How to Use an Auger to Unplug a Bathtub Drain
Bathtub clogs take time to develop, and generally do not clog as often as sinks or toilets. Bathtub clogs are most commonly formed as soap residue accumulates in the pipe and is joined with hair and other debris. The main symptom of a clog is that the tub will begin to slowly fill during showers and drain more slowly than usual. If chemical drain openers and plungers fail to open the drain, it may be necessary to use a plumber's auger to push through the clog and open the drain. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Plumber's auger
- Chemical drain opener
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Instructions
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Remove the stopper or drain cover from the tub. The drain cover will have either one or two screws mounting it down. The stopper will either unscrew from its assembly, or have linking tabs that the stopper must be dislodged from.
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Feed the flexible auger wire slowly down the now open drain. As the wire feeds in, it should meet only limited resistance that is pushed easily through by turning the control handle while feeding.
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Continue to turn the handle until there is no longer resistance when pushing the wire. Slowly withdraw the wire while turning the handle the entire time and drawing it back through the pipe.
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Run hot water into the tub, and continue with several gallons to flush the pipe. Turn on the shower and watch to see if water begins to fill the tub again to indicate that the clog is not fully cleared.
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Replace the drain cover or feed the stopper back into the drain until it latches back into place.
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Tips & Warnings
If nothing changes after the first attempt with the auger, start again from the beginning a second time to see if there is a better result.
For very tough clogs, use a chemical drain opener prior to running the auger. This will sometimes loosen the clog and allow the auger to get through fully.
Due to some plumbing layouts, clogs may form in areas too far in to reach through the main drain. If the wire doesn't feed far, or fails to find the clog, feed it down the overflow drain instead following the same instructions as the main drain.
