What is actually in the pipe
A slow bathroom drain is almost always a mat of hair caught on the stopper linkage, the crossbar under a tub strainer, or the first bend of the trap. Bar soap, conditioner and shaving cream bind the hair into a felt that water can only trickle through. Toothpaste and hard-water minerals add to it over time.
Fullerton's water is hard, a blend of local groundwater and imported water, so white mineral scale shows up on faucets and shower heads. In a drain, that scale gives soap scum and hair a rough surface to grip. It rarely causes a clog on its own, but it helps one form faster in older pipes.
Clearing a bathroom sink stopper
- Clear the cabinet.Put a towel and a small bucket under the trap. Make sure no chemical drain opener has been used in the sink.
- Release the pop-up rod.Behind the drain under the sink, a horizontal pivot rod holds the stopper. Unscrew the nut on the back of the drain body and slide the rod out.
- Lift out the stopper.The stopper should now pull straight up. Expect a clump of hair and sludge on its lower end; wipe it into the trash.
- Clear what remains.A plastic barbed drain stick pulls out hair that is still in the drain body. Reinstall the stopper and pivot rod, then run water and check for drips at the nut.
Tub drain vs. shower drain
Both clog with hair, but they come apart differently.
Tub with overflow plate
- Stopper may be a lift-and-turn, toe-touch or trip lever behind the overflow plate
- Cover the overflow opening with a wet rag before plunging, or the pressure escapes
- Trip-lever linkages collect hair on the plunger inside the overflow tube
Walk-in shower
- Strainer is usually screwed or snapped into the drain body
- Hair collects on the crossbars just below the strainer
- Fiberglass and tile pans can scratch; use plastic tools rather than metal
When it is not a bathroom clog
- IfThe tub fills with dirty water when a toilet is flushedThenThe blockage is downstream of both fixtures, probably in the main line. Stop using water and call a plumber.
- IfThe sink and tub in the same bathroom are both slowThenThe shared branch line for that bathroom may be restricted. A plumber can cable it from a cleanout or the tub overflow.
- IfOnly one fixture is slow and it cleared after removing hairThenIt was a fixture clog. A hair catcher should keep it from coming back.
- IfThe drain smells but runs fineThenGunk in the overflow or a dry trap in a little-used shower is a common cause. Run water in rarely used drains every week or two.
If you call a plumber about a bathroom drain
- Is the clog in the fixture, the trap or the branch line behind the wall?
- Can the stopper or trip lever be repaired, or should it be replaced?
- Is the trap or drain body corroded enough to leak soon?
- Is there any sign the main line is involved, such as other fixtures gurgling?
Common questions
Is it safe to use a wire coat hanger in the drain?
It can scratch finishes and push hair further down. A plastic barbed drain stick or a small hand auger does the job with less risk.
Why does my shower drain gurgle?
Gurgling usually means air is being pulled through a trap, which can come from a partial clog or a venting problem. If other fixtures gurgle too, the main line may be involved.
Do enzyme drain cleaners work on hair?
They are slow and work best as maintenance on soap and organic buildup. They do not dissolve a solid hair mat, which usually has to be pulled out.
General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.