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Joined: Dec 2012
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Campfire Member
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 489 |
I have a sixty year old house and the bathtub drain has always been slow but now it is almost completely stopped up. I have used all the different drain cleaners, hot water, and such to no avail. I have also used a hand auger to no avail. The hand auger pulled out a bit of funk and then will not go further. When you turn the handle the snake eventually just coils backwards and will not advance. It also doesn't pull up any funk either. I have attached a picture of the plumbing. All advice would be appreciated. If I need to cut this out I will and would appreciate suggestions for that too. I know calling a plumber is an option and I might resort to that but I'd like to try and fix it myself if possible. Thanks for the help, -tnscouter
Last edited by tnscouter; 01/06/21. Reason: to add photo
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 16,248
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2009
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The Republic is swirling the chitter today and you want tips on how to unclog your bathtub?
jfc.
Epstein didn't kill himself.
"Play Cinnamon Girl you Sonuvabitch!"
Biden didn't win the election.
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Joined: Jan 2019
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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I’m no plumber but when I cut that old style pipe from my grandparents home you couldn’t see light through it. Just full of rust and associated soap scum hair etc. I realized then how futile my attempts with drain cleaner etc were
Wait for more experienced opinions but I’d plan on cutting it out and replacing it with pvc
GOD Bless America
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Quak may be on to something. 60 year old cast iron is a problem might have to replace with PVC.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Sorry, about that first post, it has been a passionate day.
Drop an M-80 in the drain...
Epstein didn't kill himself.
"Play Cinnamon Girl you Sonuvabitch!"
Biden didn't win the election.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 18,075
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
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Get a good legit plunger...Completely seal the vent tube.. no skimping here and plunge it like you mean it.
Mike
God, Family, and Country. NRA Endowment Member
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Joined: Aug 2015
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Campfire Outfitter
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Is there a cleanout plug here. Have you tried to open it?
Let's Go Brandon! FJB
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Joined: Jan 2012
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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I bet that old chit is tuberculated all to hell.
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Joined: Apr 2017
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2017
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Power auger.
Same cast Iron pipes in my 100 year old house. Need that extra power force it through the angles.
Try Auger down vent pipe. As well is that a cleanout on the end of that Y sweep on the ground?
"Maybe we're all happy."
"Go to the sporting goods store. From the files, obtain form 4473. These will contain descriptions of weapons and lists of private ownership."
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Joined: Aug 2015
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Campfire Outfitter
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Sometimes it's easier to move.
Let's Go Brandon! FJB
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New Member
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New Member
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Is the other pipe a vent going through the roof? If so, go on the roof if it’s not too steep and run your auger/snake down the vent. It will get you past where you couldn’t make that turn from inside
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Joined: Feb 2016
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Pics on web show folka using snake through overflow vent. Get nowhere on mine like that. Unscrew the stopper assembly ( and grill or whatever the fug it is ) and go that way.
Works on mine, 3 daughters w long hair. I have to do it quite often. For the soap and hair product gunk, the baking soda and vinegar worked better than commercial liquids
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Joined: Dec 2012
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Campfire Member
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OP
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Posts: 489 |
Thanks for all the responses. I appreciate the help.
Now for follow up:
a) Yes, that is a clean out plug and I have not tried to unscrew it yet. I'm assuming the clog is in either the p-trap or where it bends into the vent so I wasn't sure how that clean out would help. b) The other pipe is a vent pipe that exits the roof. I thought about running the snake down that but again I'm assuming the clog is in one of the bends since the water backs up so quickly even after sitting empty for many days. c) I don't know if the pipe is tuberculated (I had to bing that) since it is all drainage and I can't see inside of it. Being 60 years old it probably is.
thanks for the help. -tnscouter
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Joined: Aug 2015
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Campfire Outfitter
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You could give one of those C02 drain blasters a try before taking anything apart. CO2 Drain gun
Let's Go Brandon! FJB
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Campfire Regular
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The Republic is swirling the chitter today and you want tips on how to unclog your bathtub?
jfc. No disrespect intended, but that made me laugh at the end of this day. To the OP take apart until you find a massive ball of hair gunk most likely. Long hair daughter here sheds like a Black Lab
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Joined: Jan 2019
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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In my case the co2 drain gun worked but was a temp fix...it had to be cut out after a couple months.
Good news is that it’s not as bad as it sounds and it’s a 1 time fix
GOD Bless America
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,275
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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You may be able to use a rubber bulb, the small one, it hooks to a garden hose, the water pressure inflates the ballon to seal it to the drain and pressurizes the clog. You would have to pull the tub strainer to insert it. Most hardware stores will carry these.
Eagles may soar, but a weasel never got sucked into a jet turbine!
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Try this.
Fill drain with water til it pools to top of shower drain.
Use wet vac with a tight seal to drain. Size of wet vacuum hose is usually about perfect. Suck water and clog UP and into wet vacuum. Water in drain is the key as it creates seal for suction to work. Clog will be caused by hair and soap scum. Sometimes pushing or flushing it down only moves the problem down and harder to clear.
Works like a charm.....sometimes.
Last edited by cv540; 01/06/21.
"Put none but Americans on guard tonight." -George Washington
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As a Union plumber for over 25yrs the best advice I can give you is to quit taking baths ... problem solved
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