Residential · Sinks, tubs and showers
Tub, Shower & Basin Drains
Bathroom clogs are mostly hair and soap, which makes them easy to clear and easy to prevent. The tricky part is getting to them without damaging the finish.
- Drop cloths and a bucket under every trap
- Cable sized to the pipe, gentle on old galvanized
- One call books tub, shower & basin drains anywhere in Aurora
Phone only · a plumber answers, not a form
- Licensed plumbers (ask us for details)
- Quote settled before tools come out
- We tidy up after every job
- Aurora & York Region
Tub, Shower & Basin Drains at a glance
Signs you need this
- Sour smell coming up from the trap after a hot day
- Standing water at the shower drain halfway through a rinse
What's included
- What we open: P-trap slip nuts, tub overflow plate, pop-up linkage, branch cleanout plugs
- Job: bathroom drain cleaning
What this page covers
- Hair, soap and pop-up stoppers
- Tub drain access
- Shower drain grates
- Simple upkeep
Aurora note: Older Aurora bathrooms often still drain through galvanized branches; we run the cable gently there so we do not tear through rusted threads.
Hair, soap and pop-up stoppers
The pop-up stopper in a bathroom sink is a hair magnet. A horizontal pivot rod under the basin holds it in place; loosen the retaining nut, slide the rod back and the stopper lifts out, usually trailing a grey rope of hair and soap scum. Clean it, check the gasket and put it back. Many slow basins are fixed with nothing more than that.If the stopper is clean and the sink is still slow, the blockage is in the trap or the short arm into the wall, and a small hand cable will reach it.
Tub drain access
Bathtubs have two openings: the drain in the floor of the tub and the overflow plate on the end wall. Older trip-lever tubs hide a plunger and linkage behind that overflow plate, and hair wraps around it. We pull the linkage out through the overflow, clean it and run the cable down from there, which avoids scratching the tub floor or forcing the drain flange.Shower drain grates
Shower grates are often held by one or two small screws, or simply press-fit. Under them is a straight drop to the trap, so a short cable or even a plastic barbed strip reaches most clogs. Tiled showers with linear drains have a removable channel cover; the hair collects at the outlet end. Never pry at grout or tile edges to lift a grate. Crack the tile and the next repair is a much bigger job.Simple upkeep
- Fit a mesh catcher in every tub and shower and empty it after use.
- Pull and rinse pop-up stoppers every couple of months.
- Once a month, run very hot tap water down each bathroom drain for a minute.
- Keep bath oils and heavy conditioners to a minimum; they coat pipes and catch hair.
Aurora customers often ask
Why does my bathroom sink smell?
Usually hair and soap rotting in the pop-up stopper or the overflow channel. Cleaning the stopper and flushing the overflow with hot water normally clears it.
Is it safe to use a plunger on a tub?
Yes, if you cover the overflow opening with a wet rag so the push goes down the drain instead of out the side.