View Full Version : Dishwasher/tub backup
Janetblair
Dec 12, 2012, 02:21 PM
Hi Plumbing Gurus!!
Woke up to a bath tub full of grey water! YUCK!
Here is what predeeded that.
Bathtub drain had a bunch of hair (mine) so I took a coat hanger and fished a lot of it out (or so I thought)
Next cleaned the heck out of the bathtub (very beautiful above the grey water! )
Tub was not draining well.
Next, cooked dinner, ate, and loaded and ran dishwasher (culprit #2)
While lying in bed, I heard some weird gurgling
Woke up, and Voilą bathtub full of grey water!
Won't be helped by plunging tried and tried
Have a little snake... dont really know how to use it
Please HELP!!
ma0641
Dec 12, 2012, 09:34 PM
You need yo have the drain lines cleaned. If you got out hair, there is most likely more..
speedball1
Dec 13, 2012, 07:19 AM
Brian's correct. You have a blockage downstream from the tub. The solution would b e to snake the drain line from the tub overflow.9see image) Let me show you how,
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. You can rent a Ridgid K50 sink cable.) 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. After you snake pour a few pans of boiling water down the drain. This will loosen the grease and flush the mess out into the main. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply. TOM
Janetblair
Dec 13, 2012, 04:34 PM
Brian's correct. You have a blockage downstream from the tub. The solution would b e to snake the drain line from the tub overflow.9see image) Let me show you how,
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. You can rent a Ridgid K50 sink cable.) 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. After you snake pour a few pans of boiling water down the drain. This will loosen the grease and flush the mess out into the main. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply. TOM
Thanks Tom and Brian!
Finally found the clog It was behind the bathroom SINK! We noticed gurgling got louder when water turned on in sink so we took it apart and snaked it several times ~ more haor ~ the previous owners had big black dogs! This was a three day project between work! It was a good feeling to hear the whoosh and realize I did this myself (with your advise of course!) My roommate also snaked a lot.
ma0641
Dec 13, 2012, 09:24 PM
Thanks Tom and Brian!
Finally found the clog It was behind the bathroom SINK! We noticed gurgling got louder when water turned on in sink so we took it apart and snaked it several times ~ more haor ~ the previous owners had big black dogs! This was a three day project between work! It was a good feeling to hear the whoosh and realize I did this myself (with your advise of course!) My roommate also snaked a lot.
Good for you and thanks for the update, Brian