Why Can‘t I Snake My Bathtub Drain? An In-Depth Guide

Hey there! If you‘re wondering why your attempts to snake a clogged bathtub drain don‘t seem to work, you‘ve come to the right place. As a home improvement expert who has handled hundreds of drain clogs, I‘m going to walk you through the reasons snaking a tub drain often fails and better options to clear that frustrating clog.

Problems With Snaking Bathtub Drains

Let‘s start with why trying to snake a bathtub drain can be ineffective or even cause more issues:

The Snake is Too Small

• Standard sink drain snakes meant for 1.5-2 inch pipes are usually 1⁄4 to 3⁄8 inches in diameter.
• But bathtub drain diameters are commonly 1 1⁄2 to 2 inches—much wider than a sink drain.
• So that little snake rattles around the large tub pipe rather than exerting force on the clog.

The Curves Make Snaking Difficult

• Bathtub drain pipes have two 90 degree curves in them:
  • One curve goes from the vertical drain pipe up to the horizontal tub drain opening.
  • Another curve goes from the horizontal section down again to connect to the waste pipe.
• These tight bends make it extremely difficult to maneuver even a flexible snake through them.
• It‘s very easy for the end of the snake to get stuck or tangled in the curves.

Risk of Damaging the Tub

• Attempting to forcefully shove a stiff snake through the small tub drain risks scratching up the finish around the opening.
• A snake can also get tangled in the lever or crossbars of the drain assembly, damaging the mechanisms.

Modern Tub Drains Are Plastic

• Older tub drain pipes were made of rigid metal, which stand up well to a metal snake.
• But nowadays, most bathtub drain pipes are PVC plastic. Much more fragile.
• An aggressive snaking technique can actually crack and split the plastic tub drain.

So in summary, standard sink snakes are too small, get stuck in the tight curves, and run the risk of damaging modern plastic tub drain components. Let‘s look at some better options.

Better Ways to Clear Clogged Tub Drains

Instead of snaking, here are several effective methods I recommend to clear blocked bathtub drains:

Use a Plunger

One of the quickest and simplest ways to clear a clog—no chemicals or fancy tools required! Here‘s how to plunge a tub drain:

1. Fill the tub with a few inches of water. Enough so that the drain opening is fully covered.
2. Firmly position a standard flanged sink plunger (or preferably a flange-less toilet plunger) over the drain opening. You want an airtight seal between the plunger and tub surface.
3. Give the plunger 15-20 vigorous and forceful straight up-and-down pumps. Keep it perpendicular to the tub floor.
4. The rapid pumping action plunges air and water against the clog, dislodging it from pipe walls.
5. Check if water starts draining faster. Repeat more pumping if needed until the blockage is cleared.

Plunging success rates are excellent for clearing debris, hair, and soap scum clogs. Give it try before more aggressive methods.

Use a Zip-It Tool

This flexible plastic stick is my go-to for hair clogs. Here‘s how it works:

• The Zip-It has little barbs or hooks on one end, with a handle on the other.
• Insert it into the tub drain opening and the hooks snag onto any hair or debris inside.
• Slowly retrieve the Zip-It, pulling out the hair and gunk with it!

I always start with a Zip-It before snaking because it‘s quick, inexpensive, and effective for hair-based clogs.

Try a Drain Auger

For tougher blockages, a drain auger is a useful hand tool. This what you need to know:

• A drain auger has a long, steel coiled cable with a pointed corkscrew tip.
• Feed the auger down the tub drain opening and into the pipe.
• Twist the handle clockwise while applying downward pressure to drive through the clog.
• Once past the clog, twist counterclockwise while slowly pulling the auger out to hook debris and extract it.

An auger is stiffer than a snake so it can bore through thick blockages that accumulate in the horizontal and vertical portions of the curved tub drain.

Remove the Drain Assembly

If you have access under the tub, remove the drain assembly for a close inspection. Here‘s how:

1. Placement tub stopper in closed position.
2. Unscrew the drain nut from under the tub and pull out the assembly.
3. Check the crossbars and lever arm for any debris.
4. Also look down the drain pipe with a flashlight for any visible obstructions.
5. Use needle-nose pliers or forceps to pull out any hair or material in the pipes.
6. Reinstall the assembly hand tight, then use pliers for a final 1/4 turn. Don‘t over tighten.

Removing the assembly allows you to thoroughly check both the visible and inner drain components.

Use a Chemical Drain Cleaner

For organic buildup like hair and soap scum, chemical drain cleaners can work well. Here are some tips:

• Look for cleaners specifically made for tubs and shower drains, not sinks.
• Carefully follow label instructions on amount to use based on pipe size. Overuse can damage pipes.
• Avoid using with standing water in the tub. Always rinse thoroughly with water after use.
• Some foaming cleaners allow you to lift and dissolve scum clogs by filling the drain with the foam then flushing.
• Gel cleaners cling to pipe walls longer to dissolve the clog.
• Only use chemicals sparingly and as a last resort before professional help.

Comparison of Drain Cleaning Tools

Here is a comparison of the most common methods and tools to give you a sense of when each works best:

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Method	Best For	Pros	Cons
Plunger	Light debris	No chemicals Inexpensive Simple to use	Not for large clogs
Zip-It	Hair	grabs and removes hair Reusable No chemicals	Not for debris clogs
Drain Auger	Large debris	Can clear stubborn clogs Reaches down the curve	Requires skill Can scratch porcelain
Drain Cleaner	Organic gunk	Dissolves hair & soap scum No disassembly needed	Chemical fumes Can corrode pipes if overused

This covers the most common and effective methods. Avoid methods like snaking or using bleach, boiling water, vinegar, baking soda, or ammonia that are not recommended for tub drains.

When Should I Call a Professional Plumber?

As a general rule of thumb, contact a professional plumber if:

• You‘ve tried several home methods without success
• Water drains very slowly or the tub won‘t empty at all
• The clog quickly returns after clearing attempts
• You notice gurgling or water backing up
• Previous snaking damaged the tub or drain components

With specialized tools and cameras, plumbers have an arsenal of methods to tackle difficult clogs:

• Hydrojetting uses a high pressure spray of water to scour the full length of pipes and cut through blockages. This is the most thorough way to fully clear out drain pipes.

• Snaking from a cleanout allows them to snake the drain from under the tub, avoiding the curves. Often they can feed 50-75 feet to reach clogs.

• Cameras can be fed down the pipes to visually pinpoint blockages.

So don‘t continue to struggle for hours with clogs that persistently reappear. At that point it‘s best to call in a pro.

Causes of Bathtub Clogs

To avoid repeated clogs in the future, it helps to know what causes them in the first place. Here are the most common culprits:

• Hair and soap scum – Strands of hair shed while bathing bind together with soap, shampoo, and body oils to form sticky gunk that sticks to pipe walls.

• Mineral deposits – Hard water contains minerals like calcium and magnesium that get left behind, slowly forming limescale deposits that narrow pipes.

• Bathroom items – Things like bath toys, bottles, razors, and bath poofs accidentally dropped down the drain.

• Roots – In pipes buried underground, tiny roots seek water and invade cracks and joints.

• Deteriorating pipes – If drain pipes are fractured or have offset joints, debris easily catches to create recurring clogs.

Regular maintenance like drain screens, enzyme cleaner monthly treatments, and annual snaking can help reduce the frequency of clogs.

Replacing deteriorating galvanized drain pipes with smooth PVC also helps. I‘d be happy to offer tips on preventing clogs in your home!

Conclusion

I hope this overview gives you some clarity on why snaking your tub drain is not the best approach. Armed with this knowledge of the root causes, superior clearing methods, and when to call in a pro, you should be equipped to tackle that pesky clogged bathtub drain.

Let me know if you have any other home plumbing questions come up. I‘m always happy to share maintenance tips and tricks to keep things running smoothly.