interesting tub drain cleaning method

[Rick in PA]

Our tub drain was running slow. It's not easy to clean mechanically, there's some sort of grease trap about 18" back on the drain pipe, and it's not easy to snake. However, there's no linkage in the drain line, so it's a fairly clear shot, just some nasty twists and turns.

I got out my wet & dry shop vac and removed the air filter. Then I removed the stopper assembly out of the overflow tube and blocked that with a rag in a plastic bag. Wrapped a couple of damp rags around the vac nozzle for a good seal and applied it to the (open) tub drain. Got some satisfying "slurping" sounds, and then it just ran no-load vacuum.

When I dumped the shop vac in the yard, there was about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of that nasty, black goop you always find in drains. Not bad.

Today's shower did not include the typical splishy splashy feet in water, so I guess it was a success. Just thought I'd share.

 

[OVERKILL]

Yup, I've used that method with great success. I have three small children, so them putting things down the tub drain is simply par for the course. The shop vac has been able to extract things that otherwise simply wouldn't come out.

 

[friendly_jacek]

This is how I clean plugged AC drains (from outside). works great. Not bad idea for a tub drain!

 

[HTSS_TR]

The wet & dry shop vac can be used for many things around the house, a lot more than vacuuming garage floor that it was designed for.

 

[Kestas]

I bring a garden hose with a nozzle on the end into the house and blast away at the drains. For maintenance I do this twice a year or whenever the drains start getting slow.

 

[Mixologist]

Foaming liquid plumber... hasn't failed me yet.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Mixologist
Foaming liquid plumber... hasn't failed me yet.


It failed me. And subsequently involved me cutting through cast pipe with a sawsall to replace everything from my sink to where it met the cast.

But let's not explore that story, as it was one of 90 year old plumbing/sewage, my Milwaukee drill, a wire wheel and 6ft of extensions.

:shudder:

 

[bigmike]

Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
This is how I clean plugged AC drains (from outside). works great. Not bad idea for a tub drain!


This works - it's how my A/C guy says how he does it.

My setup is a bit different. On the drain line that goes outside, I added an air fitting and a shutoff valve. Close the valve going towards the AC unit, hook up the air compressor and blow it out. Works great. I also added an inspection port on the top so I can see how it looks and add diluted bleach into the line if I'm not running it for an extended time.