Happy Friday! It's been a really long week and we're looking forward to taking the stress off tonight with a long soak in the tub. Our bathtub is clawfoot and charming, but here's the challenge. As you can see above, the overflow valve is placed so low that the water starts to drain out before the bathtub is anywhere near full. We scoured the web for solutions to this that we'll share, as well as our own happy solution.
So most baths have some sort of overflow “safety” drain or hole that is located (depending on your tub) somewhere under or near near the faucet. While this IS good for safety, it is horrible for getting the water level of your bath tub very full. Our tub also loses so much hot water that its hard to keep the water warm. In an old apartment, I once caulked the hole shut but for the life of me can't find that product which worked pretty well (but was permanent and couldn't be removed). After googling pretty much every word combination I could think of, it came down to a few options to try:
Porcelain or chrome plates. You can screw over the overflow drain (if you have one that fits exactly). Not ideal if you aren't handy or sure whether it will fit. But if you own your place, these look nice. They are also permanent, so if you have kids I would not recommend it, but there are some good examples at Vintage Tub and Amazon.
Sugru. Sugru is really cool — it's not made for this purpose exactly and we're not sure if it will work, but we're intrigued with this stuff and would have tried it if we didn't find the next solution. It's also more colorful than we wanted in the tub.
"Deep Water Bath". This is the product we ended up buying. It's just a piece of 4" diameter vinyl with suction cups that fits over the drain hole. It's perfect because it's a temporary fix and you can remove it — and it also does still have a drain hole which you can rotate to the top. So if you absolutely had to leave the room and then forgot you were running a bath, it would still drain the water out (just at a much higher level). It looks like it will fit just about any drain because it isn't snug, although it works great.
As you can see from the photo above, we gained an insane amount of water in the bath and if we fill it up and get in, it is right at the top of the bath so our knees actually get wet.
We got our Deep Water Bath at Amazon for about $7.
Images: Jeanine Brennan
The Roeders' Modern Life is Beautiful 
How To Keep Your Bathroom Clean In 5 Minutes A Day
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Harlequin Mexican Tile
Shopping for Ice Cream Makers: 5 Models We've Reviewed
How to Cook Moist & Tender Chicken Breasts Every Time
Comments (55)
What about a large magnet pad? It is flexible enough to cover the hole, but very temporary and cheap to boot!
I've been searching for a product like the Deep Water Bath for YEARS! I'll finally be able to take an enjoyable bubble bath!
I can't help but think that its probably a good thing that the
overflow valve is set low. Maybe its all those times my Dad told me not to waste so much water or maybe I just like to
plug my nose sink down under the water so all I can hear is my the bass notes and my heart beating.
Now that's a great product!!
So much for being "green." If your tub drain leaks, why not spend some time figuring out how to fix the stopper instead of jamming the safty drain?
Just don't do what I did... Our overflow is the kind with the solid metal front and the opening in the bottom (like this:
http://base1.googlehosted.com/base_media?q=http://www.deerso.com/images/products/thumbnail/Do-it-Chrome-Bathtub-Overflow-Face-Plate456330.jpg&size=19&dhm=c7fc17cc&hl=en )
And I thought I'd just flip it over so the opening was on top.
Worked pretty well until the plate rusted thru. Oops.
i just put my foot over the drain.
Yeah, I see why this was not posted on ReNest.
Should be titled "How to Make Your Bath Waste More Water."
The weight of the additional water may of concern. Clawfoot tubs are extremely heavy, and doubling the amount of water it can hold could pose a problem for the structure.
It is a good idea to put the fixtures on the side, so you can soak with a friend, who will block the drain.
guys - it sounds like the drain works just fine - not leaking. it's the overflow valve/hole is just too far down for taste.
I just got one of these puppies on ebay about a month ago and it has changed my life.
I've had one for years and it's awesome. But I have to be careful not to fill up the tub TOO much before I get in. I usually fill up the tub, get in and THEN put the Deep Water Bath doodad on and then fill the tub up more.
The typical 10-minute shower (not low-flow) uses 50 gallons of water. Before posters get too judgmental about an attempt to further fill a 40-gallon tub, they should question how much water they use in their daily routine. I'm all for water conservation, but if you go about practicing everyday water savings, adding a few extra gallons to a weekly bath isn't going to destroy the world.
Saran wrap. A decent sized piece that covers the overflow with plenty to spare. You have to hold it there initially until the water comes above the overflow valve, but the pressure of the water will hold it inplace after the fact.
"guys - it sounds like the drain works just fine - not leaking. it's the overflow valve/hole is just too far down for taste."
Everyone else seems to have reading comprehension issues :)
Good article. I'm also one of those people who stick their big toe to stop the draining, although I don't take any more baths. My tub is not so appealing. No matter how clean I get it.
Better hope your local plumbing inspector doesn't read AT cause that faucet is already not to code, and the image with the faucet completely submerged might kill him/her. Hope you and your neighbors like body scrub residue in your tap water!
I have it on good authority that my Local Plumbing Inspector not only reads Apartment Therapy, but scours the site to look for plumbing violations possibly committed in pictures on the site.
My overflow drain rotates amazingly enough. So I can just rotate it so the drain part is at the top.
LOL @ SuperBee!
Excuse me, sir... I am here to inspect your drain. I have it on good authority that you are using illegal aftermarket plumbing accessories!
You guys are crazy...lol. Plumbing violations...yelling at people to fix their bathtub stoppers...
@krunkinator She's losing heat in her water because it's an old tub...they get cold...I have one too. It has nothing to do with her tub leaking.
We all get that baths waste more water than a shower. I recycle. I compost and grow some of my own stuff. I accelerate slowly and combine my errands to conserve gas. I even have a big bucket in my bathroom to collect the water from the tub when the water's heating up (I put it in the toilet the next time I flush or water the plants with it). I turn off my lights and leave my house at 64 in the winter and 77 in the summer. I pay extra to the electric company for their green energy. But my tub when full has a ridiculously low water depth. It doesn't cover my thighs. Sometimes, you want a bath, and when you take a bath, you want to enjoy it. You guys need to lighten up... ;)
I think this is brilliant and I intend to buy one ASAP.
FYI I will plant a tree and water it with buckets from my uber-deep tub...and make sure my plumbing is up to code...thank you for your concern.
Despite all the haters above, I love you for posting this. The overflow valve in my tub is so ridiculously low that baths are pointless. This is awesome.
@calestreet --
Sounds like you're not aware that building inspectors primarily inspect work in new buildings and renovations - The only reason they would inspect an existing installation that is not part of a permitted newbuild or renovation is if the Municipality is looking for an excuse to condemn a property.
I received that $7 plastic tub thingy as a gift - it works great, particularly for traveling and using hotel tubs!
Another thing you can do is simply unscrew the cover that has the tub drain flipper thingy with the hole in the bottom and rotate it 180 degrees so that the opening is at the top, and screw it back in:
Voila - Higher water level and no money spent!
(Come find me Mr Building Inspector: I Dare Ya!)
I guess this would be an upgrade from my duct tape solution! Yes i am canadian. =)
I'm really surprised that AT continues to advocate home hacks like this. The overflow is there for a reason. There was another post not long ago about disabling smoke alarms in kitchens to keep them from going off when cooking. Seriously when your tub floods the apartment below or falls through the floor and someone says I read it on AT......well, you get the picture.
Haters!! Seriously?? Full-tub people really feel the need to
protect bath time.
I hate being called a hater.
I think we should discuss what we do with hotwater bottle
water once its gone cold.
I totally use duct tape but it's so unsexy. Oh, and it's true that too much weight in an old clawfoot tub can cause a leg to fall off. This happened to my mom, and now that tub is a "fishpond" in her backyard.
Bed bath and beyond carries these too, for about 5 bucks. I'm a hard-core water conservationist, but I can't live without baths in the winter time, and rental apartment tubs are ludicrously shallow. The ten extra gallons are worth it, and I'll use some of them to water my plants afterward if it makes the water patrol feel better.
Wow, so many buttons got pushed with this post. Wasting water! Irresponsible hacks leading to disaster! Good grief.
I've had one of these doo-dads for a few years. I bought mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Very happy with it. That said, plastic wrap sounds like a good solution in a pinch.
"We all get that baths waste more water than a shower."
Is this fact or opinion?
cedargr0, laila, etal--
Don't be so dismissive of the waste this represents.
It's not just water (which we take waaaaaaaaaay too much for granted...) it's the energy to heat it...
And seriously... "the extra ten gallons"??? Um, multiply that by the number of people in the US...
And don't EVEN get me started on "bath versus shower."
as a tall person who doesn't come close to fitting in my bathtub, I very much appreciate this. I've given up baths because I can't keep the water warm enough (even by adding more) in my very shallow tub with a very low overflow drain. though I love baths, I've been fine giving them up, but it'd be nice to have the option on days when I'm sick/sore/just want the luxury.
"I hate being called a hater" LOL
Some of these comments remind me of an old roommate that would come into my bedroom and complain that I was watching tv and surfing the internet at the same time. Or that I would go to sleep with a fan in the window during 90 degree weather.
It's great to be so committed to a cause. But when you scold and belittle anyone who does not share your exact lifestyle, it really does no good for your cause.
Duct tape and saran wrap, works like a charm.
I just noticed the picture next to the tub. Awesome, haha!
Now I want to see the WHOLE room! After all bathrooms that are homes to Clawfoot Tubs (almost wrote "Cubs") are my favorite!
To be fair, the writer said 'we'... so if they're taking baths in pairs (or groups maybe, hey... I ain't judging), they're SAVING water! :D
Oh, I WANT one of these! Not only is my bath super shallow, the overflow drain wasn't installed properly (like just about everything else in this house) and it just drains into the WALL. This would help keep water out of it when we shower.
Also, to those of you concerned with water use: look up Japanese Ofuro. My fiance and I do a super fast Navy Shower, or just scrub off from the sink, then take turns soaking. We just add a kettle of boiling water to bring the bath back up to temp for the next person. Think of it like a hot tub, only without all the icky chemicals.
Re: "Duct tape and saran wrap, works like a charm."
Most drag queens agree!
I agree with jlw0001 and laila.
I'm not bathing every day or every week. There are other possibilities to keep oneself clean. So the argument wasting water is ridicoulous for my bathing habit.
We have a bathtub for handicapped where the water level is really low so that neither children nor senior people can go drowning when getting unconcious. But it is to low to enjoy a relaxing bath.
So I'm thankful for this post and the end of all those ill fitting items we used as a substitute up to now.
I love how, when someone ELSE has a huge house, or a practice deemed wasteful of energy or electricity (or even a high-volume flush toilet), there's huge outcry, regardless of situation. Yet here, there is a LOT of personal justification.
But that's okay, since to each his/her own.
I just hope it's remembered when an item is posted that you deem to be high priced or extravagant... since it's just proof that people just choose to spend(/waste) their "bathwater" in different ways.
I'd REALLY love to see this exact item/issue posted on ReNest and see how things shape out over there.
Hmm.., I take baths rarely, but when I do, I fill the tub up to the bottom of the safety drain. The problem is once I get into the tub, the water level rises and goes down the drain. So for me, this drain cover thingy would actually save water.
However, the posts above are correct when they say that in a clawfoot tub you want to be careful about the weight of the additional water - and no faucet should ever be submerged for health and sanitation reasons.
Oo Ow Jab Stab. So much heated discussion, enough to fill a good-sized tub. Let's leave the soapbox outside the door. The moderates tell a good story, the radicals should go to
"I completely disagree (dot) com"
If people can scream bloody murder on this site when BOOKS ARE ORGANIZED BY COLOR or not handled like sacred artifacts, heatedly debate the issue of what is necessary in a nursery, and rake a proud homeowner sharing their home decor over the coals because they deem their home to be too large to be "responsible," then the issue of whether an extra-full bathtub is an issue of waste or not is, I feel, a really valid point of discussion.
I just think we are soooo spoiled when it comes to water usage it's scary.
I feel bad for some of the posters on here, who innocently raise a topic, or showcase a product, and the comments become a debate or fiery hotbed of disapproval.
That being said:
1) I had never seen an overflow drain before coming overseas two months ago. They rarely exist in Australia.
2) I'm not sure who wrote it but "ten minute shower"?!! Obviously you people do not live in drought, as in most parts of Australia the idea of a ten minute shower is reprehensible, and those extra ten gallons of water? They add up, especially when water reserves are at dangerous lows.
I second arcaydia but with green masking tape (I am Canadian, too) - works every time!
hmm....sometimes yes, sometimes no
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/myths/shower_vs_bath.html
i have one too from bed bath and beyond. and whenever i take a bath, i make sure and not shower for a day or 2 to make up for it ;)
as i don't have a car or plan to get one & live in a studio apartment. (and also don't takes trips on planes) my carbon footprint is quite small & i feel comfortable, morally, taking a bath whenever I want. i am very pleased to hear about this new gadget!
-judy
ps i rarely read the comments on this site anymore because they seem so bossy and bumming??? but i love all the tours, suggstions, showcase of products, etc.... yhea AT!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you AT! I have been looking for a product like this. The tub in our rental is very shallow, it'll be wonderful to take a "deep" relaxing bath for a change!
Duct Tape works great. Especially since it comes in white to blend in with the tub!
How long are you soaking where the water is getting so cold, so fast? And what kind of tub are some of you using? I love nothing more than a good, long bath - but usually by the time the water is cool, my fingers are pruny (sp? is that even a word?) enough that it's time to get out.
I also kind of have to agree with Ptoo- if this were a post about new construction in suburbia, many of you would be up in arms. I grew up in a 50s era house, and the only time I attempt a soaking bath now is when I visit my parents (they're now in a 20s-era bungalow with clawfoot tub). The tubs in both houses are at least 50% larger than the few 90s/00s-era homes I've lived in. Don't be so quick to judge McMansions or suburbia - b/c for all their faults, they were built to be a lot more energy-efficient than a lot of the old, urban construction many of you hold so dearly.
Thank you for posting this. I take a bath about once a month when I do my "girlie night". Light some candles, wrap my hair, put a face mask on and soak in a nice scented bath. However in my new apartment the safety drain is literally 6inches (measured) from the bottom of the tub. And it's kind of hard to soak in a tub when half of your body is cold and shivering because it's not in the water. This is just what I'm looking for!
For ATers in NYC, where we get out water from upstate reservoirs, don't beat yourself up over wanting a few extra gallons of water in your bath. Think of it as protecting your upstate neighbors from floods when all that snow melts...
From the Oneonta Daily Star:
"DEP spokesman Michael Saucier said 452 million gallons of water a day are being released from the Pepacton Reservoir, and 970 million gallons a day are being released from the Cannonsville Reservoir, which is the maximum allowed by the Flexible Flow Management Plan."
just to spite the haters i filled up my tub twice while reading the comments and emptied it for no good reason just so i could say i did that. so suck it
thanks @redshoes7...we often need a reality check
Regal magazine... I don't know if it exists in the States, but in Canada it's been around for years.
They have them... and now you can ask your grandma for one for christmas :)