Hello,

For the second time in a year, our bathtub drainage has become very slow. After the first incident, the plumbers snaked the line, which helped. Now, about a year later, the same problem persists, and a new plumber has told us we have a drum trap that needs to be replaced with a P trap. (I guess the snaking last year was largely ineffective because of our setup). New plumber also says that in order to reach the trap, a portion of the ceiling downstairs will have to be removed. Of course, the plumbers will not fix the ceiling after the repair, so that project or cost will fall to us.

I've read in several places that drum traps should be accessible from the access door behind the bathroom wall. I've gone into this little enclosure and can see piping, but no trap. Is it easier/more cost efficient to tackle this project from the access door, even if it means taking out a section of the floor, or tearing apart the downstairs ceiling? Is it common for plumbers to go up through the ceiling to do this type of repair, or are the plumbers likely trying to rip us off?

Thanks for the help.

Paul and Tara

Hi Paul and/or Tara,
"I've read in several places that drum traps should be accessible from the access door behind the bathroom wall."

Not quite so. The access panel will give you access to the tub waste and overflow. Usuall a drum trap sets farther on downstream.

"Is it easier/more cost efficient to tackle this project from the access door, even if it means taking out a section of the floor, or tearing apart the downstairs ceiling? Is it common for plumbers to go up through the ceiling to do this type of repair, or are the plumbers likely trying to rip us off?"

As a rule unless you can see the trap it's cheaper to replace the ceiling then to replace a tile or a vinyl floor. Unless there's a compelling reason to open up the floor we work from a open ceiling. The plumber will have to reomve the drum trap and extend the drain line over to a "P" trap and then connect the trap to the waste tail piece. It doesn' sound to me like you're getting ripped.
Regards, tom