Ask Me Help Desk - Main bathroom blues!

Hi there!
I went to turn on my hot water from my bathroom sink and the darn thing spat or sputtered at me; almost like a gurgling popping sound. :confused: It's a double tab sink. Since then I've had no or very little, a trinkle of hot or cold water coming from the tabs. The toilet is not as full or filling as much as before and the tub is draining rather slow. What can I do to fix these problems? Is this a result of one problem or are these problems just a coincidence? No matter, your help would be greatly appreciated.

It's a two story older home about 30 years plus, we've copper pipes and have city water. All water pressure throughout the house [kitchen, laundry room and extra bathroom] is fine.

Step by step instructions would be greatly appreciated as I'm rather a new fonternero! :D

Arose

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arose

Hi there!
I went to turn on my hot water from my bathroom sink and the darn thing spat or sputtered at me; almost like a gurgling popping sound. :confused: It's a double tab sink. Since then I've had no or very little, a trinkle of hot or cold water coming from the tabs. The toliet is not as full or filling as much as before and the tub is draining rather slow. What can I do to fix these problems? Is this a result of one problem or are these problems just a coincidence? No matter, your help would be greatly appreciated.

It's a two story older home about 30 years plus, we've copper pipes and have city water. All water pressure throughout the house [kitchen, laundry room and extra bathroom] is fine.

Step by step instructions would be greatly appreciated as I'm rather a new fonternero! :D

Arose

Hi Rose,
Water pressure and drainage are always separate problems. For the pressure problems on your faucet and toilet you will have to shut the water off and open up the faucets and check the innards for crud. Then with the faucets still open turn the water back on and flush out the supplies. To be more specific I'll need the brand name of the faucet and how old it is.
For the toilet. Turn off the water, remove the three screws and pull up. Now place a pan over the open ballcock and turn the water on for a minute and flush ot the toilet ballcock and its supply.
For the tub, remove the front plate and trip lever and snake out the branch line from there. Put out at least 15' of cable. Good luck Tom

Hi Speedball, aka Tom,

Thanks for the information and for gettting back to me so quickly.

The faucet is a Danze chrome-finish 'teapot' style bathroom style, 2 porcelain lever handles, 50/50 pop-up triple plated polished chrome finish, Fits 4" centre lavatory sinks, and a Washerless cartridge. I'm not sure how old it is but it looks rather recent - within 5 years.

Well I've got the 15' snake but I'm uable to take the plug out of the tub, I've tried clockwise and counter clockwise but it just keeps turning and turning and it won't come off. Is there some secret to getting these types of plugs unattached? :o

As for the toilet instructions - I'm confused. Isn't the ball cock the ball inside the tank? :(

Thanks, Arose

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arose

Hi Speedball, aka Tom,

Thanks for the infomation and for gettting back to me so quickly.

The faucet is a Danze chrome-finish 'teapot' style bathroom style, 2 porcelain lever handles, 50/50 pop-up triple plated polished chrome finish, Fits 4" centre lavatory sinks, and a Washerless cartridge. I'm not sure how old it is but it looks rather recent - within 5 years.

Well I've got the 15' snake but I'm uable to take the plug out of the tub, I've tried clockwise and counter clockwise but it just keeps turning and turning and it won't come off. Is there some secret to getting these types of plugs unattached? :o

As for the toliet instructions - I'm confused. Isn't the ball cock the ball inside the tank? :(

Thanks, Arose

Good morning Arose,

Turn the water off at the stops under the cabinet. Remove the porcelain handles and the cover plate retaining nut. That should bring you to the retaining nut for the cartridge. Pull those and check for crud in the inlet ports. Now place a pan over the open valve to prevent splash and open the stops to flush out the supply lines. You should have a full stream. Reassamble and move to the tub.
You can't snake a tub from the drain, you will run into the branch of a tee that you can't pass. 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. 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. Good luck, TOM