How to Unclog a Bathtub Full of Water

A bathtub that won’t drain or with standing water is a problem. It signifies there is a clog somewhere. Fortunately, it’s usually not so difficult to unclog a bathtub full of water. You won’t want to wait to do it.

A bathtub that won’t drain is very unsanitary, with all the dirt, germs, and soap allowed to hang around. Any dirt from the drain is also sitting in that same water. If your bathtub drain isn’t working properly, learn how to unclog the pipe and get that dirty water flowing again.

Here is how to unclog a bathtub full of water:

1. Check the drain stopper

A lot of modern bathtubs have a built-in drain stopper. It can be one of several designs, from a push-pull knob to a lift-and-turn, trip lever, or pop-up. This is designed to block the flow of water. Unfortunately, a drain stopper can damage, rust, and wear out over time.

A drain stopper can prevent water from running down the drain when it is partially stuck or broken. Check to see if it’s open. If it’s not opening, lift it out using pliers. Pull the stopper out of the drain and verify it’s not damaged or that there wasn’t a mess of hair preventing it from fully opening.

2. You likely have a drain pipe clog

A bathtub can clog for several reasons. Soap residue that sticks to the inside of the pipe. Long hair. Dirt or sand that’s been sent down the drain. Small items such as a shampoo bottle cap or razor shield may have accidentally travelled down the drain.

The ideal situation is when the clog is near the drain opening. If it’s further down the pipe, you won’t have much luck unclogging anything. Towards the drain opening, though, there are lots of ways to check what the clog is, hopefully removing it with some ease.

3. Ask a plumber to unclog a bathtub

A bathtub full of water that won’t drain is a problem. If it keeps happening and it’s not hair-related, there’s an issue with your plumbing that will need a fix. A plumber can help. You won’t want to send clogs further down the pipeline, potentially causing more expensive fixes.

You won’t want to overuse chemical drain cleaners or baking soda and vinegar mixtures. Both are acidic and can cause damage that can be expensive to fix. Contact a plumber for recurrent bathtub clogs and repair the root of the cause.

4. Try a drain snake for long hair clogs

If you or someone using the bathtub has long hair, your likelihood of clogs increases. Eventually, long hair can accumulate to such a degree that, yes, your bathtub may not drain and be full of water. If that’s what’s happening, take a drain snake and send it down the pipe.

It should hook onto any hair, and you will be able to pull it up, breaking apart the clog in seconds. You will immediately hear and see the water begin to flow down the drain as this happens. You may send the drain snake down a few times to get all the hair built up in your pipe.

5. Try baking soda and vinegar mixture

If it’s not the hair causing the clog, it could be from the buildup of something else. Some people advocate using an all-natural mixture of half cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar. However, this won’t work in a bathtub full of water. The baking soda and white vinegar will fizz, never making their way down the drain.

You won’t be able to get the chemical reaction that, normally, would create pressure in the pipes and loosen whatever was clogging your bathtub. Unfortunately, unless you wait for the bathtub to drain out all the water, this approach won’t work.

6. Use a plunger for your bathtub drain

A plunger may be able to help dislodge a clog in your bathtub, but it’s somewhat of a last resort because it could also send a clog further down the pipeline and possibly result in a plumbing emergency.

A plunger is using air to give a push to what’s in your pipe. This pressure is what helps unclog toilets. In a bathtub drain, if it’s hair or hard water deposits, it could be very problematic though not always. This tool is best left untouched, but it might prove helpful in some circumstances.

7. Try a chemical drain cleaner

You’ve seen them at the store. Chemical-based de-clogging drain cleaners. Some are capable of working in sitting water. As a syrupy gel, a chemical drain cleaner solution will make its way through water and down the drain. There, it will eat away at a clog and break it apart, allowing water to rush through.

The issue is that these chemicals can eat away at the pipe, making the metal more brittle and breakable. If you do this enough times, it can lead to busted or cracked pipes. These are also corrosive chemicals you do not want to touch or get in the water.