Cover the drain hole with a stopper or a plate and allow the baking soda and vinegar to sit in the P-trap for 30 to 60 minutes. The waste stack runs to the basement and changes from 3″ to 4″ cast iron 3 feet above the basement concrete slab. Start by removing the screws on the drain’s overflow escutcheon plate. 2 Pour a cup (180 g) of baking soda into the drain and let it sit for 20 minutes. Replace the drum trap's cover and run the tub's hot water for another two minutes to flush out any leftover clog debris. Here are a few things to consider about whether a drain snake can be useful when cleaning out a … Sometimes the musty smell coming from your bathroom is related to a dry P-Trap. Wipe out your sink, shower and tub after each use to help prevent clogs. DO: flush your drain to ensure the P-trap is filled with water. Cover the opening of the overflow drain (the round, metal plate on the wall of the tub above the drain) with a rag so no air can get through it and break the suction. Great this clogged bathtub drain problem is solved. This means that you don't need a long snake. If the shower isn’t frequently used or perhaps it’s in a guest bathroom, pour four ounces of oil down the drain—any cooking oil you already have on hand should do. There are … A lot of times your P-Trap is clogged. While relying solely on a p-trap isn’t ideal, it does usually keep a vacuum from forming. This could be an easy solution to an annoying home maintenance problem. If it is too difficult to open by hand, use a plumbing wrench to help you. Water going down? Clean the interior of the trap with a straightened wire coat hanger or a large nylon bottle brush. If you do not have water in the tub, try running water into the tub and see if it is draining. Step 4 Remove the stopper or plate and flush the drain with hot water from the mixing jug. The second thing that can be done is to pour ¼ cup of baking soda into the drain, and then pour ¼ cup of vinegar into the drain. I have a slow draining tub that I would like to tackle this week. Put on rubber gloves and remove the debris in the drum trap with your hands. Generally less than 25' in length. With a full bathtub, you want to snake out the trap, see below. If the bathtub is full of water, it is not a good idea to use the clean out plug. Next, pull the drain assembly out of the overflow pipe. The toughest part will getting through the trap. Then you can clean it out in a bucket of water and put it back together. There is no way to control which way the snake will go. Take off the cover for the overflow and remove the linkage and plunger for the stopper. Copyright 2010 - 2019 Home-Repair-Central.com. The bathtub drain is usually in close proximity to the larger main line that the toilet is hooked to. There is a P trap in the 4″ cast iron under the basement slab. Clean any hair and debris from the drain bail. Like the plumbing vent, a p-trap prevents odorous gas from seeping up through a toilet, sink or floor drain. To clean the inside of your drain, you'll need to completely remove the drain stopper. Contrary to what a lot of people think, that fitting is not there to catch items that get dropped down the drain. How to remove old p-trap clean-out plug. I have a 1st story bathtub with a 1-1/2″ PVC P trap connected within 18″ to a 3″ cast iron waste stack and vent. For example, you might try cleaning it out with a drain snake. Usually you can twist it by hand. Find that super handy resealable bag with your cover and screws and replace your shower drain trap. Use a measuring cup to measure out a cup (180 g) of baking soda, then pour it down the drain. This is normally the spot the has the control for the drain, either a lever or a dial that causes the drain to operate. Start with checking your P trap. Run the snake through a couple of times. Let it drain out with the water running. The P-trap and shower drain will be cleaned and deodorized. Have you ever struggled with a clogged sink? If the clog is beyond the P-Trap the plumber … The P-trap is actually designed to hold water that basically blocks the drain pipe. Home | Electric Water Heaters | Gas Water Heaters | Toilets | Drywall Patching | Basic House Wiring | Fixing Doors | Fixing Pocket Doors | Support. Run the snake through a couple of times. The P-trap, which is located just past the downward vertical outlet of the tee. Checking the Drain. Step 1, Get a bucket. It’s the U-shaped piece of pipe beneath your sinks and behind the toilets. Since the tub sits so low to the ground, the p-trap is often pre-installed by a plumber in the concrete or between floor joists. I do not recommend drain cleaners. Keeping the pipes clean will also help get rid of drain gnats. B. DO: take off the aerator cap on your faucet and clean off any buildup if there is a smell coming from the running water. It should be a small snake, one that is suitable for a sink line. When the house is built on a slab or for an upstairs bathtub, there should be an access panel on the opposite side of the wall. Step 5 This might be in a closet or bedroom wall in the room that is on the other side of the drain end of the tub. Apply pressure and turn the snake until it twists through the trap. If the P-trap is dry, pour two cups of water down the drain and wait an hour. Do Not try to snake a bath tub drain without removing the pop-up assembly. Before you assume that it is the trap you want to make sure that you to check a couple of other things. Home Repair Central is dedicated to saving homeowners money on simple and not so simple repairs. Don't glue any pipes until you have completed the trap assembly. If so, put the pop-up assembly back in and fill the tub part way. Place the bucket under the U pipe.Step 2, Start by unfastening. A gallon of hot water (if your pipes are PVC then use the hot tap water; if the pipes are metal, boil the water) How to clean your shower drain trap how to clean a sink trap what is the purpose of a p trap ace mon causes of a smelly shower get why does my shower drain smell what Mon Causes Of A Smelly Shower Get Rid SmellShower Trap What It Is And How To Clean Amarco PlumbingImportance… Read More » Then check to see if the water is still there. For a bathtub that has a basement or crawl space below it you may be able to see it from below. Another common area for a clogged drain is the “P” trap. This a nice feature and makes cleaning out the trap much easier. The oil slows the evaporation of the water in the P-trap as it floats on top of the water. The drain shoe, which is a length of horizontal drain pipe that extends from the tee to the bathtub's drain opening. Make sure that all the parts are completely clean inside and out. Some bathroom traps have a clean out plug on them. 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