First, Hello to everyone and thanks in advance for any help.

My bathtub used to drain properly (I think.) but not fast IIRC.

I've done some searching around the site and found a few good ideas. So according to some suggestions, I've done the following.

Unscrewed and remove the overflow plate,(The one with the drain lever) and tried ti pull out the tub stopper. But that is where I got stuck. The drain stop would not come out of the top. So I proceeded to pour down some Lime away (green bottle- hard water stain cleaner) and seems to loosen it up a bit when moving it up and down.
But still would not come out to let me use the snake. Bathtub drain itself seem to have not enough room for the snake through!

Impression : Seems when it is draining, it used to gurgle and will drain proper. But it does not gurgle any more. Dose this indicate anything? How to remove the drain stop when it is stuck like that? It does not have any king of leverage for me to force it much.

Anyway, Thanks for your time and looking forward to your help.

PS. I've tried all kinds of cleaners and not helping the drain. All other drains are fine!

Regards.
Noob ( in plumbing!):p

Try this home remedy for slow drains. Mix 1/2 cup salt with 1/2 cup baking soda. Mix in a cup of vinegar and quickly pour the foaming mess into the drain. Allow to sit over night and follow tomorrow with a bucket if very hot water. Lime away is not a drain cleaner and salt/soda are cheaper.

Pull the drain stop leaver out, you can get a little strong with it (if needed), if it doesn't or does come, out stuff a wet rag into the hole and try to make airtight and full the tub with about 1/4 full and plunge as hard as you can and get suction to unplug the stoppage, its most likely soap scum and hair stuck. I would use a little bit of real drain cleaner once and awhile to keep it clear.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Try this home remedy for slow drains. Mix 1/2 cup salt with 1/2 cup baking soda. Mix in a cup of vinegar and quickly pour the foaming mess into the drain. Allow to sit over night and follow tomorrow with a bucket if very hot water. Lime away is not a drain cleaner and salt/soda are cheaper.

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I will try that in the drain. Will post results as soon as it has a chance to work!:)
Thank you.
In regards to the lime away, I poured it into the drain plug and the pipe that it resides in - in order to get the drain plug to be pulled out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SteveAP

pull the drain stop leaver out, you can get a little strong with it (if needed), if it does'nt or does come, out stuff a wet rag into the hole and try to make airtight and full the tub with about 1/4 full and plunge as hard as you can and get suction to unplug the stoppage, its most likely soap scum and hair stuck. I would use a little bit of real drain cleaner once and awhile to keep it clear.

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That will be the 2nd thing I will try. Thank you.
I will post results on my efforts.

One more question: Does "how well adjusted the drain stopper (plunger type) have any effect on how well the water drains? You know? how you can adjust the length of connection from the lever and the plunger itself.

Regards.
Noob! :)

Okay, folks! No luck yet.

1. Tried the salt, baking powder and vinegar solution did not work! (had it in the tub drain for over night followed by hot pot of water and its still drains slowly.

2. Tried removing the drain plug (plunger through the overflow cover) and seems the casting for the tub is too small for it (drain stop plunger) to come out at all. The opening and plunger itself are all clean from what I can see. It goes up and down smoothly.

So, at this point. What do you all think the next step should be?

1. Call the plumber.
2. Remove part of the drywall (behind the tub to access the drain from bed room. Remove the drain over flow from there and snake it.
3. Try the " salt, baking powder and vinegar solution" again.

Please tell me what I need to do?

Regards.
Noob

Now we need to know the age of the tub. A "gurgle" sound when a older tub drains can indicate one of two things, a blocked vent or a drum trap. My bet's on a drum trap. The bad news is you can't get a snake past a drum trap. You have to remove the cover to clean it out. Don't do anything until you getback to us. At that time if you tell me you have a newer tub with a "P" trap I'll give you instructions on how to remove the pop-up waste and snake the drain line. Back to you, Tom

Quote:

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Originally Posted by speedball1

Now we need to know the age of the tub. A "gurgle" sound when a older tub drains can indicate one of two things, a blocked vent or a drum trap. My bet's on a drum trap. The bad news is you can't get a snake past a drum trap. You have to remove the cover to clean it out. Don't do anything until you getback to us. At that time if you tell me you have a newer tub with a "P" trap I'll give you instructions on how to remove the pop-up waste and snake the drain line. Back to you, Tom

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Thanks Tom for a quick reply!
Until I can remove the drywall (have to cut it out!) I won't be able to tell if its got the drum trap or just p-trap with blocked vent!
I had just re-did the walls in the bed-room too! 8-(

I'm assuming that is just a p-trap and a vent system but what do I know!
This house is about 40 years old and had new copper plumbing installed but I did not have the foresight to look at the drain system before putting up the drywall.

So it is a matter of me opening up the drywall and it will take me a while since I don't want to cut through the newly installed plumbing neither. :-9

Regards.
Noob.
Will be back as soon as I can.:(

Hey Noob,

Every tub should have a access panel installed behind the tub waste and trap. This is code in my area and should be in yours. Cut in a 12" panel and let me know what you find and we'll go from there. Good luck, Tom

Hi, Tom. I found a panel on [guess where?] on the wrong side of the tub. Its on the opposite side from the shower handle. So its really no use. I open it up just to see. But all I can see is darkness and the plain/empty side of the tub. Can't even see the drain pipe from there.

So. I'm cutting out a new hole soon. But I'm going to try "the salt, baking powder and vinegar solution" and the plunger with filled tub method again.

Wish me luck!

Regards.
Noob.

Have you tried removing the drain cover? Sometimes that is a good place for hair. I usually have to clean mine twice a year, my wife sheds pretty bad... lol

Also, be VERY careful mixing chemicals together. Some chemicals, drain cleaners maybe harmless if used alone, once you mix them you could have a hell of a mess!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hvacservicetech_07

Also, be VERY carefull mixing chemicals together. Some chemicals, drain cleaners maybe harmless if used alone, once you mix them you could have a hell of a mess!
Have you tried removing the drain cover? sometimes that is a good place for hair. I usually have to clean mine twice a year, my wife sheds pretty bad....lol

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Yeah, I will not mix them up. Only use one type or the other. Now just using "the salt, baking powder and vinegar solution" as it is recommended by folks here and seems to work for them. At least this will get rid of most soap scum and helps with the hairball (which I think it is the cause! For the slow drain.)

Haha! You know we ARE in the same boat? I have 3 woman in the house hold and that speaks volumes about the slow drain. Hehehe... I have always keep the drain and cover clean as far as I can see, cleaning out the hair mess after shower and stuff. So the problem (likely) is in the trap. It will be p-trap or drum trap.

Anyway, I will keep this updated after trying.

Regards.
Noob

Can you get the cover off the drain? If so you may be able to bet ahold of the hair by reaching down into the drain with your fingers. Try plugging the overflow hole and adding some water to the tub and plung it really well. That may push the hair down.

Okay. Its been a while since I last posted and I have some results so, here goes...


First thanks to all who contributed to this problem and its solutions.

As all of you know, (if you read through all the posts back and forth... ) I have a problem with slow drain in the bath-tub.

Tried using chemicals, no help. (only cheap chemicals though I have not tried more expensive items such as red devil Lyle)

Now onto mechanical means:

Plungers - no help in this case.

Tried removing plunger type drain stop fixed it. I had much trouble removing the plunger from the overflow pipe. Had to grind off some of the copper around the pipe where it attaches to the tub. And finally it came loose.
After that, I used a snake (drill powered.) Took a few tried before I could get all of the stuff (gunk, balls of hair and fiber, some black stuff! ) out. Now its all peachy!

And to everyone, thank you for all of your suggestions and inputs.

Hope everyone is well.

Regards.
Noob.

Glad you're all fixed up Noob,
I've always recommended snaking out a drain over plunging and harsh chemicals. If we can ever be of service in the future just ask. Good luck, Tom

I have found that when the above mentioned home rem's don't work, I take a cup of dry dishwasher detergent. Poor it down the drain add a cup of hot water and let that sit over night. In the morning follow with a good size bucket of hot water. IF that doesn't work I snake the freakin drain. BUT that usually helps.
*NOTE I have one of those lovely tubs where the plunger does not come out.