How To Deal With a Slow-Draining Sink or Tub

Ever had that frustrating feeling of standing in ankle-deep water during your shower or watching soapy dishwater pool in your sink? Slow-draining water signals potential plumbing issues that only worsen over time. Why not address things early and save time, money, and headaches? 

Common Causes of Drainage Problems

Understanding what causes your slow-draining sink or tub is the first step to solving the problem. Hair, soap scum, and mineral deposits are often the culprits in bathrooms. In kitchens, food particles, grease, and oil are more likely to create blockages.

All of these materials tend to accumulate gradually, narrowing your pipe interiors until water struggles to pass through the buildup at all. Typically, you’ll notice the problem only once the water is taking slightly longer to drain than before. However, inevitably, you’ll notice the water flow progressively worsen until you have standing water.

Drain Cleaning Tips From Professional Services

While DIY methods might provide temporary relief for minor clogs, effectively fixing slow drains requires addressing the root cause. Professional plumbers bring comprehensive solutions, which should also prevent recurring problems. In the meantime, you can try the following clogged tub solutions:

• Remove visible debris from drain covers and stoppers.
• Use a mixture of boiling water, baking soda, and vinegar down the drain.
• Clear blockages with store-bought plastic drain snakes.
• Plunge to create pressure that might dislodge simple clogs.

Still, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to slow-draining sinks or tubs. 

Preventative Drain Maintenance Strategies

If you’d like to prevent drain clogs altogether, the simplest strategy is to change your habits and put preventative measures in place. For example, households with long-haired family members might need to remove hair from drains after showers and install drain covers or strainers to prevent clogs. Other households need more regular maintenance, such as using hot water to dissolve developing soap scum and oil buildup, especially with hard water thrown into the mix.

However, even with diligent home maintenance, professional drain cleaning services provide the most thorough preventive care.

When To Call Professional Plumbers

DIY chemicals will damage pipes, household tools won’t reach deep clogs, and missing the underlying cause will mean that unclogging sink or tub problems won’t last. It’s always better to get professional drain cleaning, especially for:

• Water backing up into multiple fixtures.
• Sewage odors coming from drains.
• Recurring clogs despite your best maintenance efforts.
• Gurgling sounds from drains when using other plumbing fixtures.

Specialized equipment safely clears blockages while identifying hidden problems like pipe corrosion or tree root intrusion that DIY methods simply can’t address.

Contact Thompson Family Plumbing & Drain’s Professional Plumbing Experts Today

A slow-draining sink or tub disrupts your daily routine, but you don’t have to wait it out. With Thompson Family Plumbing & Drain’s years of experience in professional drain cleaning services, solutions are often quick and easy. If you’re dealing with a persistent slow-draining sink or tub in California or Arizona, just call (855) 390-0457!