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Impossible clog--pebbles stuck in bathtub drain

For the Home-Owner faced with minor plumbing problems at home and willing to try his/her hand at fixing it before calling in the professional Plumber.

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Impossible clog--pebbles stuck in bathtub drain

Postby Keitaro » Fri Jan 22, 2010 5:13 pm

Okay, so I have a rather...interesting situation on my hands. There is a fish tank that's used to house my turtle. Cleaning it one day, a friend and I accidentally spilled it and caused the pebbles from the bottom to fall in to the tub, ultimately ending up down the drain. Obviously herein lies the problem.

Initial attempts at plunging were able to pull some of them up, however I fear we may have now pushed them down in to the p-trap--something I cannot access as I live in both an apartment and on the second floor, no less. The drain almost always clogs now and we have to wait for the water to ultimately either evaporate or seep through the pebbles--I'm not sure which is actually happening, to empty out.

I've tried snaking--both the drain itself and that little overflow...thing (you can tell I know my terminology!), and that didn't quite do much...in fact I think I might be hitting the pebbles since I can only get the snake in so far before it refuses to go any further, and I get the feeling it should be going much further. We've tried draino to attempt to disolve the stones (...it sounded like a good idea at the time), and someone has even recomended I use baking soda and vinegar to force the pebbles up (something I'm a bit adamant about doing, since I wouldn't want my pipes to explode...or would it be safe?)...kind of at my wit's end here. I even went to home depot to see if some kind of magical drain-vacuuming device existed in their rental sections (it did not)...basically the maintanence guy at the apartment has been more than generous with me, as he's giving me a chance to alleviate this on my own before having to resort to charging me $75-100 to have to go in there and do this himself (more than likely the hard way)..

Again I'm at my wit's end here, so any and all advice would be appreciated. Thanks a bajillion in advance!
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Re: Impossible clog--pebbles stuck in bathtub drain

Postby Sylvan Tieger » Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:19 am

Very easy to unstop pebbles and NO CHEMICALS will work Snaking is USELESS

Sometimes the simple seems to be the best fix.

Go to Sears buy the WET DRY for $99 4-5 HP put a rag in the over flow (big enough so it doesnt get sucked in) the from the waste outles use the WET DRY to suck out all the pebbles TA DUMMMMMMMMMM

You just saved a $175 service call plus you get to keep the wet dry :roll: :shock:
S. Tieger plumbing Co Inc.
Bronx , New York 10471
718 601 6299
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