Slow shower drain

CindyOR · #1 03/21/08, 02:05 PM

I need some new suggestions to fix a slow shower drain. This drain has always been slow since day one (we are original owners, so no debris from prior owners). When our kids (teenagers) would take showers the bottom of the tub would fill with water and take forever to drain out.

Being on a septic tank system, I'm hesitant to use any chemicals that might mess up the septic system.

To start with, I've poured boiling water down the drain and let it sit.
Then I've tried remedies that have worked whenever I have a clogged drain in the kitchen - and I've done this about 5 times now without any improvement -
Vinegar & baking soda, or vinegar, baking soda and salt with boiling water to follow up.
This combo has always been successful for me in the past, but not with this particular drain in the shower.

I've taken the plug cap off (this is a metal screw off cap that goes up and down depending on if you want to keep the water in the bathtub or not). I've 'fished' down the drain to see if anything was blocking the pipe. Can't see anything with high powered flashlight, can't feel anything and am not bringing anything back up (gross as that may sound). The toilet flushes fine and the sink drains just fine in the same room. Other shower in another bathroom in the house drains just great.

Any ideas of what might be wrong? We are in a 10 yr old manufactured home. No tree or plant roots can be the problem, as there are none in the area. Can't think of any outside influence that could be causing this, and can't think of why the drain is so slow or won't clear with my usual no chemical mixture when that mix works very well on kitchen clogs. And remember - it has been this way since day one, so hair clog is unlikely).

What would be my next step? Are there any stronger drain clearers that you can use with a septic system?

CindyOR

bqz · #2 03/21/08, 02:33 PM

Quote:

this is a metal screw off cap that goes up and down depending on if you want to keep the water in the bathtub or not).

Let me make sure we are talking about the same part this is the part that stops the tub from draining when you pull up on it right?
If so you probably had what you needed in your hand,Here's what I have seen happen,The drain plug is adjusted to deep and only allows the water to drain at a certain rate because it's not adjusted all the way open.Pull this part out and see if you can adjust it up a little,this will help the water flow faster and not stop up.

Test it like this pull the drain plug all the way out, run water and see what happens.(I noticed you said you pulled it but, was not sure if you ran water when it was pulled)If it drains fast,there's you problem.Adjust the drain plug.
Good luck,let me know what happens.

Hre's a link to help,go to down to plunger tub drains.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...epTubDrn.html#

KCM · #3 03/21/08, 05:51 PM

Since it has been a problem since "day one", it could be not enough air ventilation.

Have you checked for ventilation issues?

The Paw · #4 03/21/08, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCM

Since it has been a problem since "day one", it could be not enough air ventilation.

Have you checked for ventilation issues?

If this is a shower in a tub, shouldn't the overflow tube for the valve act as vent? When you say "day one" does this mean you bought it new, and it was already slow? If that's the case, it could be construction debris that lodged in the pipe but that isn't soluble or affected by vinegar. Otherwise, maybe it is the vent.

The plug adjustment theory also sounds plausible.

I have a mobile I am renovating, and whenever the temp goes below -30 the trap freezes, as the insulation between the bottom of the trap and the crawl space is only 2-3 inches. I don't think that's your problem, since then it wouldn't drain at all.

CindyOR · #5 03/25/08, 05:48 PM

Thanks for the suggestions.

When I unscrew the round metal cap that has the washer under it to stop the water from draining out of the tub, there is a white round piece inside the drain - right in the center - with a very large, what looks like the top of a brass screw. I've tried to take that out, but can't get it to unscrew.

I'll check the link to the site you attached and see if there is info on this piece too. The water does drain out, just really slowly. So perhaps it is just an adjustment up that is needed. Wouldn't that be great if that is the answer.

Don't know if there is debris in there - boy, I know I'm not a huge fan of the people that put our MH together, but surely they wouldn't be THAT lazy in clean up? I'm not liking to think that I'd have to start taking drain pipes apart to fix this.

In regards to venting - enough or not enough - how do you figure this out? Since the sink drains fine and the toilet works fine, would that not indicate that the vent is working? If it doesn't, how would I check this out?

Thanks for info.
CindyOR

sapphira · #6 03/25/08, 06:13 PM

I have the exact same problem, mobile home and all, though the shower drain grate is glued and I cannot even look under it. S.

beamernc · #7 03/25/08, 08:26 PM

If the above suggestions don't work try putting a couple of inches of water in the tub, open the drain and use a toilet plunger to force water down the drain. If they is an obstruction ,the hydraulic pressure from the water may dislodge it. My wife's long hair plays havoc on our drain and every couple of months I pull the drain cover use a spring hook to reach in and fish out all of the trapped hair. Then I use the method above to remove anything else. It will also force water/debris out the vent around the drain closing handle and then mine drains fine.

foxtrapper · #8 03/25/08, 08:52 PM

Plungers work remarkably well.

So do those zip tools you get for a few bucks at Lowes and the like. Look like giant zip ties for clearing drains.

And if you've got a lever type drain, It's real easy to get that unit set wrong so it never opens well.

Tadpole · #9 03/26/08, 06:45 AM

Is this a shower and tub??This is what I have comb of both.Just a thought, I bought a house that is over 50 + and same problem. I tryed everthing till I figured out,,, the thing you close to put water in the tub(this thing opens adn shuts the tub to fill.) needed to be ajusted. I unscrewed the thing and took it out completey and adjusted it up or down and now it will take the water out fast now. Hope this helps you! Forgot to say this is a weight your adjusting that lets the water out and keeps it in.

The Paw · #10 03/26/08, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CindyOR

Thanks for the suggestions.

When I unscrew the round metal cap that has the washer under it to stop the water from draining out of the tub, there is a white round piece inside the drain - right in the center - with a very large, what looks like the top of a brass screw. I've tried to take that out, but can't get it to unscrew.

I'll check the link to the site you attached and see if there is info on this piece too. The water does drain out, just really slowly. So perhaps it is just an adjustment up that is needed. Wouldn't that be great if that is the answer.

Don't know if there is debris in there - boy, I know I'm not a huge fan of the people that put our MH together, but surely they wouldn't be THAT lazy in clean up? I'm not liking to think that I'd have to start taking drain pipes apart to fix this.

In regards to venting - enough or not enough - how do you figure this out? Since the sink drains fine and the toilet works fine, would that not indicate that the vent is working? If it doesn't, how would I check this out?

Thanks for info.
CindyOR

I don't like the step-on stoppers you describe, as it seems they create more problems than they solve... I think you have to find a way to get that brass screw out. If you get it out, and it drains fine, then it is an adjustment issue. If you get the screw out and it still drains slow, then at least you can snake the drain. If there is a clog or obstruction, it is probably pretty close to the tub drain, as plumbing runs in mobile homes tend to be short, so the tub drain should connect to the sink & toilet drains pretty quick. Since those are draining okay, it tells you the clog is between the tub and that connection.

You can try a plunger, but when I have done that, it usually just forces the water from the drain up through the tub overflow. It will only work if the clog is within the first 2-3 inches of the drain before it connects to the overflow.

I don't think it is a vent issue, since the tub drain should get air from the overflow. I suppose if the drain run from the tub to the main stack is long, it might be not venting right. The problem is that you can't add a vent without opening up the walls and/or floor to get at the drain lines. If it turns out to be a venting issue, I would just live with it until such time as i wanted to take on a total bathroom remodel.

Good luck.