How to Snake a Bathtub Drain (Step-by-Step)

A slow-draining or completely clogged bathtub is a common frustration. One minute you’re enjoying a relaxing shower, and the next you’re standing in a puddle of murky water.

Fortunately, you don’t always have to call a plumber right away. For many common blockages, a simple tool called a drain snake can get your plumbing flowing freely again.

This guide will walk you through the entire process, from preparing your workspace to snaking the drain like a professional.

What Causes Clogs in Bathtub Drains?

Before you can fix the problem, it helps to know what you’re up against. Understanding the cause of your clog makes it easier to choose the right solution and prevent it from happening again.

• Hair and soap scum is the most common culprit, as hair wraps itself into a ball and binds with sticky soap scum to form a dense blockage that water can’t pass through.
• Hard water mineral buildup occurs when minerals in the water create scale inside your pipes, which narrows the drain line over time and makes it easier for hair and debris to get caught.
• Foreign objects such as shampoo bottle caps, razor covers, or children’s bath toys can accidentally fall down the drain and cause an immediate blockage.
• Dirt and debris from washing off heavy sand or mud in the tub can settle in the P-trap and contribute to a slow or blocked drain over time.

How to Properly Snake a Drain

Using a drain snake, also known as a drum auger, is the most effective DIY method for clearing bathtub clogs. It allows you to physically break up and pull out the blockage. For most bathtub drains, a small power snake with a 1/4-inch or 5/16-inch cable is the ideal tool.

Step 1: Gather your tools and prepare the area

First, get everything you need in one place. This will make the process go much more smoothly.

You will need:

• A drain snake (auger)
• A screwdriver
• A pair of gloves
• A flashlight
• An empty bucket for the wet and grimy clog
• Old towels or rags

Place towels on the floor and inside the tub near the overflow plate. The metal snake cable can easily cause permanent scratches on your tub’s surface, so putting down a protective layer is a crucial first step.

Step 2: Remove the overflow plate

To snake a bathtub drain correctly, you must go through the overflow opening, not the drain at the bottom of the tub. This gives you a more direct path to the clog and avoids the drain’s sharp P-trap, which can be damaged if you try to force a snake through it.

The overflow plate is the metal cover on the front wall of the tub, right below the faucet. Use your screwdriver to remove the one or two screws holding it in place. Gently pull the plate away from the tub. Often, the stopper mechanism is attached and will come out with it as one assembly. Use your flashlight to look inside the opening to get an idea of what you’re working with.

Step 3: Feed the snake into the overflow pipe

Now you can begin feeding the drain snake into the opening. Position the auger near the hole and loosen the thumbscrew on the drum so the cable can come out.

Carefully push the snake cable into the pipe by hand. Keep feeding it in until you feel it stop. When you feel resistance, you have most likely hit the clog. Do not try to force it.

Step 4: Work the snake through the clog

Once you’ve reached the blockage, pull out about one more foot of cable from the drum, then tighten the thumbscrew to lock it in place.

Now, begin to slowly turn the handle on the drum while applying gentle forward pressure. This rotation allows the tip of the snake to work its way into the mass of hair and soap. The goal is to hook onto the clog, not just push it farther down the pipe. You may need to work the snake back and forth gently to get it through the blockage.

Step 5: Slowly retrieve the snake and the clog

Once you feel less resistance or a change in tension, you have likely broken through or hooked the clog. Now, you need to pull it out.

Continue rotating the handle as you slowly pull the snake back out of the drain. Do not rush this step. Have your empty bucket right below the overflow opening to catch the messy end of the snake as it comes out. This will contain the gunk and make cleanup much easier.

Step 6: Flush the drain and reassemble

After you’ve pulled the clog out, dispose of it in the trash. Before putting everything back, test your work by running hot water down the drain for a few minutes. This will flush out any leftover debris and confirm that the drain is clear.

If the water drains quickly, you have succeeded. You can now clean your tools, wipe down the overflow plate assembly, and screw it back into place.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Snaking a Bathtub Drain

Forcing the snake through the main drain opening

You should avoid forcing a drain snake through the main drain opening at the bottom of the tub. Right below that opening is a U-shaped pipe called a P-trap. Trying to force a snake through its tight curves can damage the pipe or break the seals, which can cause a serious leak under your bathtub.

The correct and safer way to snake a tub drain is to go through the overflow opening. This is the hole located on the front wall of the tub below the faucet, which is usually covered by a small plate. Feeding the snake through here gives you a much straighter path to the clog and avoids putting stress on the P-trap.

Forcing the snake past a blockage

When you are pushing the snake into the pipe and it suddenly stops, don’t try to jam it forward. Forcing it can cause the metal cable to get twisted and stuck in the pipe, or you could even crack an older pipe.

If you feel the snake get stuck, it has likely reached a bend or the clog itself. The best thing to do is to gently pull the snake back a few inches. Then, slowly push it forward again while turning the handle. This gentle back-and-forth motion helps the tip of the snake work its way around the corner or break up the clog safely.

Not protecting the tub

A drain snake is a long piece of metal, and as you push it into the overflow pipe, it will rub against the surface of your bathtub. This can easily leave deep, permanent scratches or gray marks on the finish of your tub, whether it is made of acrylic, fiberglass, or porcelain.

Before you start working, always place a thick rag or an old towel over the edge of the tub and drain area. This creates a soft barrier that protects your tub from getting damaged by the snake.

Using chemical cleaners before snaking

It can be tempting to pour a chemical drain cleaner down the drain first, but this is often a bad idea. These chemicals usually don’t dissolve the hair and soap that cause most bathtub clogs, so they often fail to work.

When the chemical cleaner fails, you are left with a drain full of toxic liquid. If you then try to use a snake, that dangerous liquid can splash back onto your skin or into your eyes, causing serious chemical burns. It is always much safer to try snaking the drain first.

How to Prevent Future Bathtub Clogs

Once your drain is clear, a little bit of maintenance can keep it that way.

1. Use a drain cover.

The easiest way to prevent clogs is to stop hair from going down the drain in the first place. You can buy a simple drain cover, also called a hair catcher, made of mesh or silicone. These are cheap and you can find them at most supermarkets or hardware stores.

This device sits over your drain opening. It lets water flow through freely but catches hair and large bits of soap before they can get into your pipes and cause a problem. Cleaning the hair catcher is much easier than cleaning out a clogged pipe.

2. Run hot water after you use the tub.

Soap, shampoo, and conditioner all have oils and grease in them that can build up inside your pipes. An easy way to fight this is to run hot water down the drain for about a minute after each shower or bath.

The hot water helps melt any fresh soap scum or greasy residue. This flushes the gunk down the drain before it has a chance to cool off, harden, and stick to the inside of your plumbing.

3. Clean the stopper every month

The drain stopper itself is a common place where clogs begin. Hair and grime get wrapped around the stopper and can quickly create a blockage right at the opening of your drain.

About once a month, take the stopper out completely and give it a good cleaning. Wiping away any buildup you find is a simple step that helps keep your drain flowing freely.

4. Use natural cleaners for regular upkeep.

For general maintenance, a mix of baking soda and vinegar can be useful. It is important to know that this method is not strong enough to clear a tough, existing clog, but it can help keep your drain fresh.

Once a month, pour about half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. The fizzing action can help loosen any new, minor sludge. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, and then flush everything down with hot water. This can also help get rid of any bad smells.

5. Consider getting a water softener for hard water.

If your home has “hard water,” it means your water contains a lot of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Over time, these minerals can build up inside your pipes, creating a hard, scaly layer that narrows the pipes and catches debris.

If hard water is a constant problem in your area, a long-term solution is to install a water softener. This system removes the minerals from your water, which protects not only your tub drain but all the pipes in your home from scale buildup.

When to Call a Professional Plumber

Sometimes, a clog is too stubborn or complex for a DIY fix. If you’ve tried snaking the drain without success, it may be time to call for professional help.

Watch for these signs that indicate a more serious issue:

• You are unable to clear the clog after multiple attempts.
• You hear gurgling sounds from your toilets or sinks when the tub drains. This can signal a problem with your main sewer line or plumbing vent stack.
• Water backs up into your tub when you flush a nearby toilet or run a sink.
• You aren’t comfortable using a drain snake or suspect the problem is beyond a simple hair clog.

Trying to force a solution can cause more damage to your pipes. A licensed plumber has the tools and expertise to diagnose the problem correctly and fix it safely.

Need Help with a Stubborn Clog?

If your bathtub drain is still giving you trouble, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts. Our team of professional plumbers is ready to tackle any clog, big or small, and get your plumbing back in perfect working order.

Contact us today for fast and reliable service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes most bathtub drain clogs?

The most common cause of a clogged bathtub drain is a buildup of hair and soap scum that binds together. Hard water mineral deposits and small foreign objects can also cause or contribute to blockages over time.

Why should I snake the drain through the overflow plate?

You should always snake a tub through the overflow opening because it provides a more direct path to the clog. Attempting to force a snake through the main drain can damage the sharp bend in the P-trap pipe directly below it.

What tools do I need to snake a bathtub drain?

To snake a tub drain, you will need a drain snake (auger), a screwdriver to remove the overflow plate, gloves, and old towels. It is also helpful to have an empty bucket handy for the clog you retrieve.

Can I use a chemical drain cleaner before snaking?

You should avoid using chemical drain cleaners before snaking because they are often ineffective on hair clogs. More importantly, they create a safety risk, as the caustic chemicals can splash back on you when you insert the snake.

How can I prevent my tub drain from clogging again?

To prevent future clogs, use a mesh drain cover to catch hair and debris before it goes down the drain. You can also run hot water for a minute after each shower and clean the stopper mechanism regularly.

When should I call a plumber for a clogged tub?

You should call a plumber if you cannot clear the clog after several attempts with a snake. Other signs you should call the plumber include gurgling sounds from other drains or water backing up into the tub when a toilet is flushed.