How to Unclog The Shower Drain That Has a Manual Stopper or Resolve a Slow Draining Bathtub Drain Without Chemicals
The vast majority of bathroom drain problems, particularly those in a shower and bathtub assembly, can be attributed to an accumulation of hair. Showers that feature a manual drain stopper compound the problem, as the stopper partially conceals the drain opening. Fortunately, most drain clogs can be removed fairly quickly and without the need for chemicals by removing the stopper and using commonly available tools. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Grasp the body of the stopper with channel-lock pliers to keep the stopper stationary, then twist the stopper handle in a counterclockwise direction until the handle detaches from the stopper. Lift the stopper out of the drain. Remove a stubborn handle by turning it with pliers.
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2
Shine a flashlight into the drain and pull out any visible hair or other obstructions with a stiff wire, such as a piece of a metal coat hanger.
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3
Position the rubber cup of a plunger over the drain opening, then pour just enough water over the cup until the lip of the cup is submersed. The water will allow the plunger to create a vacuum by creating a seal between the plunger and the floor surrounding the drain.
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4
Actuate the plunger by moving it up and down rapidly.
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5
Clear the length of the drain pipe with a hand auger if the problem persists. Feed the auger's cable into the drain until the cable stops, then tighten the auger's locking bolt to lock the cable. Turn the auger's handle until the cable can be fed further into the drain pipe, which indicates that the auger has either cleared a bend in the pipe or freed an obstruction. Loosen the locking bolt and reel the cable in.
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6
Insert the stopper back into the drain and tighten the stopper's handle to secure the stopper in place.
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References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
