Clogged Tub Drains
My bathtub drain is severely clogged…again. I don’t want to waste the landlord’s money by asking him to have a plumber come out and snake it. In the past, I had noticed that by dumping several pots of boiling hot water down the bathroom sink drain, the tub drain was flushed clear and the problem…
My bathtub drain is severely clogged…again. I don’t want to waste the landlord’s money by asking him to have a plumber come out and snake it. In the past, I had noticed that by dumping several pots of boiling hot water down the bathroom sink drain, the tub drain was flushed clear and the problem was solved. This time it’s not working. Liquid Plummr and it’s other counterparts have failed to do the job. I suspect that the pipes in my apartment are quite old (I already replaced a portion of pipe under my kitchen sink that had basically rotted and burst) so I’m wary of using extra strong chemicals. Any suggestions (cheap ones!) that I could try and do on my own without asking my landlord to spend $$$ on a plumber?
Any ballpark on Park Slope Plumbing’s prices for hand snakes?
Go to Park Slope Plumbing & they’ll give you one you can handle.
Is the hand snake as effective as a snake that a plumber would use? Or does that depend on the strength of my arms?
You could also purchase a cheap hand-snake at a hardware store. It’s actually fun and easy snaking a drain by hand. Just make sure to always wind the snake, both out and in. Never yank the snake, if you know what I mean.
Ahh, sorry. Misread the original post.
You can use a plunger on a tub if you block the overflow opening that usually holds the tub drain trip lever (that little bath-or-shower switch).
What I’ve done is hold a wet washcloth over the air-hole opening and plunge the drain simultaneously.
MP, do you mean to use the plunger in the sink or in the tub? If I’m reading you right, plug up the sink and then put water in the tub and plunge the tub? I’ll try that.
Plunger should work. Be sure any Drano-type liquid isn’t still in the pipe before you plunge.
bleach? i’ve had some luck with bleach on slow draings in the past, though i’m sure it does a job on the pipes. regular old clorox. like a lot of it. a half jug or so.
Try a plunger.
While the sink is clogged, put a few inches of water in it, enough to cover the plunger, and plunge away.
Sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t. Definitely worth a shot.