Hi, I had a slow drain in my tub a few months ago and now after renovating the bathroom the drain is even worse. I never used draino or anything like that, I removed the drain and overflow which needed to be replaced. I then ran about 20 feet of snake down the main drain pipe I did this 3 times and was only able to pull out a small amount of hair. I was using a rigid power snake with auger tip, I used my drill in stead of the hand crank. The water in the drain is very black and greasy. I live in an old building built in 1928 in Chicago. I'm on the first floor above the boiler room I've tried to open the cleanup trap next to the tub but the there is a key type pattern that I can't explain and because it's about 3-4" below the floor it's very difficult to get anything in there to try to open it. I really can't afford a plumber and I like doing this stuff myself?? Please help

Jeff

[QuoteI've tried to open the cleanup trap next to the tub but the there is a key type pattern that I can't explain and because it's about 3-4" below the floor it's very difficult to get anything in there to try to open it.Quote}

Do you have a drum trap or a "P" trap?:

Barrel trap

It sounds like you are having a problem with the venting on the drain. See if you can run a snake up the vent side of the stack to try and open it.

Water doesn't flow well in a vacuum.