Tub Drain Snake Broke Off

July 27, 2018, 05:39 PM

Kevmo

Tub Drain Snake Broke Off - Advice Needed

My wife was suing one of those long plastic "Zip It" hair and crud extractors in the tub drain and quite successfully I might ad until about 4" of it broke off in the depths of the drain.

I have no access to this tubs trap without tearing out a wall and cannot see it.

I tried fishing a little with the remaining part but no dice.

The drain seems to be flowing nornally so I guess my question of this....Do I leave it and hope fr the best or dump some drain-o down there?

July 27, 2018, 05:46 PM

arcwelder

Draino and other "drain clearing" chemicals are never a good idea.

Drain flowing? That's good.

My advice, boil a kettle of water.

Start the tap into the bath, hot water. Pour white wine vinegar down.

When the kettle boils, pour that down the drain as well.

The main problem with drains is actually fat/oils. The hair and other mechanical clogs are problems, but stoppages happen due to the combination.

The boiling water will do more to just about any clog than any chemical treatment.

Run the hot water for a while after the boiling.

Do this every once in a while, and you'll seldom get a clogged drain.

July 27, 2018, 05:55 PM

Kevmo

quote:
Originally posted by arcwelder76:
Draino and other "drain clearing" chemicals are never a good idea.

Drain flowing? That's good.

My advice, boil a kettle of water.

Start the tap into the bath, hot water. Pour white wine vinegar down.

When the kettle boils, pour that down the drain as well.

The main problem with drains is actually fat/oils. The hair and other mechanical clogs are problems, but stoppages happen due to the combination.

The boiling water will do more to just about any clog than any chemical treatment.

Run the hot water for a while after the boiling.

Do this every once in a while, and you'll seldom get a clogged drain.

Thanks...like I said, drain appears to be flowing normally and best I can tell it was a 4" strip of plastic so I am hoping it either will or has made its way to main line.

As far as fats and oils...yup, I share mu house with wife and daughter, both with long hair and they use lots of "product" so the level of easy my wife fished out prior to this breaking was disgusting

July 27, 2018, 06:21 PM

BigWhup

I wouldn't worry about it til it became a problem. Damned sure wouldn't tear out a wall just yet.

July 27, 2018, 06:37 PM

Kevmo

I just tried fishing around with a coat hanger wire and was not able to "feel" it so I am assuming I might have gotten lucky and it flushed through to main line

July 27, 2018, 06:56 PM

SSgt USMC/Vet

Why not wait til drain runs slow again then buy another and hope if still in trap the hair is tangled in it and pull it out with the hair caught in the new snake.

July 27, 2018, 06:58 PM

darthfuster

quote:
Originally posted by SSgt USMC/Vet:
Why not wait til drain runs slow again then buy another and hope if still in trap the hair is tangled in it and pull it out with the hair caught in the new snake.

I would do this

July 27, 2018, 06:59 PM

Sgt Neutron

I got something similar to this about 25 years ago when a friend dropped my truck keys into the stake bed pocket on my truck(we were near an auto parts store). It's been worth its weight in gold since then. Might work to reach into the drain and pluck any obstruction out:

https://www.amazon.com/X-Long-...0_QL70_&dpSrc=detail

July 27, 2018, 07:26 PM

Jimbo54

quote:
Originally posted by Sgt Neutron:
I got something similar to this about 25 years ago when a friend dropped my truck keys into the stake bed pocket on my truck(we were near an auto parts store). It's been worth its weight in gold since then. Might work to reach into the drain and pluck any obstruction out:

https://www.amazon.com/X-Long-...0_QL70_&dpSrc=detail

^^^^This.

The one I have is only about 20" as apposed to 36" and is handier than you can imagine.

Jim

July 27, 2018, 07:49 PM

Nismo

quote:
Originally posted by Sgt Neutron:
I got something similar to this about 25 years ago when a friend dropped my truck keys into the stake bed pocket on my truck(we were near an auto parts store). It's been worth its weight in gold since then. Might work to reach into the drain and pluck any obstruction out:

https://www.amazon.com/X-Long-...0_QL70_&dpSrc=detail

Those also work wonders in the garage for fishing out bolts and nuts that were dropped down in the engine somewhere, and when a magnet would not get to since it would stick to everthing.

July 27, 2018, 09:08 PM

cas

For the future... you clean tub lines through the trip leaver, not through the drain. Two less bends.

July 28, 2018, 08:14 AM

Kevmo

quote:
Originally posted by Nismo:
quote:
Originally posted by Sgt Neutron:
I got something similar to this about 25 years ago when a friend dropped my truck keys into the stake bed pocket on my truck(we were near an auto parts store). It's been worth its weight in gold since then. Might work to reach into the drain and pluck any obstruction out:

https://www.amazon.com/X-Long-...0_QL70_&dpSrc=detail

Those also work wonders in the garage for fishing out bolts and nuts that were dropped down in the engine somewhere, and when a magnet would not get to since it would stick to everthing.

This seems like a great idea and for 6 bucks it will be a handy things to have around even if it doesn't work.

Like I said yesterday, train is working fine so if this cant reach it then I will wait for next round of hair and goo

July 28, 2018, 08:50 AM

Jimineer

I use one of these auger/snakes every month or two in our shower to fish out a big lump of hair. It’s the only thing that works. But I think I’ll try the boiling water today to cleanup some soap scum that the snake doesn’t help with.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hu...82-972-111/301879203