I inherited a slow draining tub when I moved into my house. Over the past two weeks I have tried virtually everything to fight this clog and get a regular draining tub - no more dirty, soapy water collecting at my feet when I shower. So far I have:

Removed and cleaned the hair and gunk from the drain and the screen over the drain.

Checked and cleaned the mechanism that holds the water in the tub (not sure of the name).

Snaked the tub through the drain AND the overflow pipe. I was only able to get the snake in about 12-15 inches before hitting something that felt like metal and I couldn't feed anymore of the snake in no matter how hard I try.

Last night I poured the heavy duty drain cleaner (Sulfuric acid) down the tub drain. It didn't completely work, but this morning I noticed the scuzzy water was not colecting as much as before (could have been wishful thinking, though).

WHAT DO I DO NEXT?? Should I try snaking again? Am I snaking correctly? Or do I go back to Home Depot for some more drain cleaner. If I add more sulfuric acid, will this hurt my pipes? The house was built in 1952 so I am sure I'm dealing with the original plumbing. Or do I admit defeat and call the professionals.

I don't like to admit defeat, so any and all advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

With all you said and done, I'd say call a drain cleaning company, be done with the headache.

Best Regards Plumber2000
www.atozplumbing.com

 

I'd call in Bobby Fuller.

 

Dont give up yet,some drains are very curvey,you may need a real thin snake cable to bend around the curves.If that does not work try a drain cleaner sold at Home Depot called Pequa,it does work and it wont harm the pipes.Good luck Dave

 

I had a similar problem a few days ago, and ended up calling in a plumber, who spent two hours snaking the overflow and drain five times, with no results. A bottle of heavy duty drain cleaner did nothing as well; I only ended up having more sediment and rust in my tub than when the whole catastrophe started.
What eventually worked for me was a combination of boiling water, bleach, and Trisodium Phosphate crystals. Be patient, let it for about a day, and see if that does anything. If that doesn't work, then my only advice is to call someone in. Lots of luck to you!

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.
Who is Bobby Fuller?
Brian

 

If you have to ask, DON'T!! That's just John giving his age away!!!

quote:<HR>Originally posted by BGH:
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Who is Bobby Fuller?
Brian<HR>