my bath tub drain has a canister on it. at he top of the canister is a nut. it looks like you can un screw the top of the canister to get inside. but it is not budging. i am turning it to the left /lefty lossy. is that right for plumbing. please help me! serious anwser only please!
2007-04-16 15:19:51 · 6 answers · asked by Mr.Gifford 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Yes, it is a lead drum trap, and was common for tub drains, about 50-60 years ago. The nut you are referring to is a clean out, but it is probably stuck with age. If you twist too much, the drum trap will break, seeing as how the whole thing is nothing more than a container made of lead. I would agree in replacing it with a new p-trap, but it will probably be more involved, and might require a plumber to install it properly. Good luck!
2007-04-16 18:35:06 · answer #1 · answered by poppyman54 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds like you have a drum trap, if it is, the thing is ANCIENT. With this in mind, I'd remove it from the plumbing and replace it with something newer. If I remember correctly, with a drum trap the water flows into the bottom inlet and out the top. You may be able to take the trap off, in this case I'd really have to see it. I'd guess it's about the size of a coffee can. It definately sounds like a trap of some sort that is not the "norm". This canister thing, if it is a drum trap, try to disconnect it at the inlet and outlet and remove it. There may be a clean out plug of some sort as well.
If there's any way you can take a picture of this I'd like to take a look at it.
2007-04-16 15:38:07 · answer #2 · answered by Brian M 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Below the bathtub drain there should be the usual U-shaped drain. That drain may be behind a wall panel or it might be in the ceiling below. If you take the bottom plug out of that drain the ring should be caught up in that u-shaped trap and should come out into a bucket that you hold underneath the opening of the plug.
Twisting left (counter clockwise) should open the part you are turning but that is the hard way. I think the ring is further down than that and you need to go for the trap instead.
2007-04-16 15:26:51 · answer #3 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your doing it right. Lefty unscrewing is ok. The only parts in plumbing that can be righty unscrewing are moving parts like valves,... I dont know if your trying to unscrew a plastic cap or the bolt on top thow. If you want to unscrew the cap, you'll probably need to unscrew the bolt first. When your done, if you cant manage to see your ring, you could maybe try to catch it with a magnet on the end of a rod, depending of what material your ring is made of. Good luck!
2007-04-16 15:34:31 · answer #4 · answered by Richie Gonzales 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This sounds like a "drum trap". Remove it (using a sawzall or angle grinder if you have room) then plumb back in a regular p-trap. Even if you can get the cover off most of the time they leak if you can get them back together. "Oh"... Don't forget to get your ring.
2007-04-16 16:10:41 · answer #5 · answered by HEART ATTACK 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it is metal close the drain and try again may need pliers to turn it . If it looks like plastic pull up an turn.
2007-04-16 15:30:48 · answer #6 · answered by Chris C 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋