Comments on: Unclogging a bathtub drain http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/unclogging-a-bathtub-drain/ Home improvement with an eye toward sustainability Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:58:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ohio Plumber Will http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/unclogging-a-bathtub-drain/#comment-892 Ohio Plumber Will Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:51:40 +0000 http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/?p=1079#comment-892 Its always the womans hair =), great blog. I had to put a screen drain cover on our bathtub to keep the hair balls out. Thanks, Will Its always the womans hair =), great blog. I had to put a screen drain cover on our bathtub to keep the hair balls out.

Thanks, Will

]]> By: Francisco http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/unclogging-a-bathtub-drain/#comment-891 Francisco Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:06:52 +0000 http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/?p=1079#comment-891 Lucky you can access the bathtub drain from the basement. that is a luxury I lack in my case. The space is so tight that I don't even have room to turn a wrench around. The leak is coming from the bathtub above into the kitchen cabinets. Lucky you can access the bathtub drain from the basement.
that is a luxury I lack in my case.
The space is so tight that I don’t even have room to turn a wrench around.
The leak is coming from the bathtub above into the kitchen cabinets.

]]> By: Paul http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/unclogging-a-bathtub-drain/#comment-890 Paul Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:43:28 +0000 http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/?p=1079#comment-890 Fred, That is a good point. Anytime that gravity is not moving waste water, a high water alarm should be installed in the holding tank, there are some really simple batter operated units that only cost $10.00 or so. A good alarm with a remote annuncator panel will be a little more, but well worth it, especially when it comes to a septic tank. Fred, That is a good point. Anytime that gravity is not moving waste water, a high water alarm should be installed in the holding tank, there are some really simple batter operated units that only cost $10.00 or so. A good alarm with a remote annuncator panel will be a little more, but well worth it, especially when it comes to a septic tank.

]]> By: FredW http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/unclogging-a-bathtub-drain/#comment-889 FredW Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:16:13 +0000 http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/?p=1079#comment-889 Paul, I know this isn't a clogged drain but I figure this is just as good as place as any to comment on the importance of an alarm on a septic pump tank. Oh it was 2 o'clock AM the day after Christmas and I was welcomed with a not so pleasant smell coming from the basement. As it turned out my septic pump had failed and the septic tank was backing up and coming out of the washing machine drain. Only minor disgust in the house and lucking to have a walkout basement. I diverted most of the overflow until the septic company got there at a reasonable hour. If you have a septic with a pump, GET AND ALARM which is my next home project. FredW Paul,

I know this isn’t a clogged drain but I figure this is just as good as place as any to comment on the importance of an alarm on a septic pump tank. Oh it was 2 o’clock AM the day after Christmas and I was welcomed with a not so pleasant smell coming from the basement. As it turned out my septic pump had failed and the septic tank was backing up and coming out of the washing machine drain.

Only minor disgust in the house and lucking to have a walkout basement. I diverted most of the overflow until the septic company got there at a reasonable hour.

If you have a septic with a pump, GET AND ALARM which is my next home project.

FredW

]]> By: Peter Michael http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/unclogging-a-bathtub-drain/#comment-888 Peter Michael Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:35:47 +0000 http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/?p=1079#comment-888 Good post. I have found that hair only collects where it finds a place to hang onto. Specifically (my culprit) would be the cross section in the bottom of the drain. Major Matt - the vent is probably the reason the p-trap ties into this 3" line. (I believe the vent is connected to that horizontal run of 3)I would not drop any prior to venting, as it reduces flow and is a code no no. (no vent opening below trap weir ("weir" is the interior bend that occurs in a p-trap - the point at which water rising above will flow downstream and out of the p-trap)IRC 3105.2 & UPC 905.5) Just FYI, and since you took the trouble of making a drawing I would just suggest it is fine if the vent is located right after the 1's. unfortunately his vent is probably downstream of the M. Good post. I have found that hair only collects where it finds a place to hang onto. Specifically (my culprit) would be the cross section in the bottom of the drain.

Major Matt – the vent is probably the reason the p-trap ties into this 3″ line. (I believe the vent is connected to that horizontal run of 3)I would not drop any prior to venting, as it reduces flow and is a code no no. (no vent opening below trap weir (“weir” is the interior bend that occurs in a p-trap – the point at which water rising above will flow downstream and out of the p-trap)IRC 3105.2 & UPC 905.5) Just FYI, and since you took the trouble of making a drawing I would just suggest it is fine if the vent is located right after the 1′s. unfortunately his vent is probably downstream of the M.

]]> By: MajorMatt http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/unclogging-a-bathtub-drain/#comment-887 MajorMatt Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:09:14 +0000 http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/?p=1079#comment-887 To help your trap drain, try raising the trap above the waist line. It looks like you have plenty of room to raise it. This will ensure that the waste water will flush out the trap as it drains. You might have to replace the last section of your 3" pipe because it looks like you have a street 90 coming out of the "why" and you do not have enough pipe to use a coupling if you cut off the 90. Here is what I would did. third times the charm. 000000000000000000000000000000000000000       0000000000000000 000000000000000000000000000000000000000       0000000000000000 000000000000000000000000000000000000000       0000000000000000 00000000000000000000000        1              0000       0000000000000000 0000000000000000000000          1               0000----0000000000000000 0000000000000000000000      00000000--- 0000      0000000000000000 0000000000000000000000-----00000000     0000     0000000000000000 0000000000000000000000      000000000               00000000000000000                                                             0000000000000000000000000000                Main Line                              0000000000000000000000000                                                             0000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 To help your trap drain, try raising the trap above the waist line. It looks like you have plenty of room to raise it. This will ensure that the waste water will flush out the trap as it drains. You might have to replace the last section of your 3″ pipe because it looks like you have a street 90 coming out of the “why” and you do not have enough pipe to use a coupling if you cut off the 90.

Here is what I would did.

third times the charm.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000       0000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000       0000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000       0000000000000000
00000000000000000000000        1              0000       0000000000000000
0000000000000000000000          1               0000—-0000000000000000
0000000000000000000000      00000000— 0000      0000000000000000
0000000000000000000000—–00000000     0000     0000000000000000
0000000000000000000000      000000000               00000000000000000
                                                            0000000000000000000000000000
               Main Line                              0000000000000000000000000
                                                            0000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

]]> By: Drain Man http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/unclogging-a-bathtub-drain/#comment-886 Drain Man Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:34:13 +0000 http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/?p=1079#comment-886 be worth you investing in a drain snake as it will keep clogging as of the hair,the drain snake may clear it a bit quicker with less messing. be worth you investing in a drain snake as it will keep clogging as of the hair,the drain snake may clear it a bit quicker with less messing.

]]> By: Todd Bredbeck http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/unclogging-a-bathtub-drain/#comment-885 Todd Bredbeck Mon, 11 May 2009 18:32:42 +0000 http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/?p=1079#comment-885 I'm jealous you can do this by just going into the basement.  I have to deal with the same culprit, only instead of carrying the whole bunch outside and spraying it I have to use a little hook and pry out the carnage from above.  And yes, the smell is impressive to say the least... I’m jealous you can do this by just going into the basement.  I have to deal with the same culprit, only instead of carrying the whole bunch outside and spraying it I have to use a little hook and pry out the carnage from above.  And yes, the smell is impressive to say the least…

]]> By: Paul http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/unclogging-a-bathtub-drain/#comment-884 Paul Sat, 09 May 2009 12:05:30 +0000 http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/?p=1079#comment-884 Todd, the septic tank is exactly why I don't use things like draino.  It gets clogged about once a year, so it's not too bad to disassemble and clean.  The kitchen sink has yet to have any problems... yet. Todd, the septic tank is exactly why I don’t use things like draino.  It gets clogged about once a year, so it’s not too bad to disassemble and clean.  The kitchen sink has yet to have any problems… yet.

]]> By: Todd - Home Construction Improvement http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/unclogging-a-bathtub-drain/#comment-883 Todd - Home Construction Improvement Sat, 09 May 2009 11:54:00 +0000 http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/?p=1079#comment-883 It's amazing how quickly hair clogs up drains. It actually surprises me that current pipe sizing doesn't alleviate this problem. Our kitchen sink has two sides, the side we use for draining the dishes get's clogged easily too with soap scum.We avoid drain cleaners in our house because of the septic system. I don't dare put that down the drain for fear of killing the bacteria in the tank. It’s amazing how quickly hair clogs up drains. It actually surprises me that current pipe sizing doesn’t alleviate this problem. Our kitchen sink has two sides, the side we use for draining the dishes get’s clogged easily too with soap scum.We avoid drain cleaners in our house because of the septic system. I don’t dare put that down the drain for fear of killing the bacteria in the tank.

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