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chris1970 · Apr 1, 2008, 07:25 AM

I live in an older house (~40 yo). I have a bathtub drain that will drain very slowly, but it never really getting worse once it gets to a certain level. If I use Red Devil drain maintenance for several days in a row, in conjunction with lots of boiling water, the drain will start draining like its got a suction hose attached. Then without treatment it will return to its normal slow drain state within a week. This doesn't really make sense to me, can anyone help? TIA

donf · Apr 1, 2008, 08:24 AM

I am definitely not a plumber but based on prior experience, I would never pour a drain cleaner down a clogged line.

I would (and usually do) use a flat steel plumber's snake. I remove the drain cover, put the grill and screws in a rag and wrap them up and put them outside the tub or enclosure. I then take the snake, and slowly advance it down the drain until I feel the clog. Then I move the snake back and forth until I feel the clog break up. You will be able to tell because any standing water in the drain will immediately run out.

When was the last time you or a plumber snaked from your clean-out to the sewer? Believe it or not, my sister-in-law had a clog there and it was causing periodic floods in the 1/2 bath downstairs, when she ran multiple washing machine loads from the upstairs machines.

Unregistered · Apr 1, 2008, 08:30 AM

Well, I have no idea how long its been since its been snaked, but the line never becomes completely clogged, just drains very slowly, except for a few days after intensive treatment with drain maintenance stuff (not opener) and boiling water.

donf · Apr 1, 2008, 08:46 AM

Unregistered,

Did you open the original post for this item or did you open your question after the item was already open?

If you jumped in on the item, please start a new item for your question rather then cause confusion about whose question we are working on.

Thanks in advance

chris1970 · Apr 1, 2008, 09:02 AM

Yes, unregistered was me. Sorry, didn't realize I was logged out.

speedball1 · Apr 1, 2008, 11:49 AM

I am no fan of putting harsh chemicals in your drainage system. Besides, they only seem to work in TV commercials. The only way to be sure a drain's cleared is to snake it. For short drain lines 1 1/4 to 2" use a small hand cranked snake. for vents and sewers rent a sewer machine. To snake a bath tub .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. Now feed the cable( 1/4" best or 3/8" 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 shouln'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

chris1970 · Apr 7, 2008, 05:16 AM

I tried following those instructions, but try as I might, I could not get the snake more than about 2 feet into the drain, through the overflow drain. I bought a small (3/8" or 1/4") flat snake that cranks back up into a plastic case. When I tried twisting and pushing at the same time, it would just pop back out of the drain, slinging nasty gunk all over myself and the rest of the bathroom, so I quickly tired of that endeavor. It looks like ~1.5" copper pipe draining the tub, but I couldn't see very far down to where it goes, when looking through the access panel. Any other advice, or should I call a professional?

speedball1 · Apr 7, 2008, 05:35 AM

You have to hold the snake tight to the overflow plate and work the snake past the bend of the trap a inch at a time. It will go, just don'[t let too much of the snake stay outside the drain so it doesn't have a chance to twist.. Keep it as close as you can and crank and push a inch at a time until you're past the bend. Good luck, Tom

massplumber2008 · Apr 7, 2008, 03:29 PM

Hi everyone:

Try what Tom recommended... snake should get by.. just need to work it like he suggested.

If that does not work... check out another quick approach here. I have provided two pictures.. each applies to this problem in a different way.

The pic at the sink shows what I want you to do at TUB waste. The tub waste pic shows the wrong trap but gives you idea of what is happening behind the wall.

In your case, if snaking does not work out (this, ultimately is best way to do this).. then I want you to remove the face plate and screws and place outside tub like DONF suggested (know Don removed a few of these in his time... ;) )... then take a wet rag and stick into the overflow pipe about 2-3 inches (be careful, don't push rag down too hard)... then add 3 inches water to tub, then holding rag in overflow with one hand (or have someone else hold rag).. use your plunger to plunge that drain. The PULL is more important then the PUSH!

Idea here is that if you block the overflow pipe, when plunging you may loosen blockage. Without blocking overflow pipe, if plunge drain, water just backs up the overflow pipe... if block it.. then pressure can actually be applied to blockage.

Try it out ONLY as last resort. Let us know what happens... Mark

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