Ok, pretty sure I have a handle on what is going on, but wanted to confirm.

This morning while in the shower I noticed that it was draining kind of slowly. The plunger was nearby, so I thought I would give it a shot, hoping it would help dislodge any hair or whatever. Instead, it seems to have made things worse. The tub is barely draining at all now and the plunger seems to have pulled whatever blockage there is closer to the tub because a lot of dirt and junk came into the tub, looks like soap scum, grease, hair, but also some sand and direct. Also now the lavatory backups into the tub.

Obviously there is a blockage, but I am not sure where. Should I snake from the roof vent down or would it be OK to just snake from the lavatory or the tub? The tub/shower is wet vented through the lavatory. The past week or so the tub had been a bit sluggish, but that is normal due to hair build up.

Does this sound more like a blockage in the vent or in the drain line itself?

Thanks!

I would snake from the lavatory. The blockage is after the point where the lavatory and the tub drains connect. Apparently you moved the blockage when you plunged the tub. Did you block the tub overflow when you plunged? If not remove the overflow cover, block with a wet cloth or large sponged and try plunging again.

The sand and dirt (I assume "direct" is a typo) is worrisome, could mean broken pipe unless someone washed dirty boots off in tub.

Thanks for the response. I didn't try very hard with the plunger, it was 5AM! I only tried to block the overflow with my hand, will try harder when I get home. My initial thinking was to snake from the lavatory as well. It's easier, and it seems more likely to be the location of the clog.

I am not too worried about a broken pipe, this bathroom is on the third floor of the home, so I think we'd know if the pipe was broken. The dirt/sand is actually what got me thinking about the vent and the off chance a bird or some other creature built up a next in it. Possible? Crazy?

Wife comes home from a business trip tomorrow night, so hell or highwater, this is going to get fixed!

Thanks for the help!

Have you tried putting some drain cleaner in it yet? Which should clear out the hair and soap buildup. And possibly free it up enough to flush the sand/dirt away. But as hkstroud has said... you might still have to snake it out good. The stuff in a bottle can only do so much.

Who washed their boots in tub? If you snake through tub you will have to get through tub trap. Should be able to remove trap under lavatory and snake from there. Same as going up on roof. Try plunging again. If you moved the blockage once you should be able to move it again. Plunge vigorously, you get more results from the pulling action than the pushing.

P.S.
Did you break that potted plant wife had sitting on tub?

Ok, so you don't think it has anything to do with the vent at all? No nests or birds or anything?

I cannot for the life of me think of a time when we've had sand in the shower, ever! Could it be that the blockage has been there for a long, long time? And that my plunging it, just got things moving?

As a rule Harold and I am on the same page, however this time I must disagree. While snaking from the lavatory trap or roof vent will clear the lavatory drain line it won't touch the tub drain line and that's where the clog lives.
Unscrew and remove the overflow plate,(The one with the drain lever) and pull out the tub stopper. You now have a clear shot at the trap. The way you were going in through the drain it ran you square into a tee that you can't get around. Now feed the cable( 1/4" best or 3/3" with a small tip. About 2' down you will run into the bend of the trap. Crank and push at the same time to work around it. Your blockage will be found in the lateral pipe going to the stack. You shouldn't have to put out more then 10 or 12 feet. I have found tub and shower clogs to be mostly hair and the worm should auger into it and pull it back. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply. TOM

Don't think anything could have gotten in the tub drain via the vent piping. As you said the tub is vented through the lavatory. Anything coming down the vent pipe would be in the lavatory drain. The sand and dirt could have been sitting in the tub trap for a long time. All depends on how much we are talking about.

Tom:
Except the lavatory is now blocked and I always have trouble getting through the tub trap.

But Harold,
The line that's blocked is rhe tub drain. Why would snaking from the lavatory trap or roof vent help the tub blockage? Stubbys clog is in the tub drain, (see image) not the lavatory drain. Don't you agree? Regards, Tom

Tom
Lavy is now backing up into tub, seems to me blockage would have to be after the two drains come together. Bet a pizza that plunging will clear it no matter. He move it once with a half hearted effort, should be able to move it again. I'd also run water in the lavatory while plunging to help block lavatory drain.

Harold,

Lavy is now backing up into tub, seems to me blockage would have to be after the two drains come together.
And you're entirely correct.
However, snaking the lav drain will not clear the tub drain of hair and grease.
As for plungers. I never even carried one on my truck. Along with Draino and other chemicals I'm never quite sure I got the entire blockage uless I snake the line. Cheers Tom

I am hoping someone is around. I am trying to snake the drain, but I cannot even manage to get past the P trap. Any idea what I am doing wrong?

Are you going through the drain or the overflow?

I am going through the overflow. I clearly hit the p-trap and can't for the life of me get beyond it.

This is an old house, 75 years or so (in Washington, DC, so no far from you HKStroud), and so the pipes are original cast iron. Plunging the tub has brought up a fair amount of debris, some of which is definitely "shavings" of rust, lots of dirt, hair, grease, etc.

What size snake, manual or electric? PM me or call, in the book, Alexandria.

Stubby,
Are ypou sure you have a "P" trapand are not attemptring to9 go through a "drum trap"? (see image) That would explain yout difficulty in getting past it. Have you checked? Tom

It was definitely a p-trap. I think I just lack the skills.

Harold helped me out big time last night and walked me through it. I finally made it through the lavatory drain an yanked out a huge hair ball! Yuck!

Major thanks to Harold! And thanks to you Tom, as always for your help.

If it's just a "P" trap then crank while pushing the snake forward. Is your snake 3/8ths. Or smaller? Too large a snake will not make it past the return bend. Good luck, Tom,