I recently moved into a new home, and my boyfriend noticed that water pools in the bathtub when using the shower faucet. Normally, it drains fine after using the shower head. However, after he tried to plunge it to prevent pooling, the drain became completely blocked, and now it doesn't drain at all. We've tried using a snake, baking soda, vinegar, and hot water but nothing has worked. I called a plumber and am waiting for them to arrive. Any insights on what might have happened or how we could have avoided this?
5 Answers
It’s common to struggle with clogs, and many of us have made it worse before calling in pros. Don’t beat yourself up about it! The plumber will likely just use a snake, and since they have more experience, they’ll get it sorted much quicker. Just give them the details about what was tried to avoid any mishaps.
If the usual tricks aren’t working, maybe you just need a pro drain cleaner, not a plumber. They often charge less for simple blockages than full plumbing services. Just be sure to tell them everything you’ve used to unclog it so they can proceed safely.
You might want to check if there's an overflow drain that could be affecting suction when plunging. Also, covering all other drains with tape or rags while plunging can help create a better seal. I once had to use a shop vac from the roof to clear a stubborn clog. It sounds like a lot, but it worked like a charm! If you're struggling to get pressure, filling the tub beforehand can help too.
First off, avoid using harsh chemical cleaners like Draino for now—those can be dangerous in your pipes, especially before the plumber comes. If you didn’t already, block any air vents with tape to create better pressure when plunging; that might help. If that fails, you could also try letting some drain cleaner sit overnight after talking with the plumber, just to see if it helps be sure to let it wash away completely!
It sounds like your boyfriend might have pushed the clog further down the pipe, which is nothing to really blame him for—just a tough situation! Sometimes, that's just bad luck. It's best to wait for the plumber now; they should be able to get to the bottom of it without damaging anything further.
True, I’ve heard filling the tub to create pressure works better with some plungers – they can struggle to seal otherwise.