Fairly simple drain system. A shower uses a floor drain, which directly eliminates wastewater from the shower instantaneously as you bathe.A tub drain, on the other hand, requires you to manually close and open it with a lift-and-turn mechanism or a lever. Flushing the Drain with Boiling Water Open your drain stopper. However, it may not work as effectively on deep clogs. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. of diameter and comes with screws for easy installation. Cut the tub stopper shaft and insert both ends into either end of the turnbuckle. If your drain doesn’t have a stopper, it might have a plug or a metal cover. Additional Kits can be used together to extend drains by more than 1/4! You may be able to suck out clogs if you hold a wet/dry vacuum hose against the drain. Apply the primer to the inside of both ends of the coupling. If you have PVC pipes or are treating porcelain, use hot tap water. If you have tried everything and still can’t fix the clog, call a plumber. Re: Lead drain pipes on my bathtub; Author: HytechPlumber (LA) Most tub lead lines that I have came across are drum trap waste arms. You can replace just this plate at your hardware store for a few dollars. Use the measurement you wrote down for the center of the drain from the side wall. It’s paid for so why move. Some flexible waste pipe options like this one work great for a while, but the ridges on the inside quickly get clogged and cause trouble. % of people told us that this article helped them. Tighten the Drain Lip. Next to the kitchen sink, garbage disposal, and toilet drains, the tub drain gets the most abuse of any drain in the home.We load it up with hair, soap, and hair care products, along with the occasional shampoo bottle cap. Note: if you struggle and the drain won't turn move up to a wrench of pair of channel locks like I did. A flip-it tub stopper is easily installed with no tools required. References. Cover the drain hole with a plunger. Tub supply (vertical): Faucet valves 20 to 22 inches above the floor; horizontally, each faucet goes 4 inches to the right/left of centerline; tub spout 4 inches above tub rim; Discharge hole from back wall: Place drain on centerline; opening for drain access can be between 10 and 14 inches offset from framing, and 6 to 8 inches wide Author: packy (MA) the majority of companies make tub wastes in various lengths with chrome plated trim. Professional Plumber. you get the right length waste, throw away the chrome trim and buy whatever finish trim as a seperate item. It may also be a solid object, like a toy, that you can’t remove without taking apart the pipes. Need to extend a shower drain. Sometimes fixing a clog takes repeated efforts. Thank you very much for the video. Pull these out by hand to remove them, then clean them off as usual. Flip-It. Clogs, formed by hair, soap buildup, and other debris, are usually quite simple to remove without resorting to harsh chemical cleaners. By using our site, you agree to our. How can I clear a bathtub drain without using chemicals? Insert the plunger and screw in the drain basket for a trip lever drain. After the entire bathroom remodel was complete, I finally had time to go back and fix the sink drain. If the water continues to drain slowly, try using dish detergent, more hot water, and a drain snake. Make a mark on the exposed floor joist at the location with a pencil. Everyday Toilet Plunger. We have been in the same old house for 45 years. This article has been viewed 10,544 times. With an assistant, tip up one side of the bathtub to remove it. You may need to remove a small portion of the drywall next to the tub area to accommodate one of the outer corners of the tub as it swings upward. Choose your Size. Another way to do this is to combine the baking soda and vinegar in a measuring cup, then pour it into the drain at the same time. Houzz(function(d,s,id){if(!d.getElementById(id)){var js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.async=true;js.src="//platform.houzz.com/js/widgets.js? It is usually a round, metal plate underneath the faucet. You push the mechanism down and turn it clockwise to close the drain when you want the tub to fill with water. Then, attach the drain to the new tub, and connect the overflow drain. To install a bathtub, start by installing a 2- by 4-inch ledger board to the length of the wall that the long edge of the tub will be against. Follow these steps to apply mortar to the subfloor of the tub: Mix a batch of mortar according to the package directions. This will fit over the putty you just applied. Removing the drain stopper, if your tub has one, is important, since you need to get as much of the baking powder down the pipe as you can. But this time I did my homework before taking a million trips to the hardware store! Always cover up with long-sleeved clothing and a pair of gloves or oven mitts. The problem may be a solid clog, like hair, that needs to be broken up manually. The overflow valve is placed so low that the water starts to drain out before the bathtub is anywhere near full. Look for a drain snake or cable auger at a general or hardware store. James Schuelke. If you’re sure you removed solid debris from the drain or weren’t able to see any, move on to soap or baking soda. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. If the plunger slips off the drain, stop and set it in place again. The primer will clean the surface and help the cement bond. Step 4 Drain Height Extension Kit is designed to raise the height of floor drains 1/4 in. Has no screws. Over time, the drain gradually clogs until you find yourself standing in the tub taking a shower with several inches of dirty water lapping at your ankles. You may need to use the hook a few times to retrieve all of the clog. Securing the tub. Position the cup over the drain, then fill the tub with hot water until the cup is submerged. Keep it firmly attached to the tub floor to maintain the airtight seal over the drain. Mark a 12-inch access tunnel on the subfloor for the new feeder pipe. Raises Drain Screens by 1/4 inch. Step 3 - Measure From the Old Drain to the New Drain. Use very hot tap water instead. Apply PVC primer to about two inches of the ends the pipes. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Place a PVC elbow on the end of the drain pipe with one end pointing to the new drain area. Tighten the drain lip back in place. This will allow you to adjust the shaft length as necessary and will extend the tub stopper to fit! It drains so sloooooow now that I know how to do it it’ll be draining like crazy. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. The clog may be particularly deep or difficult to break up. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Unclog-a-Bathtub-Drain-Naturally-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Unclog-a-Bathtub-Drain-Naturally-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Unclog-a-Bathtub-Drain-Naturally-Step-1.jpg\/aid10555641-v4-728px-Unclog-a-Bathtub-Drain-Naturally-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"