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10/19/08, 07:19 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 94
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Plumbing Help ASAP
Don't worry the bathroom isn't flooding, but we do want advice as soon as possible so that we can quickly resolve this issue.
The drain in the tub is terribly blocked. We tried boiling water down the drain. We tried blowing air with a shop vac into the drain to force the clog to go on. We tried plungers. We tried a snake but because the pipes are not in right the snake won't go through it well...
What can we do? We have a septic tank and don't want to kill all the enzymes in there, but if we have to, we will and then add an enzyme booster.
OH there is six standing inches of water in the tub, if that matters any.
HELP?!
Mrs.Logan
Last edited by Mrs.Logan; 10/19/08 at 07:33 PM.
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10/19/08, 07:21 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Central Indiana
Posts: 531
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Hmmm... when our toilet gets clogged, I put about a half a cup of soap in it, boil water, and pour it down. That seems to work. You said that you tried boiling water, but maybe the soap will help it.
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10/19/08, 07:23 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 94
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There is six inches of water in the tub, so it is unlikely that the water will actually go IN the drain...
any other ideas?
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10/19/08, 07:24 PM
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Scotties rule!
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: IL
Posts: 1,614
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I've used the extra thick drano with good results and my septic tank was fine.
Kathie
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www.littlebitfarm.net
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10/19/08, 07:28 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,096
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Do you have a pop up drain in the tub connected to a lever under the spout? If so, disconnect the lever at the tub, pull the mechanism out, and remove the pop up part. You will probably find a glob of hair and gunk stuck on it. Clean all of this up, check that the drain is clear and clean that if needed, and reassemble the pop up mechanism.
Ken in Glassboro, NJ
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10/19/08, 07:29 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 94
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no pop up on the drain sorry.
I think there is a major clog a long way down the line, because the snake didn't work.
Mrs.Logan
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10/19/08, 07:32 PM
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Appalachian American
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SW VA
Posts: 10,637
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Do you have a wet/dry vac? If the clog won't go down, bring it back up.
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10/19/08, 07:35 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 4
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might work
use the shop vac to suck as much water as you can out of the tub. pour a box of baking soda into drain followed by full strength vinegar might work. sounds like a hair clog has gotten stuck somewhere in the pipe good luck pam
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10/19/08, 07:37 PM
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: north central wv
Posts: 2,321
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The tub most likely has an overflow on the same end of the tub as the drain. If you don't cover and seal the overflow the plunger just blows the air out the overflow. Good luck. Sam
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10/19/08, 08:03 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 2,550
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Ok first of all dont laugh!!!
Try a "water wienie". You can get them almost anywhere. Hardware store, Lowes, I think even walmart cares them now. They work with pressure and will clear any clog with out damaging your septic tank.
Alice in Virginia
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There is nothing any worse than an angry little old lady, they've had a lifetime to learn all the dirty tricks and people get upset if you hit them!
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10/19/08, 08:28 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 12,673
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrs.Logan
Don't worry the bathroom isn't flooding, but we do want advice as soon as possible so that we can quickly resolve this issue.
The drain in the tub is terribly blocked. We tried boiling water down the drain. We tried blowing air with a shop vac into the drain to force the clog to go on. We tried plungers. We tried a snake but because the pipes are not in right the snake won't go through it well...
What can we do? We have a septic tank and don't want to kill all the enzymes in there, but if we have to, we will and then add an enzyme booster.
OH there is six standing inches of water in the tub, if that matters any.
HELP?!
Mrs.Logan
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We use drain cleaner when needed and have had no problems with the septic tank function, in 5 years.
BTW, I have heard adding enzymes or bacterials, can actually cause more harm than good, with septic tank digestion.
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10/19/08, 08:34 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,013
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Little-known plumber's secret: pour about half a gallon of chlorine bleach down the drain. Come back in an hour and run lots of hot water down the drain. VOILA!!! Works great for me.
Yes, the bleach may wreak havoc with the necessary bacteria in the septic tank, but with all that's in there the bleach will get overwhelmed, IMHO. So the issue would only be temporary.
I have a degree in microbiology and took an upper division university course in microbiology of water and sewage, so I am semi-qualified to speculate here, lol.
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10/19/08, 08:48 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Whiskey Flats(Ft. Worth) , Tx
Posts: 8,749
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.....................You should have a cleanout , on the outside of the house . Start from the cleanout and push the snake up the line into the house . , fordy
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10/19/08, 09:01 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SW MO
Posts: 168
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They make a small tool for this. It is a small plastic blade with teeth on it (Lowe's or Home depot) about 3 bucks. Remove the top grill of your tub drain, and run this small snake (about 12") down and then twist. Repeat over-and-over until you pull out the hair.
Hair is what is in the clog. No chemical will eat hair in a short time. Chemicals will kill your septic tank (bacteria).
I clear 2-3 hair clogs a week in apartment complexes. Works every time.
Surge
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10/19/08, 09:02 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Central Indiana
Posts: 531
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Ok, here's a crazy thought. I've never done this, or heard of anyone doing it either, but if you were on a crawl or basement, and could find out where the blockage is, would it be possible to cut the pipe and fit in a new one?
Probably not. When I get tired, I get crazy ideas. Anyway, good luck.
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10/19/08, 10:21 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,235
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We were troubled with a slow tub drain for a very long time, though drain uncloggers would work somewhat. We finally removed the top grill of the drain and used a needle nose pliar to lift material off the crossbar a couple of inches below tub surface. Our drain yielded no hair, as the drain uncloggers must have taken care of that. What we had was years' accumulation of fiber -- lint from wash cloths. Removed that and now drain is free flowing. Good luck to you.
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10/20/08, 12:06 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 272
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clog drain
Remove the water from the tub with the shop vac. Remove the P trap from underneath the tub. This will allow you to shine a light up the tub drain. Any clogs clean out. You can also now run a plumber's snake the other way. How far is the distance to the next plumbing fixture that is working? Run the snake to that distance to see if there is a clog.
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10/20/08, 12:16 AM
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Murphy was an optimist ;)
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 21,541
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You obviously have a clogged line somewhere twixt the tub and the septic tank. If you cant get it to flush through using all the above advise, do what I have going on here. I ran a grey water line from the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry out over the hill bypassing the septic. this prevents any of the bleach, antibacterial detergents and excess water from overloading my septic system. Its illegal as sin in most areas but it works well and is not a problem to the environment at all and my thornless blackberries love the extra water. 
__________________
"Nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits." Mark Twain
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10/20/08, 05:08 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: West Central Arkansas
Posts: 3,611
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Everyone is saying HAIR. I am with Fordy. Find your cleanout and go from there.If the line is good to the tank from the house your problem is from the tub to the cleanout. It may be roots. Are there bushes or trees between your house and the tank? Best thing to do is get a camera.Just my .02
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10/20/08, 07:20 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mid-Michigan
Posts: 1,526
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Any of the "quick fix" solutions whether homemade or store bought are just a temporary fix. Get the drain open, find the clog, and remove it. Either through a clean-out or remove the trap at the tub and go from there.
If you do try to plunge a tub, make sure you cover the overflow vent with a wet washcloth or something else to block the air movement, otherwise your "pluge" pressure will just go out the overflow!
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