I finally was able to clear both drains--the tub and the sink--this weekend
by removing all the piping underneath the sink back to the rough-in and
snaking from there. Taking the P-trap off completely instead of just running
the snake through the clean-out plug gave me a better shot at getting the
snake down the drain instead of up the vent. I pulled out a fistfull of
nasty hair, rust, and other assorted gunk, but everything drains like a
champ now. Of course, in removing some of the old drain piping underneath
the sink, part of the rough-in pipe cracked off, and I had to hacksaw it
back a 1/2" and force the compression nut on it to work the thread, but
that's another story.

Thanks for everyone's advice and info.

"Speedy Jim" wrote in message
...
MPost wrote:
I ended up running the entire snake in through the clean-out plug in the
sink's P trap and only encountered resistance in the last foot or so (I
think I have a 25' snake). Unfortunately, once I got everything back
together, I found that the tub didn't drain any better and the sink was
completely clogged.

If I did go up the vent instead of down the drain, is it possible that I
pulled an obstruction from the vent down into the drain so that it's now
completely plugging the sink drain? Why would they make plumbing so that
it's more likely that the snake would run up the vent instead of down the
drain? What I can't figure out is why the sink is so stopped up while the
tub isn't any worse...that means the clog must be pretty close to the
bathroom since I'm assuming the sink and tub come together pretty close
by.

Any ideas how I should proceed? Calling a plumber at this point seems
like admitting defeat.

You *could* have gone up the vent and created a new clog just for the
sink.

As I said, these can be very tricky and the home-handy snake just
won't get it. You can rent a hand-held powered snake which may be
better. Years ago, they often put the TEE for the sink trap offset
within the wall (left or right of center) making it very hard to get
the snake tip to go downward instead of up. Special tips that swivel
*sometimes* work.

In really difficult cases that resist every technique, we sometimes
resort to making an opening in the vent just above the trap connection
(I don't mean in the roof stack vent). That allows the snake to go
downward toward the clog.

Jim



"Speedy Jim" wrote in message
...

MPost wrote:


Jim,

Thanks for the advice. So, you're thinking that the clog is after the
tub's drum trap in the stack itself? (I'm just trying to picture how
everything ties in.)

Thanks


Not in the stack itself, but downstream where the tub and sink tie
in together, since the sink backs up into the tub. Most often right at
the WYE. Can be a difficult snake job...
Jim


"Speedy Jim" wrote in message
...


MPost wrote:


I live in an older home and have a tub and bathroom sink that drain
very slowly. When I drain the sink, I can hear a gurgling in the tub
drain and, when I put a lot of water down the sink drain, some water
will come up from the tub drain into the tub. I've been putting some
Drano down the drain every two months or so, but am worried that this
may damage my pipes in the long run. I also have tried to get a snake
down the tub overflow, but don't think I'm even getting past the elbow
that turns

from vertical to horizontal under the tub. Unfortunately, the first

floor ceiling underneath the tub is finished, so I can't really get at
the trap (I'm assuming it's a drum trap). So, 2 questions:

1. Is there a secret to getting the snake past that first 90 degree
bend? I'm able to get the snake through sink P traps with no problem,
but can't really figure out what's catching the snake under the tub.

2. Are there any other solutions other than the Drano that are less
likely to damage my pipes, but work for more than a couple of months?

Thanks in advance.

This sounds very typical of old houses. The tub drain runs over to the
stack and the lav basin drain ties in after the tub with a WYE.
Some drum traps can NOT be snaked. SOL

If chemicals don't work, run the snake down the basin drain.
Remove the trap and go right into the wall. If lucky, that will
get the snake past the WYE (where the clog probably is).

Plunging won't work on clogs like this because the pressure will
just go up the vent. The snake may not work either if *it* goes
up the vent. Listen in the wall for it. It's tricky; good luck.

Jim