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View Full Version : How do I remove something from my bathtub drain?


dumbdaddyplumb
Nov 23, 2010, 04:37 PM
Hey I have a problem I kind of feel stupid but anyway I need help so we moved into this house about 6 months ago and the tub had a really slow drain. So I snaked the drain and got some hair and I also put drano down it. I haven't gotten anywhere it stills drains very slowly. So I attempted to snake it again and when I did I saw like a lego or something in the drain and I tried to grab it with needle nose pliers, but ended up pushing it back, so I tried to continue snaking it to see if I could try again and never got it back to where I could see it. So then I went to the basement into the other bathroom right below the upstairs bathroom. I removed ceiling so I could access the drain and I seen that the drain came down in to a U piece and then it goes horzontal into what's appears to be a larger pipe for the upstairs toilet. So I was able to pull the U piece down and off the drain for the tub and I was able to look in the drain and see something white stuck in the T spot of the drain so I had like a wire that I stuck up there to try and coax the piece out but continued to push it back in the drain the other way so I went upstairs and put the snake down the drain to push it back and then I made like a hook on the wire and tried to grab it from the bottom again and I ended up getting the wire stuck on the snake and so I was trying to pull the snake out and it pulled the wire all they way up to where the drain starts in the tub. I ended getting the snake off but the wire is stuck in the drain and I can't get it out. What do you suggest I do. Now that I explained all this to you I don't kind of feel stupid I feel really really stupid. Please help by the way this wire is pretty sturdy I don't know what you want to call it it is about 1/8 in diameter maybe not good with measurements like that but it is about 4 to 5 feet long. I would say about 2 feet is sticking out the bottom in the downstairs bathroom.

massplumber2008
Nov 23, 2010, 05:03 PM
Hi DBP...

DOn't feel too bad as it sounds like you've done pretty good so far!

I'll tell you, at this point you may as well disconnect the TEE FITTING at the tub shoe and then cut the wire off and finally remove the stuck piece.

Here, you'll disconnect the nut at the tee fitting and slide the tee fitting back... cut the wire, remove the toy and then install the nut/washer onto the tub shoe, use PIPE DOPE at this nut/washer and then reassemble all including the UTUBE (called a PTRAP) and test your work.

Give this a shot and let us know how you make out, OK?

Mark

speedball1
Nov 23, 2010, 05:09 PM
So I snaked the drain You snaked the drain from where? The drain itself or from the over flow? (see image).
If you snaked from the drain you snaked from the wrong spot. Do you have a access panel behind the tub? Let me put up (see the image) so you gab show me exactly what your problem is.

he wire is stuck in the drain and I can't get it out.
Why can't you pull it out with your needle nosed pliers? You shouldn't had this much hassle when all you had to do is open up a panel and remove the tub waste and overflow, remove the obstruction and reassemble the tub waste. So show me exactly where the blockage is.
Back to you, Tom