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FixerB · Sep 30, 2008, 04:01 PM

My bathtub went from draining slow to draining very very slow to running fast to backing up like I had the stopper in!
Now the pluming system is soooooooo old that there is probably a drum trap from all that I have read.
I've tried Draino, bleach, enzyme drain cleaner a snake and finally baking soda and vinegar!
There stopper is on a pipe outside of the tub which I think leads into the drum trap. With the aid of a flashlight I can see the drum fill up and then very very slowly drain (I have to go away for awhile).
The pipe that housed the stopper and the proximity of the tub and toilet bowl prevents me from getting the snake in the outlet to the main.
All other drains are running fine.
Any suggestions besides the obvious (calling a plumber and having the drain replaced)?? :(:(:(

massplumber2008 · Sep 30, 2008, 04:06 PM

Fixerb...

Start by removing the overflow plate and then fill tub with 2 inches of water. Plug the overflow pretty tightly with a wet rag and have friend hold into overflow and then you take a plunger and plunge a way... vigorously (wear goggles if you used chemicals... ok? ).. see picture below!

If that fails then off to home depot to purchase a small hand-held snake to snake down drain and into drum trap (see 2nd pic at next post as I can only post 1 pic. At a time... :()... don't go to far or snake will get tangled in drum.

Try these steps first... get back to us with results!

Good luck...

MARK

massplumber2008 · Sep 30, 2008, 04:08 PM

As stated at last post...

mygirlsdad77 · Sep 30, 2008, 04:09 PM

Pull your overflow cover plate off. Remove plunger, stuff a wet rag in the overflow tube, keep good pressure on the rag to create a good airtight seal. Then plunge the hell out of your drain. If that doesn't work You need to take the plug out of your drum trap on the bottom and clean it out. If that still doesn't work, sorry my friend, you may need a plumber,lol.

Damn your fast mass. Beat me again. I forgot to mention putting water in the tub though.

FixerB · Sep 30, 2008, 04:13 PM

I have no overflow plate!

speedball1 · Sep 30, 2008, 04:16 PM

Another option would be to remove the drum trap cover,(see image) and snake the entire drain line. You can't snake from the tub waste and get it all.
You can snake to the drum trap,(see image) from the tub waste but to get it all you must snake from the drum trap itself.. Good luck, Tom

mygirlsdad77 · Sep 30, 2008, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by FixerB

I have no overflow plate!

Sorry man, guess I've never seen a stopper on the outside of the tub, just trying to help.

FixerB · Sep 30, 2008, 05:12 PM

mygirlsdad77,
I appreciate any and all suggestions and comments. No offense intended by the exclamation. Thx.

This is the only place that I've ever seen this set up.
Can I attach pictures?

FixerB · Sep 30, 2008, 05:30 PM

This is where the stopper was when it worked and my only apparent inlet to the drum without tearing up the floor or ceiling below.

speedball1 · Oct 1, 2008, 02:30 PM

Fixer,
Thanks for the picture. I thought in over 50 years I'd seen it all but this is a new one on me. Have you opened up the stopper to check out the innards? This open pipe stickinhg up out of your floor. Any smell around it? When the tub drains can you hear water draining past it? My first impression is that, since you don't have a tub waste plate to vent out of this is a "local vent". I now am wondering if your stopper is also a drum trap combined. Give me a little time to search around and see if I can come up with a explanation for this unusual fitting. Regards, Tom

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 1, 2008, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by FixerB

mygirlsdad77,
I appreciate any and all suggestions and comments. No offense intended by the exclamation. Thx.

This is the only place that I've ever seen this set up.
Can I attach pictures?

No problem fixerB. Thank you for the picture. I have never seen this setup before either. Its beyond my expertise. Going to let speedball handle this one. Sorry I couldn't help out.

speedball1 · Oct 1, 2008, 03:20 PM

The stopper is on a pipe outside of the tub which I think leads into the drum trap. With the aid of a flashlight I can see the drum fill up and then very very slowly drain

Looking down the open vertical pipe? Is there any way you can open up the stopper and show me a picture of what's under the hood? Ican't pull up anything that even looks like it bbut I'm pretty sure I know how it works. Answer my question about the open vertical pipe. Ya sure got my curiosity stirred up. Regards, tom

FixerB · Oct 2, 2008, 04:30 PM

I took a pipe wrench to the pipe and could not get it off! A little afraid I might break something. Plus with the limited space I couldn't get much leverage.
Looking down the pipe you can see what appears to be the drum. But I can't see the where the outlet to the main is.
I'm totally LOST!

speedball1 · Oct 3, 2008, 04:33 AM

Look at the parts real close. Is there a brand name anywhere? Regards, Tom

FixerB · Oct 4, 2008, 04:28 PM

There is what appears to be "Savoy" on the top of the stopper.

massplumber2008 · Oct 5, 2008, 05:04 AM

Fixer B...

I know your tub drain doesn't look like the tub drain in my photos above, but have you tried stuffing a rag into the tall tube , filling tub with 2 inches of water and then using the plunger to plunge at the waste line?

Try it... make sure rag is wetted, have friend hold it in tube and then you plunge. It should help a little..

I will also try to find more information on this myself as I have actually seen this tub waste up in my area... usually associated with ripping out the whole bathroom though, but someone at local supply house may remember them.

I'll let you know...

MARK

speedball1 · Oct 5, 2008, 06:29 AM

your stopper is also a drum trap combined. This open pipe sticking up out of your floor. Any smell around it? When the tub drains can you hear water draining past it? My first impression is that, since you don't have a tub waste plate to vent out of this is a "local vent". Give

A Savoy tub. Top of the line and pricy. Can you give us more details? The age of the tub? Any gurgling noises when you drain? That top looks like you can unscrew it. Try and get back to me. Regards, Tom

FixerB · Oct 5, 2008, 03:01 PM

I have tried plunging, but I will try with the wet rag in the tube.

The bath room is original to the house and I have no idea as to when it was built.

As far as fixing, I'm inclined to believe that ripping it out and replacing is the way that I will wind up going.:mad::(:(
As I stated earlier, this bathroom and ALL of the plumbing is original to the house and if I had to guess...

... I would say this house was built in the 50's or 60's.

speedball1 · Oct 5, 2008, 03:14 PM

Perhaps na wet rag isn't the best way to close off the pipe It could get sucked down into the drum trap as you plumge. I'm just about convinced that the open pipe vents the trap like a overflow tube would if you had one. Duct tape would be much safer.
I would still like you to see if the top of the stopper will unscrew. That looks like a dandy way to get in the drum trap to snake it out. Regards, Tom

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 5, 2008, 03:32 PM

Duct tape. Never thought of that one. However, if you have a friend holding the rag, you should be fine. If you stuff it in there right, there will be little to no chance of it getting sucked in.
I would agree that a bathroom remodel may be your best bet. Sometimes its kind of nice to have an excuse such as this to make your home a better place. If you can afford it, go for it. Good luck with your project.