"Timothy Miller" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a one story house on a slab, on a flat lot, downscale, in
California, built in 1953, one bathroom, three BRs. The bathtub and
bathroom sink drains are more or less back to back with the kitchen sink
drain.

The bathtub drain probably wouldn't pass code today. I think there's too
little fall. It drains slowly, and periodically stops draining
altogether until cleaned out, either with enzyme drain cleaner or liquid
plumber.

The other day it stopped draining altogether. The usual measures didn't
seem to help. All the other drains in the house seem to be working. My
wife called the plumber while I was at work. He says he couldn't get his
snake down the bathtub overflow tube. He says the brass fitting has
corroded hopelessly, the tub has to come out, and then "he'll see what
kind of repairs are needed." He may be right, but I have a funny feeling
I don't trust this guy.

He said he "might try" to go in thru the back of the kitchen sink. It's
"not impossible" that he'll have to break out the old jackhammer.

I have a similar recurring problem. I run a snake through the sink (after
removing the p-trap) and with many tries I can get the snake to go into the
bathtub drain connection which fixes it until the next time. I have also rigged
up two large stoppers which I use to apply water pressure to the drain (one in
the overflow tube and the other in the tub drain. This sometimes works if the
hair isn't too solidly packed.

His two answers are not compatible. If the overflow tube is hopelessly corroded
then why is he suggesting that he may be able to clear the drain but leave a
defective overflow in place? No plumber worth his salt wants a call back for
not fixing a problem correctly. If the overflow tube is shot then the potential
for water damage would be a serious risk.

The chemicals available to the homeowner are pretty useless in clearing any real
blockage. They may be of some benefit in preventative maintanence but once the
flow stops forget using plumber in a bottle--or at least I have never had any
success with them. A licensed plumber can get concentrated sulphuric acid which
will clear hair and most other organic material blocking a drain. I have had
good success with it but thanks to the nannies it is not easy to come by.

Regards,

John