bathtub is plugged - how to fix

My wife and kids use the shower, i think it might have alot of hair.
Needless to sya, it is clogged, what is best to use, i tried that 1 second plumber and plunger with no luck.

the only sure-fire way I found for unplugging a bathtub is to use a plumber's snake and push it through the access port near the top of the tub (usually covered by a cosmetic chrome-like plate).

remove/unscrew the plate, push the plumber's snake through, turn it until it gets to the trap, turn it some more, bring it back. Repeat until you get the blockage removed.

Warning: what comes out is not a pretty sight. Make sure your wife and kids are present to see the crap that comes out. Guaranteed that they will use a hair strainer in the future.

- dvdrat

since the trap usually isn't that far down ... if you don't have one (which you may be able to rent at a tool rental store OR Home Depot) ... you could always start with a clothes hanger right down the drain ... cut it open and cut off the rough parts/hooks ... you don't want to get them caught on anything.

Originally Posted by CheapScotsman

since the trap usually isn't that far down ... if you don't have one (which you may be able to rent at a tool rental store OR Home Depot) ... you could always start with a clothes hanger right down the drain ... cut it open and cut off the rough parts/hooks ... you don't want to get them caught on anything.

yup, clothes hanger it first and if that doesnt work, then consider snaking

i have to agree with dvdrat with the comment about what comes up isnt pretty...

Originally Posted by Siefer999

yup, clothes hanger it first and if that doesnt work, then consider snaking

i have to agree with dvdrat with the comment about what comes up isnt pretty...

Here is what I have done..

Removed plate and put auger down as far as it would go....nothing came up
went through 2 "10 sec plumber"
put down drayno foam
Between 11 and 5, the water in the drain did go down, so i flushed it and it backed right back up again
none of my toilets or sinks are backed up...
gonna call a professional in...i heard the first thingthey do is open the "fill out"?? in the basement and unplug from there.
I will keep u guys posted
p.s. when i used the 10 sec thing, u were right, not a pretty sight...loads of sediment etc but no hair??????

Never use one-second plumber or Draino-type chemicals! They are way too hard on your pipes, and may very well cause bigger problems.

Plunge first, then rooter, then call the plumber as a last resort. You're at the last resort now!

Originally Posted by Shifty

Never use one-second plumber or Draino-type chemicals! They are way too hard on your pipes, and may very well cause bigger problems.

Plunge first, then rooter, then call the plumber as a last resort. You're at the last resort now!

I thought those instant plumber is just pressurized gas that doesn't really do damage to the pipes. Draino is harsh yes. But I thought the pressurized gas is ok. I could be mistaken though

You're right that it's just pressurized gas, so it IS environmentally friendly, but think of the immense pressure it puts on the seals in your plumbing system. If there is a weak link anywhere, it can blow it right open, then you have water damage as well as plugged pipes.

I bet plumbers are making a mint from one second plumber mishaps, this is what you call 'false economy'.

I bought one of these to unclog drains. Spin Thru Drain Cleaner. It works well.

Originally Posted by dvdrat

the only sure-fire way I found for unplugging a bathtub is to use a plumber's snake and push it through the access port near the top of the tub (usually covered by a cosmetic chrome-like plate).

remove/unscrew the plate, push the plumber's snake through, turn it until it gets to the trap, turn it some more, bring it back. Repeat until you get the blockage removed.

Warning: what comes out is not a pretty sight. Make sure your wife and kids are present to see the crap that comes out. Guaranteed that they will use a hair strainer in the future.

- dvdrat

dvdrat, what's a hairstrainer and where do you put it?

Originally Posted by north77

dvdrat, what's a hairstrainer and where do you put it?

The drain strainer. It's like a grate usually held on with 2 screws.

Originally Posted by bug

The drain strainer. It's like a grate usually held on with 2 screws.

I've got one that you just put into the drain (like a grate). No need to put screws in. You can take it out to empty, or when you are going to use the plug (for a bath). I can't imagine it costing more than $5.

I purchased a " snake " at the dollar store i think . Great for small sinks . I simply rammed it down the drain without removing anything and it pushed all the hair and chit down with the water. Going strong now for a year anyway.

Originally Posted by bell02fantasy

My wife and kids use the shower, i think it might have alot of hair.
Needless to sya, it is clogged, what is best to use, i tried that 1 second plumber and plunger with no luck.

Wow, lots of suggestions. How about a simple one... Partially fill the tub. Get someone to hold a large wet rag over the overflow (anything that will keep it well sealed), then use a plunger on the drain. Instead of using downward movements with the plunger, push it down slowly, and pull up fast.

Originally Posted by gdhannah

Wow, lots of suggestions. How about a simple one... Partially fill the tub. Get someone to hold a large wet rag over the overflow (anything that will keep it well sealed), then use a plunger on the drain. Instead of using downward movements with the plunger, push it down slowly, and pull up fast.

Well the plumber shows up 4 hours late - takes a look and says I can run the snake down...I say, "ok'...guy goues to truck brings up equipment and says "if i use this there is a 309.00 charge. .........the guy is now sitting on the edge of my tub!!!!!! (*_*)_*_*( so he sent about 20 feet down and guess what - nothing came up no hair or anything. he couldnt explain it, he thought maybe he had pushed it down and around............oh well lesson learned =- gotta do regular maintance