We have encountered a wide variety of plumbing problems in our many years as a successful Pittsburgh plumbing company. Some of the issues that we have had to resolve for our customers were major plumbing problems, such as burst pipes, damaged water lines or sewer line replacement. Other problems were relatively minor but no less anxiety-inducing, such as a leak of unknown origin, clogged toilets, low water pressure or dirty water.
Time and again we've found the old adage to be true - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We advise all our clients to maintain their plumbing systems regularly and properly in order to avoid both major and minor plumbing difficulties. A problem like a clogged bathtub is simple to avoid with these simple steps.
Use Basic Chemistry
When the water in your bathtub does not drain fast enough, you need to unclog the drain in order for the water to go down faster. To do this, pour a small amount of baking soda (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup) down the drain. Follow this with about 1/2 cup of vinegar. Let this sit in the drain for about five minutes. Add another one half cup of vinegar and let it sit again for a bit longer this time, up to 15 minutes. Then pour about a gallon or more of boiling water down the drain. The chemical reaction will unclog the gunk and hair that was causing the water to drain slowly. Do this at least once a month to enjoy a clog-free bathtub.
You can use this technique in the other drains in your house as well to keep your kitchen and bathroom drains clog-free.
Prevent Clogs from Happening
Once taking the step above succeeds in unclogging your bathtub, keep it clog-free by installing a hair catcher in your drain. Make it a point to empty it after every shower or bath. You will be amazed at how this simple (and cheap) device can help keep your bathtub clean and clear of hair and other gunk.
If you need assistance with water leak detection, drain cleaning or water heater installation or advice on how to unclog a toilet, contact Stahl Plumbing. You can depend on our expertise and many years of experience to restore order to your plumbing and your home.