which you can easily resolve on your own. All you need to do is determine the type of bathroom drain that you have, understand how it works and know how to disassemble it.

Most of the time, the clog consists mostly of clumps of hair and gunk. To clear out the gunk, use a wire hanger or cheap drain-clearing tool such as Zip-It or a drain snake, both of which you can find at your local hardware store.

Unclogging a Push Lock or Foot Lock and Roller Ball Drain

Disassembling these types of drains to gain better access to the clog often involves rotating the stopper counterclockwise to remove it. In other designs, you may need to unscrew the cap stopper along with the shaft to gain better access. Once you remove these parts, use your drain-clearing tools on the drain. You should be able to remove the clog in a few tries.

If you don't have a drain-clearing tool lying around, you can use a stiff wire such as a wire hanger. Bend one end of the wire to form a small hook. Insert the hook into the drain,twist it several times and then pull it out. The entire clog will often come out at once. Clean the parts you remove with a mild soap or vinegar before reassembling.

Clearing the Drains

Aside from manually unclogging the drain, you can also try to use another method of unclogging a drain that drains slowly. Wait until the water has completely drained from the tub. Mix one part baking soda and one part vinegar, and then pour it into the drain. You will hear a fizzling sound, which means the solution is working to clear out the clog. Rinse the drain with boiling water after the fizzling sound stops. You may also use this method along with the manual method of unclogging a bathroom drain for better results.

Leaky Drains

For leaky drains, cleaning the moving parts of bathtub drains usually fixes the problem. Disassemble the plug, linkage, trip lever and any other moving parts you can remove. Clean the parts with a brush and a mild cleaning solution or vinegar. Rinse and reassemble. If the tub still drains, try to adjusting parts such as the plug, cap, linkage or locknut depending on the design of your tub drain.