How to Fix a Clogged Bathtub Drain (Step-by-Step)

A bathtub that drains slowly or not at all is almost always a hair-and-soap clog sitting within the first couple of feet of the drain. The good news is you can clear most of them with a few basic tools in under an hour. This guide walks you through each step, explains which tub stopper you have, and shows the signs that mean the clog is deeper than the tub itself. If you'd rather avoid tools altogether, see our guide on how to unclog a bathtub drain without harsh chemicals.

Quick Answer

To fix a clogged bathtub, take out the drain stopper and clean the hair and soap scum from it, pull out any hair you can reach with a drain claw, then plunge with the overflow plate covered. If the water still won't go down, run a 1/4-inch drain snake through the overflow opening. If the tub backs up when you flush the toilet, or the clog keeps coming back, the problem is further down the line, and that's when you call a plumber.

Why Is My Bathtub Not Draining?

• Hair and soap scum. Hair binds with soap residue and forms a mat right under the stopper. This is the cause of most tub clogs.
• A stopper or linkage that won't open fully. Trip-lever stoppers sit inside the overflow pipe and can stick half-closed, which looks just like a clog.
• Mineral scale. In hard-water homes, scale narrows the drain and gives hair more to catch on.
• A clog in the branch or main line. If other fixtures are slow too, the blockage is past the tub (see the signs below).

How to Fix a Clogged Bathtub: 5 Steps

Step 1: Remove and Clean the Stopper

How you remove the stopper depends on the type. Lift-and-turn and toe-touch stoppers unscrew from the top. Push-pull stoppers unscrew by the knob. Trip-lever stoppers come out through the overflow plate when you remove its two screws. Clean off the hair and gunk, then run water to test before going further. Our step-by-step guide shows how to remove a bathtub drain stopper for each type.

Step 2: Pull Out Hair With a Drain Claw

With the stopper out, feed a plastic drain claw (a barbed zip tool) a few inches into the drain, twist and pull. You'll usually bring up the clog in one or two passes. Wear gloves, and repeat until the tool comes out clean.

Step 3: Plunge With the Overflow Sealed

Use a cup plunger, not a flange (toilet) plunger. Put a few inches of water in the tub so the cup is covered, and seal the overflow opening with a wet rag or duct tape. If you don't, the pressure escapes through the overflow instead of pushing on the clog. Give it 10–15 firm plunges, then pull up sharply.

Step 4: Snake the Drain Through the Overflow

If plunging doesn't work, use a 1/4-inch hand drain snake (auger). Going through the overflow opening is easier than the drain itself because it avoids the tight bend under the stopper. Feed the cable in until you feel resistance, crank it to grab or break up the clog, and pull it back out slowly. Don't force the cable. If it hits something it can't get past at around 3–6 feet, stop, because that's usually the branch line.

Step 5: Flush and Test

Run hot tap water for a few minutes, then fill the tub a few inches and drain it. If it drains in seconds, you're done. If it slows again within a few days, some of the clog is still in the line and needs professional drain cleaning in Reno.

Signs the Clog Isn't in Your Tub

Call a plumber rather than continuing to plunge if you notice any of the following:

• The tub fills with water when you flush the toilet or run the washing machine.
• The toilet gurgles or bubbles when the tub drains (see why your toilet is bubbling).
• More than one drain in the house is slow at the same time.
• You smell sewage from the tub drain.

These point to a blockage in the main sewer line. A sewer camera inspection shows exactly where it is, and recurring grease, scale or root buildup is usually cleared with hydro jetting rather than a snake.

What Not to Do

• Don't pour caustic or acid drain cleaners into a standing-water tub. They rarely dissolve hair mats, can damage older pipes and tub finishes, and are dangerous for anyone who has to snake the drain afterwards.
• Never mix drain-cleaning products. Some combinations release toxic gas.
• Don't use a flange plunger or plunge without sealing the overflow. It won't work and it splashes dirty water.
• Don't keep forcing a snake that's stuck. A kinked cable inside the line turns a simple clog into a service call.

How to Keep Bathtub Clogs Away

Use a Drain Screen

A drain screen or hair catcher traps hair, soap scum and debris before it enters the pipe. Empty it after every few baths so buildup doesn't form on the screen itself.

Brush Hair Before Bathing

Brushing your hair before a bath means less loose hair goes down the drain. For more ideas, see how to avoid hair clogs in your drain.

Clean the Stopper Monthly

Once a month, pull the stopper and clear any hair. If you prefer a natural flush, our chemical-free bathtub drain guide covers baking soda, vinegar and hot water.

Switch to Liquid Soap

Bar soap leaves more residue than liquid soap or body wash, and that residue is what binds hair into a clog.

Consider a Water Softener

If your home has hard water, mineral deposits build up inside drain pipes and catch debris. A water softener reduces that buildup over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my bathtub not draining when the sink is fine?

The clog is local to the tub, usually hair and soap stuck under the stopper or in the trap. If the sink, toilet and tub are all slow, the blockage is in a shared line.

Can I use a chemical drain cleaner on a clogged bathtub?

It's not recommended. Caustic cleaners rarely break down hair and can damage pipes and finishes. A drain claw, a plunger and a snake are safer and usually faster.

Why does my tub fill up when I flush the toilet?

Wastewater from the toilet can't get past a clog further down the line, so it backs up into the lowest drain, which is often the tub. That's a main-line problem, so call a plumber.

When should I call a plumber for a clogged bathtub?

Call when plunging and snaking don't clear it, when the clog comes back within a few weeks, or when other fixtures are affected too.

Bathtub Still Won't Drain? Call Easy Rooter Plumbing

If the tub is still holding water after these steps, the clog is deeper than a hand snake can reach. Easy Rooter Plumbing has cleared drains for Reno, Sparks and Carson City homeowners since 1979, with camera inspections to find the cause and drain cleaning to clear it the first time. Call (775) 331-3636 or book a visit online.