Fixing a Stubborn Bathtub Drain That Won't Unscrew

Having a bathtub drain that refuses to unscrew can be an incredibly frustrating problem. No matter how hard you try, it seems completely stuck in place. Before calling a plumber, there are several methods you can try yourself to get the drain unstuck.

Trying Basic Tools to Initially Unscrew the Drain

When you first notice the bathtub drain won't turn, the first step is trying with basic tools like pliers or a wrench. Here are some things to try:

• Use standard pliers or locking pliers to grip the edges of the drain. Turn counter-clockwise while squeezing tightly. Applying extra downward pressure can sometimes break the drain free.
• Try a basic adjustable wrench, monkey wrench, or small basin wrench. Fit the wrench snugly around the drain edges and carefully turn counter-clockwise.
• Attempt unscrewing the drain by hand before using tools. Rubber jar opener gloves can help get good grip. Place fingers in drain recesses, press down firmly, and slowly rotate counter-clockwise.

Why The Drain Gets Stuck So Tightly

It's very common for bathtub drains to become stubbornly stuck over time. Gunk, hair, and grime collect in the drain crevices preventing the drain from turning. Rust and mineral deposits also seize up the drain fittings and threads. Corroded metal and plastic pieces fuse together until the drain won't budge at all with normal effort.

Using Penetrating Oil and Lubricant Sprays

If basic attempts at turning the drain don't work, the next step is trying lubricant sprays. These thin, penetrating oils seep into tiny drain openings and help loosen stuck pieces. Here's how to use them:

• Apply a penetrating catalyst lube around the edges of the drain and let it sit for a few hours or overnight. Reapply if needed.
• Spray a lubricant like WD-40 completely around the drain to seep behind the threads and fittings.
• Try a thicker gel formula lube for stubborn drains. Apply liberally on all sides and let sit before retrying.

The lubricant method is extremely effective at loosening up rusted or painted-over fittings. Allowing maximum soak time lets the oil work its way into every crevice. Don't be shy about applying a lot around the edges and really working it into gaps.

Hidden Drain Pieces That Won't Unscrew

Penetrating oils are useful because often the visible drain flange isn't actually the stuck part. Underneath the tub are threaded fittings holding drain pieces together out of sight. A buildup of gunk and mineral deposits causes these hidden pieces to fuse together and seize up. The key is lubricant reaching all pieces of the drain, both visible and not.

Trying Specialty Plumbing Tools for Better Grip

If lubricants and basic tools fail, there are some specialty plumbing tools that can help get stubborn tub drains unstuck.

• Use a pro-grade drain key wrench which fits perfectly around tub drains for maximum grip.
• Wrap an old bike inner tube or rubber band around the drain flange to improve grip.
• Use a wide jawed plumber's strap wrench for extra leverage on stuck stubborn drains.

The key is getting a very solid grip around the drain edge. Specialty wrench tools with rubberized grips or extra wide jaws apply much more torque versus standard tools that can slip off.

It also helps vastly to have the tub drain completely clear of any hair or gunk before trying to unscrew. Scrub the flange ridges meticulously with an old toothbrush beforehand.

Tapping or Hammering Fittings to Loosen Threads

If you've tried every spray and wrench in the toolbox, the nuclear option is tapping fittings with a hammer to vibrate and shock them loose.

Gently tapping around the drain fittings can help:

• Lay a screwdriver across the drain top and lightly tap the handle with a hammer. This can transfer vibration to loosen threads.
• Carefully tap directly downward on the drain flange or other fittings. Use a rubber mallet or regular hammer with cloth.
• Warning: Tapping fittings risks cracking the porcelain tub. Cover fittings completely with a cloth and only tap lightly.

Why Tapping Helps Loosen Stubborn Drains

The thought here is vibration and impact shock helps break mineral deposits or rust fusing pieces together. Quick raps snap encrusted deposits loose by transferring downward force right where pieces cross-thread. Just be extremely careful about forcefully cracking porcelain. Light controlled taps only!

Taking Drain Assembly Apart for Access

If you can't turn the visible flange piece, taking the whole drain apparatus apart from below the tub might help expose pieces that do loosen.

Steps to getting access underneath:

1. Remove tub drain cover plate for access from below tub.
2. Unscrew slip-nut fitting closest to flange.
3. disconnect horizontal arm pipe piece leading to wall or floor plumbing.

Now you can inspect all the threaded areas of the tailpiece and waste shoe to see if any parts rotate freely. Penetrating oil may loosen the slip nut fitting between pieces. With full access, it's much easier to determine what specific spots are seized up.

Cleaning Caked-On Grime From Threads

A drain strainer cage likely covers the lower waste flange into the horizontal arm. This underside area never gets cleaned and collects disgusting black slime and hairballs over the years.

Fully dismantling the apparatus allows scrubbing all the threaded nooks with an old toothbrush and cleaner. Removing caked deposits restores smooth interaction between pieces so one segment finally turns freely again.

Replacing Entire Drain Assembly as Last Resort

If penetrating sprays, hammer taps, specialty tools, and full disassembly all fail to make any part rotate - the whole drain assembly is likely fused into one permanent mass.

When no component separately unscrews and threads seem damaged beyond cleaning, replacement is needed.

• Buy a new lift-and-turn or toe-touch style drain flange and matching tailpiece kit.
• Carefully cut away the stubborn seized drain pieces with a Dremel or hacksaw blade.
• Thoroughly clean waste shoe area and existing plumbing arm before installing replacement parts.

Severing the immobile drain hardware is the only path forward if no threaded areas ever loosened, even after aggressive cleaning attempts. The new tailpiece and flange kit screws together easily with fresh uncorrupted threads sealing watertight.

Bathtub drains can put up a frustrating fight when they seize up and refuse tools and twisting. But systematically working from basic to aggressive specialty options detailed here can finally provide enough torque or vibration to break things loose.

Getting liquid penetrants fully down into hidden crevices is key as well as scrubbing out compacted gunk before attempting to unstick. Just taking the assembly completely apart may reveal one freely moving piece.

But if all options lead to a perma-fused drain, modern replacement parts make installing a fresh new apparatus simple. With some patience the proper technique detailed here will have things moving freely in no time.