It happens to everyone—one day while showering, you notice more water than usual on the tub floor. It drains, but with your next shower, it rises a little higher and drains more slowly—leaving you standing ankle-deep in dirty water and making the morning or evening rush for the shower slower and more frustrating. This slow-draining water is the number one sign of a clogged drain—something you might also notice in kitchen or bathroom sinks.
Pipes and drains take a lot of wear and tear—think about all the hair, soap, and other particles that are washed down on a daily basis. Luckily, there are often some simple steps that can get the drain unclogged—but it’s better to do it sooner rather than later. Here, we’ll break down what’s going on with your clogged drain, and what steps you can take to keep your home and family safe.
Why is my drain clogged?
If your tub or sink is draining slowly, the likely culprits are hair, soap, dirt and grime, or mineral deposits that build up naturally during bathing or using bathroom fixtures. Longer hair is more likely to cause the problem than shorter hair—it can easily tangle around parts of the drain and be a pain to remove.
Pet hair can also be a culprit, if you use the tub to bathe a dog. But it’s not just hair—the fat contained in soap can mix with minerals naturally in the water and can turn into a hard residue that builds up in the pipe, and catches on any hair tangled into the drain. This builds up into a mass that blocks the drain, and makes it a slow process for water to get by—explaining the slow drain that you might have and any gurgling sounds that might accompany it.
In rarer cases, the culprit could be tree roots that grow through older pipes with cracks in them. Once they’re inside the pipe, the root continues growing and can restrict water flow. This problem can only be dealt with by a professional, but luckily, it’s rare in newer homes and the least common reason for clogged pipes.
Is a clogged drain dangerous?
When your drain is clogged, it means that water drains very slowly—which leaves you with a tub full of standing water that’s full of soap scum and other particles. This standing water provides a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. So that slow-draining water might be more than annoying—it could be unhealthy, too, leaving you standing in germ-laden water in the bathroom.
It can invite mold and mildew to grow, too—you might see telltale stains on the tub once the water is gone. In the kitchen, your clogged sink drain could become a breeding ground for food-borne illnesses that love to live in warm, damp environments.
In addition to being unhygienic, a clogged drain can make slipping and falling more likely. With the extra water sloshing around, it can be harder to keep your footing and easier to get water on the floor, this can lead to injuries in what’s already the most dangerous room in the house. That’s why it’s especially important to keep drains clear in bathrooms for elderly loved ones, or in kids bathrooms.
Can a clogged drain damage my tub or shower?
As a general rule, standing water in your home is never good. That water wants to find somewhere to go—and it will seek out any little cracks. If there are cracks around the drain, it can seep through them, and over time, could cause rust and damage to the tub itself, the foundation below it, or the pipes.
Like all plumbing problems, when you have a slow-draining sink or tub, it’s time to deal with the problem right away—both for your comfort and to save on potential bigger and more expensive problems down the line.
What can I do to fix the problem?
When it comes to dealing with the drain, you might want to steer clear of drain cleaner chemicals—these can cause long-term damage to your pipes. You might try using a plunger to clear the drain—this tool creates a vacuum that forces the clog through the pipe and out of the way. You could also try using baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water—pour in boiling water and dish soap, which can melt grease build-up and follow this with baking soda and vinegar. After these materials fizz, flush with more boiling water.
Another option is a drain snake—a long, flexible piece of plastic that you feed into the drain through the overflow tube, rather than through the drain itself. The piece of plastic is spiky, and catches whatever mass of hair and grime is lurking in the pipes, which when you pull it out, it brings out the grime and clears the drain.
But if the issue persists, or if multiple drains are backed up at once? It’s time to call a plumber, rather than risk serious and costly damage.
How can The Tub Pros help me?
If standing water has damaged your tub, or left unsightly stains that won’t come off, you might have started to wonder where can I find bathtub reglazing near me? This service repairs any damage to your fixture and provides you with a new, streak-free, high-gloss coating that looks good as new.
Wondering how much does it cost to refinish a bathtub? While the exact answer will depend on your project, it’s significantly less expensive than investing in a replacement—and a lot less expensive than risking having to deal with long-term damage down the line.
When it comes to bathtub refinishing, Memphis and the Greater Mid-South turn to The Tub Pros. Our factory-trained professionals use top-notch materials to keep your home safe and your results looking great. And best of all? We can help with other home projects—like accessibility, countertop refinishing, and spot repairs. When you’re ready to get started on your project in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas just give us a call at (901) 871-8827 – we’re here to help.**Disclaimer** Please be advised that all content, including Blog articles, on the website thetubpros.com and The Tub Pros LLC is for INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR SUBSTITUTED FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. No guarantees are made and the use of the website, content, and any information provided is at your own risk. If you are seeking professional advice, you are strongly encouraged to consult with a competent specialist in your area who can provide you with specialist advice on your particular matter or need.