I'm probably gonna call a plumber, but thought I'd ask. Sink drainage backing up into bathtub.

[Critters2]

This is the third plumbing problem I've had in two weeks, and would love to not have to call the plumber again, but I figure that's where this is headed.

After I brushed my teeth this morning, I heard a gurgling sound in the bathtub in the same bathroom. I opened the shower curtain, and found that dirty water had backed up into the bathtub. The bathtub has been draining slowly the last several days, but the sink seemed fine. I've been intending to pour some vinegar and soda down the bathtub drain...just hadn't gotten it done soon enough, I fear.

Those of you who know such things--how serious a problem is this? My other drains seem to be working fine--downstairs bathroom, toilets, kitchen sink, etc. This seems to be confined to the upstairs bathroom.

I doubt this is something I can fix, but wondered if I have a HUGE crisis on my hands, or just a problem.

Thanks for any help!

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Just a guess: you have a problem, not a crisis

It is a clog in the tub drain. The sink drain ties into the tub drain. Being higher, the sink waste backs up into the tub.

More guessing: The plumber will clear the clog through the tub's overflow.

[Critters2]

2. Thanks! Good to know.

That makes sense. I am calling the plumber in the morning. Weird, all this recent plumbing. Before this, I haven't had a plumber to the house in years.

Again, thanks!

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

3. If it's the at a connection

where your sink and tub drain lines are tied in,it may be hair clog combined with other waste products. I assume yer toilet flush's ok. Or have you checked that? As a rule plumber goes into it through a clean out. Sink would be the other option.

If it were me, I would use a plunger to find out if the standing water will move down the pipes. If it does after that, I would poor some hair clog remover down the bath drain. In many cases where it is about slow drainage in the bath/shower drains, it is hair clogs.

Hair clog Remover costs about 9 or 10 bucks a gallon at hardware.That's what it's called, comes in a red bottle.Those age old rubber plungers are no good by the way. The newer plastic ones have more pressure. The cost is about 8 0r nine bucks for one of those.

OK, so if I am right, your cost of fixing it yerself is under $20.00
Those two items are good to have around the house,so why not go for it.

Again, if it were me, I would do the plunger than some hair clog remover first,before pulling out a snake.

In many cases means I run into that a lot. Call a hardware store and ask about a product called Hair Clog Remover. Or go to home depot and talk to somebody in the plumbing department about it.Tell who ever it is what I think. And have who ever it is show you the newer plungers.

Good Luck !

Reread the part about the recent plumbing you had done. How recent and what was done? Any of it have to do with drainage? And when did you notice slow drainage in your tub drain ,and was it a progressive thing ? If for example some snaking was done in a area of your drain lines, sometimes the waste is moved down the pipes and it becomes traped in a different place. In plumbers talk thats called chasing gunk in the pipes.

So if it were me, and you were telling me about it over the phone, I would want to know what was done and when before I bought the hair clog remover !


But like I said, hair clog remover is a good trhing to have around the house for bathroom sinks and bath tub/shower drains.

[Kolesar]

4. We have had good results with the hair clog remover--it is a mild acid

It is not as potent as the acid in Drano

We coat the chrome surfaces with Vaseline (R) before pouring in the hair clog remover so that the chrome does not corrode.

[Critters2]

5. Thanks! I have a parishioner who owns a "Hardware Hank" franchise.

He's very helpful to me at times like this. I walk over this afternoon and ask about these items.

Oh, and the toilet seems to be working fine. But last night and this morning I used the downstairs bathroom for everything else.

Thanks! I appreciate the help.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

6. If your toilet works fine that means the clog

is in the 1 1/2 inch or 2 " drain lines ,it one or the other. There is a T connection what connects up yer sink and tub drain lines. No doubt the blockage is at the the point of connection or further down from that. The clog is not in your main drain line, so that narrows it down.

Use the plunger in the tub drain to see if you can move some of that standing water down the pipes, if the standing water slowly drained itself ,poor the hair clog remover straight down the pipes. Use a goodly amount. Let it work for 10 or 15 minutes. Than run hot water down the drain. When the drain opens, poor a little hair clog remover down yer sink drain . A small amount will do fine.

Sometimes hair and soap scum will be trapped at the tub stopper. What we do is remove the overflow cover in yer tub than pull out the stopper and as a rule when you do that you will pull out the trapped hair clog. I always check the tub stopper after I use hair clog remover. That is because when the tub water stopper is in the up position,or drain position ,the trapped hair and soap scum is raised above the drain pipe fitting.

On this particular,it's further down the pipes because yer bath sink line is backing up.

And, if your drainage system is old ,there is another product called Drain Care, Same company makes Ten Minute Hair clog Remover ,Drain care brakes down the hard deposit build up in the pipes. You might consult yer local hardware representative on the Drain Care product. There is a procedure involved in using that particular product. Draino makes it's equivalent.

It is the same stuff a plumbing outfit would send through water lines to break down the hard deposits where it is a client would rather not re plumb a house. With the old galvanized pipes as it is, sometimes the hard deposits seal areas where deterioration happens, there the risk of springing leaks all over the place in the water lines. A plumbing outfit will determine if the age and condition of the water lines will allow for cleaning.

But that's a different thing.And you need not worry about that with your drainage problem.

Good Luck.

[Critters2]

7. Both drains are working fine, now! Thanks, everyone!

I knew I could count on DUers! That hair clog remover stuff is amazing. I'll remember that next time.

Thanks very much everybody!!