What to do with Bathtubs that Won’t Drain
As one of the most used plumbing fixtures in the home, a bathtub that won’t drain can be a very frustrating experience. Common causes of a clogged bathtub drain are hair, soapy sediment, and cleaning products that accumulate in the drain. A clogged bathtub drain will affect everyone in the household. Fortunately, there are number of things a homeowner can do to clear a clogged bathtub drain.
The following is a list of tips to fixing a bathtub that won’t drain:
1. Most clogs begin in the strainer. The first thing you can do is check the strainer on the drain if you have one. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws and clear out any accumulated hair and debris. Once complete, run the water to see if the problem is resolved.
2. You can use a plunger to unclog the bathtub. Fill the tub with water high enough so that the head of the plunger will be submerged in the water. Place the lip of the plunger head over the drain hole. Using forceful thrusts push on the plunger. Repeatedly plunge until you clear the clog and then run hot water through the drain to see if you cleared the clog and the water is continuously running through the pipes.
3. Pour a drain cleaner in the bathtub drain. There are chemical drain cleaners on the market, however, some cleaners are corrosive and can damage the pipes. There are natural drain cleaners on the market that will clear a clog without harming the septic system. You can also make a homemade drain cleaner that consists of pouring a half cup of white vinegar and a half cup of baking soda. If it is a tough clog, it may have to sit overnight. After sitting, run hot water through the plumbing system to clear out any loosened and broken up debris.
4. Using a manual snake is effective at clearing a stubborn bathtub drain clog. First, use a screwdriver to remove the screws that are securing the trip lever face plate. Pull the face plate forward (towards you) and take out the drain stop. Then, unscrew and take out the bathtub drain grate. Feed the snake with the auger head going in first. Feed the snake through the drain system until you reach the blockage. Manipulate the snake so that you are grasping and loosening the clog. Push the snake auger head through the clog. Then, retract the snake and pull the clog out. Once you have the clog removed, run the faucet with hot water to get rid of any remaining pieces of debris.
The method you choose to clear a bathtub drain depends on your personal preference and the nature of the clog. With a little ‘know how,’ clearing clog bathtub drains can be quite easy, however, if you have tried all methods and your bathtub still won’t drain, you should call a professional plumber who will have the skills and knowledge to find the cause of the problem and make the repair.
A Few Thoughts On Crown Molding
Every woodworking novice is very likely to find the installing of crown molding quite intimidating. Crown molding is a lot more complicated than simple joinery projects. Yes, joining crown molding takes some skill and some practice. The slightest mistake screams out for everyone to notice. However, it is not as difficult as you may believe. Good techniques and the right tools is all you need to achieve the perfect crown molding.
Perfect angles – the way to perfect crown molding.
Where crown molding is concerned, there isn’t a task more significant than the cutting. When doing the cutting, you must be extremely accurate in angle as well as length. The wider the molding, the more important it is for you to get the precise angle. If fitting wider molding, the slightest error in angle cut ends up in a clear continuity break when the pieces are joined.
Cutting crown molding is not like cutting a picture frame where you can just make a flat cut against the miter saw. If you want a perfect cutting of your molding, there are two techniques that you can use. A compound cut will do the trick, but only if you don’t miscalculate the setting of your miter and saw blade. The blade makes a beveled cut by being tilted while the miter cut is made with the saw fence set to an angle. This technique will allow you to lay the molding carefully while cutting.
How to calculate the perfect angle for your molding cuts:
Some basic math is required for you to make the right cuts with the compound cutting technique. But even if you’re not good at math, you can always find a graph that corresponds to the crown molding you want. Some cuts are so commonly used, that you can even buy a saw with specific markings for the corner cut you need. The marks should be at 33.9 for the bevel setting and 31.6 for the miter setting.
The “Upside Down” technique is another equally successful method employed in cutting the crown molding. Most carpenters who do a lot of trim cutting feel this is the easier and the most effective technique. Using this method, the cutting is done by holding the mold in the place it will take when installation is complete. In order to achieve that, all you need to do is turn the molding upside down in such way that the ceiling rests of the saw bed can meet the molding’s edge. Also, the fence of the saw sustaining the wall rests will need to be set right against the molding. After you’ve finished setting all this in place and made sure that the blade and the saw bed meet perpendicularly, perform a 45 degree cut. Adjusting angles is a much easier task thanks to this method.
