Sunday, May 18, 2014

Clogged Tubs

At some point, the drain on your bathtub may get clogged.  Usually, it's just hair and other small debris that's easy to remove.  No need for Drain-o or some contraption made from a wire hanger.  Drain-o is especially bad on your pipes, so do not use it on your own pipes ever.



Here is the offending drain.  Looks normal, but drains very slowly.  A sure sign that hair is clogging it up.



Lock down the drain plug and twist off the center cap.  Underneath is a metal rod.



Unscrew and remove the metal rod.  The plug will now completely remove from the drain.

No pictures showing the hair or how it was unclogged.  It's not a pretty sight, so I'll save your eyes.  If you don't want to use your hands to remove the hair, try using a pair of needle-nose pliers.

NOTE 1: There is a metal ring that slides along the metal rod.  Do not make the silly mistake I did and lose it down the drain.  That ring is what keeps the plug from always being in the ON position.

NOTE 2: Some plugs do not follow this assembly.  They will attach to the metal rod with a screw.  The screw is located underneath the plug.  You'll have to use a flashlight and a screwdriver to locate and remove the screw.  Do not unscrew the screw all the way or you risk losing it down the drain.