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    leon78's Avatar
    leon78 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Apr 13, 2008, 01:41 PM
    Unplugging the bathtub
    Hello, can anyone help? We were painting our house and my wife washed the pan and the brushes in the bathtub. Now the bath tub is plugged... we have tried with Drano-gel(twice) and still doesn't work. The water is going down but it takes about an hour :-( not sure what else to do as the paint might be stuck in the pipes.Thank you
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
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    #2

    Apr 13, 2008, 01:44 PM
    Hi Leon:

    Tub waste looks like which of the following toe trippers or click on attached link and tell me if tub drain looks like pic. On left or pic. On right (stopper plug is the difference between the two pics.).
    Attached Images
      
    Attached Images
  1. File Type: pdf Types of Tub Wastes and Overflow.pdf (84.6 KB, 181 views)
    2. leon78's Avatar
    leon78 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Apr 13, 2008, 01:55 PM
    It looks like the one on the right
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
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    #4

    Apr 13, 2008, 01:58 PM
    It looks like toe trip on right or the tub drain on right in attachment... darn, sorry I should have been more clear on how to distinguish these!
    leon78's Avatar
    leon78 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Apr 13, 2008, 02:04 PM
    It looks like toe trip on right, sorry
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
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    #6

    Apr 13, 2008, 02:11 PM
    OK.. here's what I would do.

    I would remove that stopper (should be a flat or phillips head screw underneath that toe trip... just loosen screw (see pic.) and rotate stopper until pulls up and off.

    Now, remove the overflow plate (remove the two screws). Take a small face cloth and wet it. Then stick it into overflow pipe.. gently, but firmly. Then fill tub with 2 inches or so of water...

    Then with safety goggles on because you used DRANO! Hold rag into overflow (have friend hold this by hand or with a long screwdriver) and begin to plunge at the tub drain line... be aggressive, but not crazy! Do this a number of times... pushing up and pulling back up on plunger.

    That should result in a WHOOSH! Effect if you are lucky and tub should start to drain well. If worked, just re-assemble all and good job! If not, get back to us.. let us know result... Mark

    If this helped, please RATE THIS ANSWER. Thank you.
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    leon78's Avatar
    leon78 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #7

    Apr 13, 2008, 02:15 PM
    Thank you very much.will try this right away:-)
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
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    #8

    Apr 13, 2008, 02:16 PM
    Good luck!
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #9

    Apr 13, 2008, 03:38 PM
    Mark gave you great advice especially the part about the googles since you used Draino. If this does not work, it should, you can try dumping in about a pint of this stuff. Biosafe Paint Solvent - Paint, Lacquer, Grease, Varnish remover Let it soak and then start filling the tub with hot only water, if it doesn't drain on its own use Mark's method again.
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