Clogged Bathtub

[jimcardo]

Hello,
About a week ago my toilet kept backing up, overflowing, wouldn't flush. Had to call in Roto Rooter, they came, used a snake and unclogged a huge wad of hair and gunk. But it's been a week and every time I flush the toilet some water goes into the tub. The tub takes hours to drain. I have tried drano. I tried plunging it. I even tried some new Power Jet drano stuff. But nothing has worked. Any help, any suggestions. I really don't feel like spending more money on plumber. Any thoughts on what it might be.

[Shedhand]

Hello,
About a week ago my toilet kept backing up, overflowing, wouldn't flush. Had to call in Roto Rooter, they came, used a snake and unclogged a huge wad of hair and gunk. But it's been a week and every time I flush the toilet some water goes into the tub. The tub takes hours to drain. I have tried drano. I tried plunging it. I even tried some new Power Jet drano stuff. But nothing has worked. Any help, any suggestions. I really don't feel like spending more money on plumber. Any thoughts on what it might be.

Was it hair or really fine tree roots. Have you got any trees growing near the plumbed outlets at your house? Tree roots just love getting into pipes (free water)..just a thought.

[neol]

Hello jimcardo,
It is difficult for a drain cleaning person to know exactly how open the drain is when they get it to start draining again after it has been plugged. Most companies will only charge you as if they were still there when the situation is as you describe. Ask them, in fact complain bitterly that the drain was not fully opened. But understand that had they continued working on it at the time it would have cost more money then.

At any rate the drain-o and additives are seldom effective and usually just a waste of money. The drain cleaner person only got part of the problem and there is only one way to get the drain open in 99% of the cases. Run the drain snake until all the drains work like they are supposed to and make sure that the toilets flush several times in quick succession and that the other drains in the house will all work at that same time. If they won't, then the main is still partially clogged. Thanks.

[elkangorito]

You could also try using "Actizyme", which is available at most supermarkets.

http://www.southerncrosslaboratories...u/products.asp

[wonderplumb]

Dont know if you have Momar products over in the US (assuming your location id correct) but they make a product called MoFlo, here you have to be a licensed plumber to buy it but it eats anything carbon-based, hair, soap scum even teeth in a dentists cuspidor.

[Ivan in Oz]

Momar products make a product called MoFlo, it eats anything carbon-based, hair, soap scum even teeth in a dentists cuspidor.

Good Morning Wonderplumb,

OK!
Sounds interesting for a use for me.
What is the active ingredients?
Does it attack Metals?

ArrHHH!!!!
Just checked its MSDS
http://www.pscoop.com.au/newweb/msds/Momar/MOFLO.pdf
Full of H2SO4

One wouldn't want to clear a Drain with this and Caustic together.....Whoops!

[wonderplumb]

Its pretty nasty stuff, eats away at that marble-like travertine(spelling??), ive seen it crack a basin due to the heat it gives off and excessive use, definately a gloves and goggles job.

[jedmanrocks]

Hi guys, it would help to know the design of the bathroom and also if its a slab on ground ( therefore all 100mm drainage ) or a suspended slab or timber floor, ( therefore stackwork drainage in reduced size pipes ).
Regardless, if you have toilet water coming back into your bath AFTER the plumber has done the job ring him and i'm sure he will be back ASAP to fix it. I know id be horrorfied to think that was happening at a job id been paid to fix.

[Koala-Man]

Hello,
About a week ago my toilet kept backing up, overflowing, wouldn't flush. Had to call in Roto Rooter, they came, used a snake and unclogged a huge wad of hair and gunk. But it's been a week and every time I flush the toilet some water goes into the tub. The tub takes hours to drain. I have tried drano. I tried plunging it. I even tried some new Power Jet drano stuff. But nothing has worked. Any help, any suggestions. I really don't feel like spending more money on plumber. Any thoughts on what it might be.

I've had similar issues with my bathroom -I have two long-faired teenage daughters and their hair cloggs up in the grease trap, which is awkwardly located under the slab. I've tried Drano with some success but Actizime is much, much more effective. Eventually I'll have to get under there and chop out the little fine tree roots the hair's getting tangled in, but the Actizime is holding that day at bay.

Gaz.