Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    matt244975's Avatar
    matt244975 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Jan 12, 2014, 02:39 PM
    Snaking Through a Drum Trap
    I live in an apartment building that was constructed around 1950 and the tub is completely stopped up (near 100% clog), leaving me showering ankle-deep in standing water.

    After trying to plunge the drain and using Zip-It to no avail, I called in our maintenance person to snake the drain.

    I was surprised, however, when he (the apartment maintenance guy) removed the drum trap adjacent to the tub and attempted to snake the drain pipe from there. Everything I read indicated the tub should be snaked through the overflow portal of the tub. However, he never touched this part of the tub.

    Needless to say, he was entirely unsuccessful in clearing the clog. He didn't get very far with the snake and it hit against something that the snake couldn't penetrate (this was a drill-powered auger cable snake).

    Does this approach sound correct for resolving a stopped-up tub? If not, what was he hitting up against with the snake? I am wondering if I should simply try to fix this myself.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #2

    Jan 12, 2014, 04:40 PM
    Was there standing water in the drum trap up to the top? You normally can't plunge a tub unless you can seal the vent in the handle handle which allows air into the trap when you drain the tub. This vent would just let all of your plunging pressure just vent back into the handle and not down the drain.
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
     
    #3

    Jan 13, 2014, 05:52 AM
    Removing the cleanout and snaking from the drum trap is perfectly correct. Here, the maintenance person wants to snake from the drum trap TO the tub and from the drum trap OUT to the larger pipes.

    Finally, if you tried plunging the drain know that you needed to have standing water in the tub (an inch or so) AND you needed to remove the overflow plate (remove trip lever mechanism if present) and stick a wetted rag into the overflow pipe before plunging.

    Combined, these techniques should get the tub draining!

    Mark

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Old drum trap removed. New j trap will not fit same space. Idea? [ 3 Answers ]

Had leak at base of tub drain extension. Cracked at elbow which then had another straight piece to a 2nd elbow that went into bottom of an old drum trap(circa 1940's) . Drum trap then emptied out top into what appears to be a 1 1/2 or 2 inch pipe. That pipe angles over into main cast iron drain...

Replace drum trap with p trap [ 6 Answers ]

How do I replace with pvc wher do I put p trap and how do I connect it up

Drum trap [ 5 Answers ]

My tub drain is almost completely clogged. I had plummers out yesterday and they said They suspect a drum trap because they couldn't get they're snake through. Their Suggestion is to tear out the wall to get to the trap and replace it with a J-trap. Its an apartment on the ground floor also...

Can I Replace Drum Trap with P Trap? [ 1 Answers ]

Hi there! My house was built in 1960 and has a slab foundation. I have removed the old master bathtub that I plan to replace with a shower. I have a couple of questions concerning the drum trap on the floor next to the master tub. First, the drum trap is so close to the bathtub that the new style...

Replace P-trap with drum trap--good idea? [ 3 Answers ]

Hi, I have a large crack in a cast iron waste line. The line at that point serves just the kitchen sink and is vented to the roof. The first plumber I called wants to disconnect the P-trap, install a drum trap, drill through the cabinet and floor, and connect to the waste line down below the crack....


View more questions Search