You should not have to deal with standing water in your bathtub every time you want to use it. Several things can lead to this situation, and knowing what these are and what to do about them can help you resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
The most common reason for water to accumulate in your bathtub is because the drain is clogged. Bathtub and shower drains often get clogged from the clumps of hair and soap scum they take in day in and day out. This leads to clogged drains and plumbing issues.
Here, we will go over why bathtubs can end up holding standing water and the options you can turn to when this happens.
Why Is There Standing Water in my Bathtub?
Your bathtub is one of the most critical parts of your home, especially if you have a bathtub/shower combo. That means that you have to use your tub every day, even if you are just taking a shower.
Having to take a shower in a bathtub/shower with standing water is uncomfortable and unhealthy, and you certainly cannot take a shower with the tub in that condition.
There may be a soap or hair clog in your bathtub. There may also be minerals from hard water, such as iron and magnesium, that have accumulated in your drainage system. Old pipes can also break down, requiring expensive replacement by a professional.
If your home was built a long time ago and has old pipes, these might be breaking down and need to be replaced entirely. This is not an issue you will be able to resolve yourself, so it will be on the pricey side since professionals have to be hired.
Is Standing Water in a Bathtub Dangerous?
Having some water in a bathtub that does not drain might not seem like such a big issue to some, but it really is. Standing water in a bathtub poses serious health concerns for you and your family.
The water itself can pose a danger to small children and pets if they somehow manage to get into the tub. Aside from that, the water will attract various types of pests such as flies and mosquitoes that will use it as a breeding ground and can pass on illnesses.
With this in mind, you can see why it is an excellent idea to act quickly once you know that your bathtub has standing water that will not drain out.
How to Unclog a Bathtub that Has Standing Water
Unclogging a bathtub with standing water is as simple as calling a plumber and waiting for the job to get done. Of course, that is going to cost you money. If you are good at DIY projects and fixing general things around the house, you might want to unclog your bathtub yourself.
Here is a short guide with steps on how to do that:
1. Get a bucket to remove the water sitting in your bathtub. The size of the bucket depends on how much water is in there. You might want to use different sized ones as the water level goes down and down. Pour the water down the toilet.
2. Depending on how long the stagnant water has been in your bathtub, you may also need to manually remove debris from the bathtub. Use a pair of rubber gloves to avoid unpleasant contact with contaminants such as dead bugs.
3. Get a plunger and use it on your bathtub drain like you would in a bathroom. This step might get any bathtub drain clog in the pipes to drain water away and clear your bathtub of dirty water. You can try pouring water down the drain to see if plunging the drain worked or not.
Other Options to Deal with Standing Water
Another option you can try to unclog your bathtub is hot water. Make sure not to do this if you have PVC pipes as it can damage them.
First, pour hot water into the drain to see if that is enough to clear the visible blockage.
If hot water alone does not work, you can try a mixture of hot water, white vinegar, and baking soda.
Again, avoid using a cup of vinegar and hot water if you have PVC pipes. If you are unsure of whether you have such pipes or not, skip this altogether.
If, after trying the steps listed here, you still have trouble with standing water in your bathtub, the best thing to do is turn to a professional plumbing service.
Professional plumbers can determine whether your pipes have a more serious issue that needs to be dealt with. DIY fixes simply will not do if that is the case. The sooner you get professionals on the job, the better since the issue can worsen.
Can I Prevent My Bathtub from Holding Standing Water?
Once your bathtub has standing water, all you can do is deal with it to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. But what can you do to prevent this from happening again?
You can try pouring hot water and liquid mixtures down the drain periodically to help keep it unclogged so long as you don’t have PVC pipes. You can also use a drain cover to more easily prevent debris from getting into the tub drain.
Although not guaranteed to work, both experts and novices recommend doing this to prevent bathtubs and showers from clogging up.
Conclusion – Bathtub with Holding Water
You cannot ignore a clogged bathtub with standing water since it is uncomfortable and hazardous. One of the solutions listed here can be very beneficial to you. Try a few, but turn to a professional plumbing service if necessary.
Going to professionals might be pricey, but it guarantees a job well done and a bathtub without standing water.
