Sluggish bathtube drain

[notbob]

I been fighting this one beast, forever!

Been using red bottle Drano cleaner:
http://tinyurl.com/79p85pb

Works, slightly, fer 6-7 wks, then slows down again. I must say, the
tub never really drains very well. Even with fresh application of
above. Toilet, bathroom sink, kitchen sink, etc, never backed up.
Jes the tub.

I bought some Rooto brand drain cleaner from True-Value. I hesitated
using it. It's sulfuric acid! I called the company to ask about if
it may damage any part of my system. They played dumb. I haven't
used it.

Any advice?

nb

--
vi --the heart of evil!

[DerbyDad03]

I have never used any of those drain cleaners for a sink or tub. I have
always gone the route of "mechanical" methods by snaking and/or dismantling.

Luckily for me, I have access to my tub drain through a panel in my
hallway.

With three females using that tub - all with long hair - I planned ahead
when I replaced the tub a few years ago. I installed a clean out just
past the trap and a Fernco coupling where the PVC connects to the cast
iron stub on the main stack.

I can take the drain apart get every last piece of hair and crud from
the tub to the stack. I can't believe the size of some of the
rat-resembling masses I've had to remove.

[Vic Smith]

You may have a trap with a removable cleanout plug under the tub.
Maybe not. I've had them in all my houses but avoid opening them.
Opening the trap, cleaning it, and snaking from there is probably the
"best" way, but that can cause problems with the cleanout plug so I
just don't do it. Besides, mine have been overhead in the basement
and that can get nasty. Did it once long ago.
Keep in mind I have cast iron drains.

Run some hot water through. Not a lot, just to get the drain warm.
Pour about 1/4 cup of liquid dish detergent in the drain.
Close the drain and run about 2 inches of hot water in the tub.
Cover the overflow with a wet rag, open the drain, and pump like hell
with a standard toilet plunger.
If you're doing it right, you'll some get black drain dirt and hair
out of there and into the tub.
Push that away from the drain so it doesn't go back in.
I've sopped it up with toilet paper and flushed it down the toilet,
and I've used paper towels and put it in the garbage.

When I'm getting nothing more form plunging, I run hot water through
the drain. You should see the difference already.
Then I let the tub empty, and pour another 1/4 cup of dish detergent
in the drain and close it. That sets overnight.
Then I fill the tub with hot water, open the drain and work the
plunger again. Hardly anything comes up, but I want some agitation.

Tub drains good for maybe 5 years before I have to do it again.
I think it's mostly built up soap scum and hair that slow tub drains
down. Been my experience anyway.
The above method has always worked for me.
I never use chemical drain cleaners.

--Vic

[Stormin Mormon]

The link you provided, didn't say what the active ingredient is. Is it
labelled on the bottle?

For clogged bathroom drains, the culprits are usually grease, soap, and
hair. As others have suggested, the drain snake is the best answer. Failing
that, a hydroxide based drain cleaner is needed. Hydroxide turns grease to
soap, and helps move the crud down the drain.

You may also get some short term relief by dumping boiling hot water down,
which will help move the clog down the drain.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"notbob" <not...@nothome.com> wrote in message
news:slrnjnun5s...@nbleet.hcc.net...

[Jim Yanik]

DerbyDad03 <Derby...@eznet.net> wrote in
news:jlnodh$7hg$1...@speranza.aioe.org:

> On 04/06/12 5:13 PM, notbob wrote:
>> I been fighting this one beast, forever!
>>
>> Been using red bottle Drano cleaner:
>> http://tinyurl.com/79p85pb
>>
>> Works, slightly, fer 6-7 wks, then slows down again. I must say, the
>> tub never really drains very well. Even with fresh application of
>> above. Toilet, bathroom sink, kitchen sink, etc, never backed up.
>> Jes the tub.
>>
>> I bought some Rooto brand drain cleaner from True-Value. I hesitated
>> using it. It's sulfuric acid! I called the company to ask about if
>> it may damage any part of my system. They played dumb. I haven't
>> used it.
>>
>> Any advice?

I don't see why sulfuric acid would harm PVC pipe,but it may attack the tub
drain closure mechanism itself,or the metal drain cover.
but even the caustic drain cleaners will attack metals.

just don't leave it for too long before flushing.

>>
>> nb
>>
>
> I have never used any of those drain cleaners for a sink or tub. I
> have always gone the route of "mechanical" methods by snaking and/or
> dismantling.
>
> Luckily for me, I have access to my tub drain through a panel in my
> hallway.
>
> With three females using that tub - all with long hair - I planned
> ahead when I replaced the tub a few years ago. I installed a clean out
> just past the trap and a Fernco coupling where the PVC connects to the
> cast iron stub on the main stack.
>
> I can take the drain apart get every last piece of hair and crud from
> the tub to the stack. I can't believe the size of some of the
> rat-resembling masses I've had to remove.
>

MANY tub installs have no access to the drain unless you rip up a wall or
floor. like apartments or homes on a concrete slab,no crawl space or
basement. snaking is no holiday,either.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com

[hr(bob) hofmann@att.net]

On Apr 6, 7:37 pm, Jim Yanik <jya...@abuse.gov> wrote:
> DerbyDad03 <DerbyDa...@eznet.net> wrote innews:jlnodh$7hg$1...@speranza.aioe.org:

> dot com- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

The OP didn't say if it was PVC or cast iron or copper or whatever.

[Bob F]

I have had good luck unplugging drains by sticking a garden hose down the drain,
wrapping a rag around it, and pressing the rag in to seal around it, and turning
on the hose. Plug the overflow, if any, also. The pressure often will push the
obstruction through.

[DerbyDad03]

On 04/06/12 8:37 PM, Jim Yanik wrote:
> DerbyDad03<Derby...@eznet.net> wrote in
> news:jlnodh$7hg$1...@speranza.aioe.org:
>
>> On 04/06/12 5:13 PM, notbob wrote:
>>> I been fighting this one beast, forever!
>>>
>>> Been using red bottle Drano cleaner:
>>> http://tinyurl.com/79p85pb
>>>
>>> "Works, slightly, fer 6-7 wks, then slows down again."

...snip...

>>> nb
>>>
>>
>> I have never used any of those drain cleaners for a sink or tub. I
>> have always gone the route of "mechanical" methods by snaking and/or
>> dismantling.
>>
>> Luckily for me, I have access to my tub drain through a panel in my
>> hallway.
>>

...snip...

>
> MANY tub installs have no access to the drain unless you rip up a wall or
> floor. like apartments or homes on a concrete slab,no crawl space or
> basement.

Which is why I said "Luckily for me..."

The OP did not say whether he has access or not. He asked for advice, I
offered what has worked for me.

> snaking is no holiday,either.

Maybe not, but it sure seems to work better than the OP's current methods:

[Robert Green]

"notbob" <not...@nothome.com> wrote in message
news:slrnjnun5s...@nbleet.hcc.net...

How old is the drain pipe and what's it made of? I have a similar problem
with the original 80 year old massive cast iron drain line. It's
tuberculated and perhaps 1/4 its original diameter and so when it's
"cleared" there are still massive corrosion deposits blocking the flow of
water. When mine slows up, I first plug up the overflow with thin plastic
bags (they seem to work best) and plunge the living hell out of it, bringing
up rust flakes and other nastiness. Then I run very hot water through it
and finally add drain cleaner into the now-heated drain to accelerate the
cleaner's action. (Be careful - use goggles!). I'd roto-root it if there
was any good way to access it. No clean out an a blocking plate across the
drain opening to prevent direct snaking.

One of the reasons it's so tuberculated, excluding just old age, is that the
pipe isn't mounted at a good enough angle so some water tends to just sit in
it.

FWIW, the old Drano (in the can with aluminum pellets) made matters much,
much worse for whatever reason.

--
Bobby G.

[Robert Green]

"Vic Smith" <thismaila...@comcast.net> wrote in message

> Run some hot water through. Not a lot, just to get the drain warm.
> Pour about 1/4 cup of liquid dish detergent in the drain.
> Close the drain and run about 2 inches of hot water in the tub.
> Cover the overflow with a wet rag, open the drain, and pump like hell
> with a standard toilet plunger.
> If you're doing it right, you'll some get black drain dirt and hair
> out of there and into the tub.

Or brown, greasy rusty stuff that makes you wonder if you're not getting
toilet-related ugga-bugga coming up through the shower drain. )-:

> Push that away from the drain so it doesn't go back in.
> I've sopped it up with toilet paper and flushed it down the toilet,
> and I've used paper towels and put it in the garbage.

> When I'm getting nothing more form plunging, I run hot water through
> the drain. You should see the difference already.
> Then I let the tub empty, and pour another 1/4 cup of dish detergent
> in the drain and close it. That sets overnight.
> Then I fill the tub with hot water, open the drain and work the
> plunger again. Hardly anything comes up, but I want some agitation.

Hopefully now instead of crud coming back up into the tub, you're now
pushing it down into the main waste line.

> Tub drains good for maybe 5 years before I have to do it again.
> I think it's mostly built up soap scum and hair that slow tub drains
> down. Been my experience anyway.
> The above method has always worked for me.
> I never use chemical drain cleaners.

Have you lived in my house? (-: I do the same thing and get a few months
between plungings. How old is your drain pipe?

I use chemical cleaners to dissolve all the hair and soap that builds up
because the pipe walls are no longer smooth but cratered from corrosion. I
did learn, however, you DON'T add drain cleaner unless you're sure there's
enough drain flow to wash it down the main stack. DAMHIKT

--
Bobby G.

[Robert Green]

"Bob F" <bobn...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:jloe58$tj5$1...@dont-email.me...

I bought a device to do that. It's got a garden hose thread on it and a big
tapered rubber head that fits into various sized drains and makes a fairly
tight seal. If you don't push down hard enough, though, it will spray you
good. It works well on the basement slop sink but blew apart the apparently
never properly glued drain line under the kitchen sink. I think they
press-fitted the connections and then forgot to glue them. Boy, was that
ever a frakkin' mess. All sorts of grayish, greasy splooge blown over the
insides of the cabinet under the sink. Ever see that scene in the remake of
"The Fly" when the baboons get teleported inside out? (-:

--
Bobby G.

[Stormin Mormon]

My friend,
I would not have thought of using a toilet plunger on a bathtube. Neat!
You can expect HeBe-ub to give you grief, now. Read the "who is it"
thread to understand why.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"Vic Smith" <thismaila...@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:enoun7tdi1vfjt9l8...@4ax.com...

[cedar...@aol.com]

> With three females using that tub - all with long hair - I planned ahead
> when I replaced the tub a few years ago. I installed a clean out just
> past the trap and a Fernco coupling where the PVC connects to the cast
> iron stub on the main stack.

My neighbor has 2 daughters and he once asked me to come troubleshoot their problem tub drainage. The culprit was the little plastic razor cover that someone had allowed to slip into the drain. It was several inches from the drain opening and I had to disassemble the "piping manifold" (I don't know the proper term) behind/under the tub to discover it. So, it's not always hair that causes slow drainage.

Hair pins, barrettes, clips, ties that accidently get dropped in the tub.

Children allow small toys or broken parts to slip down stream, also.

If the problem has persisted, then the problem may likely not be your typical drain stopper item, a hair ball.

Sonny

[Robert Macy]

Had the EXACT same problem!

Tub was SLOW! Bet soon your other items will slow, too.

Tried everything, including a couple of bottles of coke (which I had
work in another home once)

I finally gave up. Tried snaking, DIDN't help?! Uh, why not? Seems
the drain piping fills with a clear jello like substance that the
snake went through, then came out and the jello remained!

SOLUTION -
Buy those hose attachments for for pressure cleaning out a drain. They
expand inside a pipe as the water is turned on to automatically form a
seal. Small one for small vent pipe, large canvas bag type for big
vent drain pipe. Don't be surprised at the price of that large one!
Get a pair of walkie-talkies, station one person inside the bathroom,
the other goes up on the roof and feeds a garden hose down the vent
drain pipe to just below where the drain feeds into the vent pipe.Turn
on/turn off water and see if safe to proceed. If so, do again, if
still safe blast away!

When I did this, the first 'nudge' backed the sink up slightly,
luckily the second nudge cleared enough so that the full blast really
cleaned the pipes.

Before, the water in the tub ran out faster WITH the plug in, After,
the drain speeds were like a wet-n-dry vacuum.

Years later I had to hire pros to clean the jello out from the pipes
going from the house to city mains in the street - that's large
diameter pipe, too! They snaked twice with pro equipment from the
clean-out access beside the house to the street, less than 100 feet
away and NEVER CLEARED that jello like substance out. They came back
the next day and used something the size of a jet engine mounted on
its own trailer, and sounded like it too, to blow the jello into the
city mains! Took them half a day using that tool and charged $600!
But, it did work permanently, well at least for another 15 years I
know of.

[Vic Smith]

On Sat, 7 Apr 2012 05:06:01 -0400, "Robert Green"
<robert_g...@yah00.com> wrote:

>
>Or brown, greasy rusty stuff that makes you wonder if you're not getting
>toilet-related ugga-bugga coming up through the shower drain. )-:
>

Never wonder about that, since that's impossible.
But it is nasty looking. Soap residue and hair mixed with iron
corrosion. It's the iron that will stain just about anything.
But not porcelain is you wipe it right up.

>
>Have you lived in my house? (-: I do the same thing and get a few months
>between plungings. How old is your drain pipe?
>

50 years. Puppy cast iron.

>I use chemical cleaners to dissolve all the hair and soap that builds up
>because the pipe walls are no longer smooth but cratered from corrosion. I
>did learn, however, you DON'T add drain cleaner unless you're sure there's
>enough drain flow to wash it down the main stack. DAMHIKT

Plunging and detergent has worked for me.
The problem with tub drains is the built in stopper preventing snake
access. I'd rather just use an external flat rubber stopper, but
every tub I've had has had the built in internal stopper.
Then of course it's all walled in.
With clear access a snake would be faster than what I do.
At least I've had exposed traps in the basement overheads if I ever
need to use a snake.
They make flat rubber drain screens to catch hair.
Used one when the girls were here. They work if you can get the girls
to actually use them.
You want one if you have long-hairs in the house.
It's hair that screws with tub drains.
People think it just disappears down the drain. Nope.
My wife likes long hot, relaxing baths.
Part of her of her "relaxation" is to count the hairs she's lost from
shampooing.
So as she soaks she fingers them from the water and drapes them on the
side of the tub. After her bath she wipes them off and throws them
away. Just one of the reasons she's a keeper.
We don't use the strainer since the girls left, and I haven't plunged
the drain in maybe 5-6 years.

--Vic

[Vic Smith]

On Sat, 7 Apr 2012 07:58:00 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
<cayoung61***spam...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>My friend,
> I would not have thought of using a toilet plunger on a bathtube. Neat!
> You can expect HeBe-ub to give you grief, now. Read the "who is it"
>thread to understand why.
>

Saw that already.
I'd just wipe it down with Spic & Span and seal it with Bin or Kilz.
Wouldn't have thought of using a power washer.
Still won't.
To be clear, "standard toilet plunger" to me is the most common one,
This one.
http://tinyurl.com/73au9la

That's all I've ever used, and it's always worked.
Don't know why anybody would think it doesn't work on a tub or sink.

--Vic

[DerbyDad03]

On 04/07/12 10:16 AM, Vic Smith wrote:
> On Sat, 7 Apr 2012 07:58:00 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
> <cayoung61***spam...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> My friend,
>> I would not have thought of using a toilet plunger on a bathtube. Neat!

> To be clear, "standard toilet plunger" to me is the most common one,
> This one.
> http://tinyurl.com/73au9la
>
> That's all I've ever used, and it's always worked.
> Don't know why anybody would think it doesn't work on a tub or sink.
>
> --Vic

I have this type of plunger which works well for both toilets and tubs.

The "extension" fits into the toilet outlet to seal it but also pops
back into the plunger, turning it into a "standard" plunger for use in a
tub.

http://blog.highmarkplumbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Toilet-Plunger.jpg

Just another idea...

[DerbyDad03]

On 04/07/12 5:00 AM, Robert Green wrote:
...snip..

> FWIW, the old Drano (in the can with aluminum pellets) made matters much,
> much worse for whatever reason.
>
> --
> Bobby G.
>

It's possible that the drain cleaner softened up lot of the crab on the
walls of the pipe but that it never got washed down before it hardened
again.

IIRC I read about that issue when I was researching one of those enzyme
based drain cleaner. It specifically warned about a slow drain turning
into a stopped drain if the material wasn't flushed away soon enough.

Just a thought...

[Stormin Mormon]

You know, scrubbint the bath tube with Spic and Span is good. I use simple
green, for mine. Mine gets some kind of buildup. I'd never use a power
washer in my bath tube. Too much back spray from the tube, or chance of
blowing out a drain.

Standard plunger could work.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"Vic Smith" <thismaila...@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:a8i0o79q0d1jhu6ig...@4ax.com...

[Robert Macy]

On Apr 7, 7:34 am, DerbyDad03 <DerbyDa...@eznet.net> wrote:
> ...snip...

> I have this type of plunger which works well for both toilets and tubs.
>
> The "extension" fits into the toilet outlet to seal it but also pops
> back into the plunger, turning it into a "standard" plunger for use in a
> tub.
>

> http://blog.highmarkplumbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Toilet-Pl...
>
> Just another idea...

For both?!!!! ICCCKKKK!!!!!

[Larry]

"notbob" <not...@nothome.com> wrote in message
news:slrnjnun5s...@nbleet.hcc.net...

At least once a year, I have a someone tell me my suggestion works.

Make sure trap is filled with water. Cover overflow with a wet cloth, while
holding the hose to the wet/dry over drain opening. Repeat until it drains
freely.

You must refill trap after each time you suction, covering the overflow
with a WET cloth is a very important step. You do not want to suck air.

Try it, it works.

[Robert Green]

<cedar...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:4866864.1135.1333801072828.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@ynbi17...

My landscaper found a $1,000 diamond ring in the tub drain in a house he
bought to rehab. Lots of stuff gets into bathub drains and one of those
little plastic screens tacked down with some hot melt glue or other adhesive
can really help keep foreign objects out of there.

--
Bobby G.

[Robert Green]

"Vic Smith" <thismaila...@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:ueg0o7hg9kad8lg2f...@4ax.com...

> On Sat, 7 Apr 2012 05:06:01 -0400, "Robert Green"
> <robert_g...@yah00.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >Or brown, greasy rusty stuff that makes you wonder if you're not getting
> >toilet-related ugga-bugga coming up through the shower drain. )-:
> >
>
> Never wonder about that, since that's impossible.

The pipes are all connected. Impossible is a strong word. I'd say "not
likely but stranger things have happened." But then, I am an argumentative
cuss.

> But it is nasty looking. Soap residue and hair mixed with iron
> corrosion. It's the iron that will stain just about anything.
> But not porcelain is you wipe it right up.

That's the key. I once let it sit so it could dry and I would vacuum it up.
Nyetski. Bad idea.

> >Have you lived in my house? (-: I do the same thing and get a few
months
> >between plungings. How old is your drain pipe?
> >
>
> 50 years. Puppy cast iron.

In another 30 years it will get as tuberculated as my tub drain pipe. (-:

> >I use chemical cleaners to dissolve all the hair and soap that builds up
> >because the pipe walls are no longer smooth but cratered from corrosion.
I
> >did learn, however, you DON'T add drain cleaner unless you're sure
there's
> >enough drain flow to wash it down the main stack. DAMHIKT
>
> Plunging and detergent has worked for me.
> The problem with tub drains is the built in stopper preventing snake
> access. I'd rather just use an external flat rubber stopper, but
> every tub I've had has had the built in internal stopper.
> Then of course it's all walled in.
> With clear access a snake would be faster than what I do.
> At least I've had exposed traps in the basement overheads if I ever
> need to use a snake.
> They make flat rubber drain screens to catch hair.
> Used one when the girls were here. They work if you can get the girls
> to actually use them.
> You want one if you have long-hairs in the house.

Army wife. She has short hair, I have no hair. Or very little.

> It's hair that screws with tub drains.
> People think it just disappears down the drain. Nope.
> My wife likes long hot, relaxing baths.
> Part of her of her "relaxation" is to count the hairs she's lost from
> shampooing.

I sat here for a minute trying to think of a reply. The best I can do is
"That's RELAXATION?" During the great "balding" I would look at my
hairbrush full of fallen out hair and feel myself age a few months in one
minute. Relaxing it wasn't.

> So as she soaks she fingers them from the water and drapes them on the
> side of the tub. After her bath she wipes them off and throws them
> away. Just one of the reasons she's a keeper.

I recall reading about a serial killer who kept a journal of his hair as it
fell off, taping each hair in a notebook with the date and location he
combed it out. Be nice to her. (-:

> We don't use the strainer since the girls left, and I haven't plunged
> the drain in maybe 5-6 years.

You're luckier than I am, or I've got more corrosive or harder water or
something. I get about a year between serious drain cleanings.

--
Bobby G.

[Jim Yanik]

cedar...@aol.com wrote in
news:4866864.1135.1333801072828.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@ynbi17:

yes,and neither sodium hydroxide or sulphuric acid will affect a plastic
blockage.

[Robert Green]

"DerbyDad03" <Derby...@eznet.net> wrote in message
news:jlpjj8$36d$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

Sounds credible to me. I suspect this two inch pipe has an effective inner
diameter of 1/2" or less.

If any of the aluminum didn't react I can see it seriously adding to the
problem. All I can say with certainty is that formulation didn't help at
all, but the straight liquid goop (sodium hypochlorite, IIRC) in a drain
"preheated" by a run of hot water seems to work a lot better. The plate in
the manual tub drain is just as effective in blocking snakes as the
lever-operated stoppered tubs. Who DESIGNS these things?

Speaking of design, I went to inspect the sparkplug wires in my fairly
recently acquired van and realized that getting to the back 3 cylinders is
either done by micro-mechanics, Star Trek type transporters or removing a
fair amount of the material under the windshield. Who DESIGNS these
things?!!

--
Bobby G.

[Robert Green]

"Robert Macy" <robert...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:abd1cf2b-9ae6-4d1d-a33d-

<<I finally gave up. Tried snaking, DIDN't help?! Uh, why not? Seems
the drain piping fills with a clear jello like substance that the
snake went through, then came out and the jello remained!>>

I may never eat jello again. (-:

--
Bobby G.

[Vic Smith]

On Sat, 7 Apr 2012 12:10:19 -0400, "Robert Green"
<robert_g...@yah00.com> wrote:


>
>The pipes are all connected. Impossible is a strong word. I'd say "not
>likely but stranger things have happened." But then, I am an argumentative
>cuss.
>

Should have said "impossible unless the toilet is backing up too."
Would have nipped your bud.

>> Part of her of her "relaxation" is to count the hairs she's lost from
>> shampooing.
>
>I sat here for a minute trying to think of a reply. The best I can do is
>"That's RELAXATION?" During the great "balding" I would look at my
>hairbrush full of fallen out hair and feel myself age a few months in one
>minute. Relaxing it wasn't.
>

That's why I put "relaxation" in quotes.
She counts those in the hairbrush too.
Though "counts" might be too strong.
Let's say "notices."
Except for some thinning, I've still got my hair.
Too old to care about it though.
It was the opposite of losing that hair that told me I was aging.
Hair growing in my ears. That pissed me off.

>
>You're luckier than I am, or I've got more corrosive or harder water or
>something. I get about a year between serious drain cleanings.

Probably just differently designed plumbing.
Mine looks to be 3" pipe going into the drum trap.
Maybe 2 1/2",
The setup is similar to this, but mine has larger diameter
inlet/outlet.
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20252981,00.html

Mine has the cleanout plug on the bottom.
The one in the vid is plain stupid if there's no floor access on the
top.
I'm not planning on replacing it unless I have to.
There's venting issues these guys don't mention, so anybody doing this
should look at codes.
Though drum traps are now forbidden by code in some places, the drum
provides a better gas trap than an 'S."
I'm no expert on this, but since I've done plenty of plumbing work, I
detect a lot of BS on the DIY forums.
Saw one guy suggest taking the plate off the overflow to get a good
seal there when plunging.
That can easily break the dope seal there on the overflow tube,
leading to a leak when you fill the tub.
BTDT.
Unless you're getting into the plumbing wall, you don't want to
disturb that seal. Not worth the risk.

--Vic

[DerbyDad03]

I really hope you are kidding.

Please don't tell be that you have separate plungers for your toilet and
tub.

[Stormin Mormon]

I can imagine a two plunger family.

My Mom gets seriously offended, when she goes to a resaturant. And the
cleaner uses the same towel to wipe seats, and table tops. In her mind,
ought not wipe where peoples butts sit, and then use the same towel to wipe
where the food goes.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"DerbyDad03" <Derby...@eznet.net> wrote in message

news:jlq6nv$kcu$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

[Robert Green]

"Vic Smith" <thismaila...@comcast.net> wrote in message

> On Sat, 7 Apr 2012 12:10:19 -0400, "Robert Green"

> >The pipes are all connected. Impossible is a strong word. I'd say "not
> >likely but stranger things have happened." But then, I am an
argumentative
> >cuss.
> >
>
> Should have said "impossible unless the toilet is backing up too."
> Would have nipped your bud.

You think so? (-: You've forgotten the "earned v. saved" thread for which
I humbly apologize. That got out of hand a bit, far more than the whole
concept ever warranted.

> >> Part of her of her "relaxation" is to count the hairs she's lost from
> >> shampooing.
> >
> >I sat here for a minute trying to think of a reply. The best I can do is
> >"That's RELAXATION?" During the great "balding" I would look at my
> >hairbrush full of fallen out hair and feel myself age a few months in one
> >minute. Relaxing it wasn't.
> >
>
> That's why I put "relaxation" in quotes.
> She counts those in the hairbrush too.
> Though "counts" might be too strong.
> Let's say "notices."
> Except for some thinning, I've still got my hair.
> Too old to care about it though.
> It was the opposite of losing that hair that told me I was aging.
> Hair growing in my ears. That pissed me off.

There's the old saying: "My hairline is making a beeline for my neckline.
And my ears!"

> >You're luckier than I am, or I've got more corrosive or harder water or
> >something. I get about a year between serious drain cleanings.
>
> Probably just differently designed plumbing.
> Mine looks to be 3" pipe going into the drum trap.
> Maybe 2 1/2",
> The setup is similar to this, but mine has larger diameter
> inlet/outlet.
> http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20252981,00.html
>
> Mine has the cleanout plug on the bottom.
> The one in the vid is plain stupid if there's no floor access on the
> top.
> I'm not planning on replacing it unless I have to.
> There's venting issues these guys don't mention, so anybody doing this
> should look at codes.
> Though drum traps are now forbidden by code in some places, the drum
> provides a better gas trap than an 'S."
> I'm no expert on this, but since I've done plenty of plumbing work, I
> detect a lot of BS on the DIY forums.

Do tell! You mean people would actually give bad advice or parrot something
they heard elsewhere without really knowing of what they speak? Say it
isn't so.

> Saw one guy suggest taking the plate off the overflow to get a good
> seal there when plunging.
> That can easily break the dope seal there on the overflow tube,
> leading to a leak when you fill the tub.
> BTDT.
> Unless you're getting into the plumbing wall, you don't want to
> disturb that seal. Not worth the risk.

That's why I cram plastic garbage bags into the overflow to seal it.

My buddy's on the way over to borrow my Sawzall. Seems he was helping his
daughter put a garbage disposal into her newly bought fixer-upper. I
advised against it. A dishwasher is a good reason to torture rusty old
galvanized, Frankenstein-looking plumbing but a garbage disposal, IMHO, is
not. Well, as he was cutting the drain to install a wye fitting he heard a
clunk inside the wall. Soon he'll be cutting it open to repair the broken
drain pipe. )-: I just hate it when a two hour job suddenly expands into
a two day job - or more.

--
Bobby G.

[DerbyDad03]

Where's the similarity between using the same towel for the seats and
table tops and using the same plunger for the bowl and tub?

One involves food before it's eaten and one involves food afterwards.
Big difference.

What do you do with the plunger after you plunge a toilet full of dirty
water? Do you just stand it back up on the floor/stick it back in the
closet or do you rinse it off first?

Me, I swirl it around in the toilet to get any debris off and then I put
it in the tub or shower and rinse it off, inside and out.

Besides, what would happen if you went right from plunging the dirty
toilet to plunging the tub? Would there suddenly be a 2" thick coating
of fecal matter over the entire tub and walls? I doubt it! Any dirty
water from the toilet would get washed down the tub drain long before it
even came close to a body part.

Maybe I shouldn't tell you about the time I wrapped the plunger handle
in aluminum foil, slipped a plastic flame over the plunger end and it
was used by a high schooler when she dressed up as the Statue of Liberty
for the Homecoming Parade. That would probably gross some people out. It
didn't bother the young lady...

[Stormin Mormon]

With sceptre and sword, I bet not many people gave her attitude?

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"DerbyDad03" <Derby...@eznet.net> wrote in message

news:jlqdcl$458$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

[Bob F]

Vic Smith wrote:
> On Sat, 7 Apr 2012 12:10:19 -0400, "Robert Green"
> <robert_g...@yah00.com> wrote:
>
>
>>
>> The pipes are all connected. Impossible is a strong word. I'd say
>> "not likely but stranger things have happened." But then, I am an
>> argumentative cuss.
>>
>
> Should have said "impossible unless the toilet is backing up too."
> Would have nipped your bud.

A friend of mine had toilet waste start washing up his basement shower. He quit
using the toilet, but the problem continued. Turned out, his house and the
neighbors both shared a length of drain pipe, on a "Y" to the street, and that
last leg had plugged. He was receiving his neighbors waste. Neighbor didn't have
a problem.

[Bob F]

It wouldn't be kosher otherwise.

[Robert Green]

"Bob F" <bobn...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:jm1iel$p5l$1...@dont-email.me...

It's bad enough thinking about showering stomping around in your own
scheiss, but your NEIGHBOR'S?

But you do make a good case for why I wear rubber gloves when I soak up the
schmutz that comes up from the plunged shower drain.

--
Bobby G.

[Robert Green]

"Bob F" <bobn...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:jm1j3d$t6u$1...@dont-email.me...

That's pretty funny when you consider the flapped plunger the uncircumcised
one and the cup plunger, well, you get the idea . . .

--
Bobby G.