Removing bathtub trap for cleaning out excess hair?

Answer 1

The problem is usually not with the trap. Hair usually becomes entangled in the drain stopper mechanism. The stopper is usually engaged with a flip handle located on the tub overflow cover plate. Remove the plate, pull out the tub stopper, and you will usually find your problem. Readjust the stopper as needed as they tend to get out of adjustment over time and can themselves cause a tub drain to be slow.

Good luck with your repair.

Answer 2

A plumber doesn't remove the U shaped trap in your bathtub's drain line to clean it unless an object has become totally stuck in the trap. He uses a power snake in many cases which is inserted in the tub's drain hole. However, if you cover the overflow drain hole which is above the drain hole in the bottom of the tub with duct tape, you can remove the drain hole stopper and use a plumber's helper plunger to clear the trap. First fill the tub about 1/4 full of water. Then remove the stopper and vigorously plunge up and down with the plumber's helper.

Answer 3

Ours has a screw that we take out and then can lift the grate off and stick something down and clean it out (a job I let my husband do - eeuwww, yuck).