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Can you fix a clogged bathtub with a plunger?

Can you fix a clogged bathtub with a plunger?

Having a shower and a tub is something that we all take for granted. We love taking showers and we want to be able to give our kids and pets baths in our bathtubs. However, sometimes the bathtub drain will become clogged and can cause a lot of problems such as standing water and having the water drain slowly from the shower.

A lot of people want to know if they can use a plunger to fix their clogged bathtub. The good news is that you can use it. Below we are going to look at the steps that you want to take to unclog your bathtub using a plunger.

Prepare Your Bathtub

Before you start with unclogging your bathtub, you want to take a few minutes to get it ready. You’ll need some duct tape. Tear a 1 to 2 pieces off of the roll and cover your overflow opening completely. You want to make sure that you are sealing the tape’s edges against your tub’s surface. This will help create an air pocket in your bathtub train, so the pressure doesn’t escape when you start plunging.

Remove your tub drain’s stopper. It’s possible that you are going to have to use your screwdriver, or you might have to twist if a few times while you are pulling it up.

Fill your tub with 1-2” of hot, not cold, water. This is going to help with dissolving the soap inside the clogs.

Put Your Plunger in Position

Place your cup plunger overtop of the drain. The whole lip of your cup should seal against the surface of the tub. This cup seal’s important because that is what will create the suction and loosen your clog when you are plunging.

Plunge Your Drain

Using forceful, quick strokes, push your plunger down and then pull it up. Repeat this action 5 to 6 times. Make sure that you are maintaining the seal while you are doing this. Then you want to pull your cup completely up and then off of your drain with your final stroke. When you are doing this pumping, it’s going to force the water into your pipe, and then such the water back up. This will force your clog down and up along with your drain water, eventually breaking the clog up.

Keep doing this process as is necessary until the water drains from your tub.

Take the Tape Off

Remove your duct tape off of your overflow hole. Then replace your drain stopper.

There you have it. Now you know how you can unclog your bathtub drain using your plunger. It’s a simple thing to do. Depending on how bad the clog is, it can take a couple of tries. But it can be done.

Plungers Work Great for Showers, Too

Even if your shower isn’t fully clogged, a plunger can help open up the line and improve drainage.