How to Remove Hair Clogs From a Bathtub Drain

Hair clogs a bathtub drain when hair accumulates in the drain. Soap and shampoo stick to the hair in the drain and this causes more hair to become lodged in the same area. Eventually, the drain pipe will become compacted with a mixture of hair, soap and other bathing products. Hair clogs often can be removed by the homeowner without the need of a plumber, with just a few common tools and some hot water.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Philips head screwdriver
• Wire hanger
• Plunger
• Hot water

1. Remove the tub drain. This part is either a screen or a pull-out unit. A screen will require a screwdriver to remove the screw in the center of the drain that holds the screen in place. If the tub drain assembly is a pop-up style, the drain unit will not pull out until the overflow plate is removed and disassembled.

2. Remove the overflow plate. This part usually has two screws that need to be removed to pull off the plate. Gently remove the overflow assembly after removing the plate by gently pulling it out of the overflow hole.

3. Clean off all parts. Clean the parts in a sink with a screen so that screws do not go down the drain.

4. Untwist the wire hanger and create a small hook on the end by bending the wire. Push the wire down into the overflow hole and check for hair clogs by moving the wire up and down in the overflow pipe.

5. Push the hooked end of the wire hanger into the drain hole and move the wire around to check for any hair clogs in the drain pipe.

6. Pour hot water down the drain hole to loosen and remove hair that may be stuck to the sides of the pipe due to an accumulation of soap scum.

7. Use the plunger to loosen a solid clog in the pipe. Push a wet rag into the overflow hole to seal the hole. Pour hot water into the drain. Place the plunger so it covers the entire drain and press it down to push hot water through the clog. Pull up on the plunger quickly to dislodge the softened hair clog. Repeat until the drain is able to drain water quickly.

8. Reinsert the drain assembly and the screw if the drain assembly has a screen that is held in place with a screw.

Tips & Warnings

• Prevent clogged drains by removing hair from the drain screen after every shower or bath. Place a plastic cup upside down over the tub drain while reinstalling the overflow unit to prevent screws from falling down the drain if they are dropped.
• Remove all parts slowly and carefully. The parts will come apart easily when they are in the correct position. Pulling hard may break the drain parts causing the need for replacement.

References

• 411 Plumb: How to Fix a Clogged Bathtub Drain
• Keidel: Unclogging Drains