The water drains from my tub very slowly. I have poured bleach and boiling water down the drain but it did not work. Can I pour bleach and boiling water down the clean out drian that is below the faucet. What can I do with out snaking out it out. Something I can do myself at home? It is frustrating.

speedball1

Hi Mom,
Lavatories, tubs and showers all have the same problem with clogs. Rotting hair matted up with grease from soap is the culprit.
"Can I pour bleach and boiling water down the clean out drian that is below the faucet."
It would be the same as pouring bleach and boiling water down the drain. They both go to the same place.

"What can I do with out snaking out it out. Something I can do myself at home?"
A last ditch, "Hail Mary" attempt would be to soak some rags or TP and jamthem in the bottom opening of the tub waste and overflow, (the thing you call a cleanout) to make it air tight and open the drain up and plunge the ****ins outta it.
From here on in the only thing to do is snake out the tubs drain line. If you have a friend that's handy with tools I can walk him through the process if you wish. regards, Tom

blessedmom

["What can I do with out snaking out it out. Something I can do myself at home?"
A last ditch, "Hail Mary" attempt would be to soak some rags or TP and jamthem in the bottom opening of the tub waste and overflow, (the thing you call a cleanout) to make it air tight and open the drain up and plunge the ****ins outta it.


I would love to try this. But you can you please explain this to me like I was a 4 year old
:-) A step by step process?

Thank you for replying. I appreciate it. I look forward to your answer.

Where is the bottom opening of the tub waste and overflow??????

speedball1

OK Mom,

I've put up the two types of tub wastes and overflows,( see images) one of them should be yours. The opening I want you to close off is located directly underneath the lever. Jam wet rags, soggy toilet paper or whatever in the slot so no air can escape. Have someone hold it in tight because every time you push down on the plunger it will try to come out. If your tub stopper comes up as shown in the image then pull it out. If you don't have it then you're set to plunge. (you do have a plunger don't you?)
Place the plunger over the drain and began to work it up and down vigorously all the time maintaining the seal you made with the wet rags on the tub overflow plate. Do not let any air escape. A few minutes of plunging should tell you if the line's cleared or not. If that don't get it then the tub will have to be snaked through the overflow plate that you sealed . Good luck, Tom

Attached Images

Types of Tub Wastes and Overflow.pdf (84.6 KB, 32 views)

blessedmom

Thank you Tom...I will try it. I'm going to study the picture. It is kind to make out. I'm trying to understand the picture.

Basically I'm sealing that air so that no air comes out while I plunge the drain as if I have a back up in my tub?

You said after a few minutes of plunging I should know if the line is clear? How will I know.

Please forgive all the questions. I like learning and doing(or trying) things myself. I like home improvement.

I'm sorry is the tub waste and over flower the clean out drain underneath the faucet? I unscrew the plate and stuff that with rags?

speedball1

Mom,

This is the overflow plate I'm referring to, (see image) you don't have to remove anything. Just seal off the slot/opening underneath it.

"Basically I'm sealing that air so that no air comes out while I plunge the drain as if I have a back up in my tub?"

That's right. Run a little water in the tub so the plunger has a better seal when you plunge.

"You said after a few minutes of plunging I should know if the line is clear? How will I know."
Run some water in the tub. If it still drains slow then plunge it again. Follow it up with bleach and boiling water.
Good luck, tom

Attached Images

 

blessedmom

Tom thank you for your help. I appreciate it. I guess if if I would have read carefully I wouldn't have aasked so many questions. I do have anotehr question though. My stopper does not come off so when I try to plunge the tub it keeps closing. Do you have any suggestions.

speedball1

Do you have the type of tub stopper that is shown on the right? (see tub wastes imagies a few posts back.)

blessedmom

Yes I do have the one that is pictured on the right.

The picture on the right is the pop stopper I have. Is there anything I can do to plunge it?

iamgrowler

You should be able to pull the stopper right out.

Just pull it up firmly.

When re-installing the parts after you're done, just remember to install the overflow assembly first, and then install the stopper, otherwise the reticulated arm on the stopper will not engage the overflow assembly correctly.