How to unclog the bathtub drain - do i pull out the fixture at the base of the drain??

I have a standard older bathtub that drains out through a 1-piece metal ring with an x-shaped catch. The catch has a huge clump of hair that is clogging the drain.

Is this metal piece supposed to be lifted out? If not, how am I supposed to get the hair clump without it falling down the drainpipe and stopping in the trap?

How to unclog the bathtub drain - do i pull out the fixture at the base of the drain??

I would recommend AGAINST removing the trap. It might be old and using a great deal of force might break it causing more problems.

If you can get to the hair with tweezers, pliers, coat hanger, etc, then try to pull as much out as possible.

Then you can take a plunger and try dislodging the clog. You will have to plug up the vent (located about 6 inches from the top of the tub) to prevent the air being forced down the drain from excaping through this vent. Holding a wet towel against the vent works fairly well.

I also do NOT recommend using Draino or any other caustic fluid. If it doesn't work, then you now have an additional problem...that is very causitic fluid that can splash onto you.

You can use a snake by running it down the vent (the part you hold the wet towel against). You can also try running a water hose down the vent. This works fairly well. But again a word of caution. The water hose can create a lot of pressure and the drain pipes aren't designed for this type of pressue. Using the water hose sparelying frequently works.

If the clog is past all of this, then you'll probably have to go outside and find the clean out (probably none for the bathroom) or go on top of the roof and push a long snake down the roof top vent tube past the clog. When you see a professional on top of the roof, this is exactly what they are doing.

How to unclog the bathtub drain - do i pull out the fixture at the base of the drain??

Use a piece of wire- like a coat hanger and grap down inside of it.

How to unclog the bathtub drain - do i pull out the fixture at the base of the drain??

use the drain cleaner that comes in the gray bottle with two sides...( If my dead brain could think of the name I'd give it to ya..) it's a gel and cleans all the hair out of OUR drains in our house...

How to unclog the bathtub drain - do i pull out the fixture at the base of the drain??

get out as much as you can use a pair of twezers to pull out then use draino .

How to unclog the bathtub drain - do i pull out the fixture at the base of the drain??

I've seen this product at The Home Depot, but it could be at other stores in the plumbing dept.....

It is a piece of plastic about 2 feet long, about 1/2 inch wide, flat and white, with a jagged edge. It is meant to be placed down a drain and pulled back up with the clog catching on the jagged edge. You then dispose of this plastic piece.

Otherwise, try the coathanger!

How to unclog the bathtub drain - do i pull out the fixture at the base of the drain??

There is a special wrench that you can buy to remove that ring. It had like 4 prongs on the one end and fits in there .... and then you turn it. It's very strong and takes a good amount of tork to get it started ......

There is normally ..... a round plate with small holes in it that is screwed into this drain ..... that prevents the small stuff from going down there .....

How to unclog the bathtub drain - do i pull out the fixture at the base of the drain??

After you try to get as much hair/debris out with whatever object you use, try using a regular old plunger if there is still standing water. Pour boiling water down the drain about once a month to keep the pipes clean for maintenance. Use Drain-o/Liquid Plumer or other type products as a last resort.

How to unclog the bathtub drain - do i pull out the fixture at the base of the drain??

Don't remove the tub shoe because you run the risk of damaging it or the pipe underneath, if you are a novice. Take needle nose pliers and remove the hair. It will take a couple of minutes however is worth it to prevent further unnecessary problems.

How to unclog the bathtub drain - do i pull out the fixture at the base of the drain??

The item Onecharliecat is referring to is called Zip-it. It is a plastic device about 18" long with protrusions, like teeth on the sides, and a handle on the end. Just hold the handle, and push the other end into the drain, and remove the hair. DON'T use Drano, or any other chemical, as they will react with the pipes, and eat them from the inside. This tool is about $3-$4 at Lowes or Home Depot. Good luck to you!