Plumbing service
Shower and bathtub drains that hold water
Standing water around your ankles means a mat of hair is sitting just below the strainer or in the trap under the floor. We clear it from the right access point so nothing gets forced deeper into the line.
- Pipe size: 1½" for tubs, 2" for most showers
- Access points: Strainer, tub overflow plate, access panel behind the tub
- Tub stopper types: Trip-lever plunger, lift-and-turn, toe-touch
- Typical time on site: About an hour for a straightforward clog
- Licensed, insured trade work (details confirmed when you call)
- Diagnosis before anything is cut
- Emergency calls taken
- Etobicoke and the west end
At a glance
- Pipe size
- 1½" for tubs, 2" for most showers
- Access points
- Strainer, tub overflow plate, access panel behind the tub
- Tub stopper types
- Trip-lever plunger, lift-and-turn, toe-touch
- Typical time on site
- About an hour for a straightforward clog
Where the clog sits
On a tub with a trip-lever, a brass plunger hangs inside the overflow tube and collects hair like a comb. On a shower stall, the hair gathers in the crossbars under the strainer and in the trap below. Either way the water slows over months before it stops.
- Bath oils and conditioners make it worse because they coat the hair and turn the mat greasy and dense.
Going in through the overflow
For tubs we pull the overflow plate and lift out the linkage, which gives a straight path into the trap with a cable. Running a cable down through a strainer with crossbars is how drain bodies get scratched and how cables get stuck.
- For showers we lift the strainer, hook out the near hair by hand and run a small cable past the trap.
- If the shower floor is tile over a mortar bed, we take care not to disturb the clamping ring that seals the membrane.
Checking the hardware
While the plate is off, we check the overflow gasket. A dried gasket lets water seep into the ceiling below every time the tub is filled high, and it is a cheap part to replace now.
- We also adjust the stopper so it seals properly.
- A stopper that sits too low restricts flow and gives the next batch of hair a place to catch.
Signs to watch for
- Water pooling in the shower during a normal-length shower
- A ring of grime forming higher up the tub wall
- Tea-coloured stains under the bathroom
- A gurgle from the tub when the toilet is flushed
- The tub stopper no longer stays open
How the job runs
Remove plates and strainer
We open the overflow or strainer to reach the trap directly.
Pull and cable
Hair is hooked out and a cable clears the trap and arm.
Inspect seals
The overflow gasket and stopper are checked and adjusted.
Fill and drain
The tub is filled to the overflow and drained to confirm both flow and seal.