Possible to convert old tub from 1.5" drain to 2"?

[mrg80]

Hi, I've recently renovated a 110 year old 3 unit home back to livable conditions. One of the few things I was able to retain was an old 1st floor bathtub with marble tile surround. The tub appeared to be ok, but we're having a lot of drain issues now. The tenants (girls with long hair) have been using a hair screen and I've cleaned the trap a few times from the basement, but the water flow is now terrible no matter what we do. I can't seem to even get a snake through that part of the drain from above or below.

My GC has been a lot of help for quite a few things, but he's a little skeptical that they can replace the old drain, which is solid metal, and they've been pretty unresponsive about this issue. I'm wondering if there's any way to get parts to convert a 1.5 inch drain to a 2 inch drain. I'm guessing that the diameter of the drain in the bottom of the tub would be smaller. I wish I had gutted this part as well, but it's a little difficult with tenants living there now.

Any ideas on where to get the parts to convert or anything else to try would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to do a lot of the work on my own, but it's a big change dealing with 100+ year east coast old homes instead of 10 year old homes out west.

Thanks.

 

[Smooky]

What type of trap does it have that you can clean from the basement? Did you snake through the drain or the tub over flow? What type of stopper does it have?

http://www.plumbingsupply.com/how-to-remove-a-tub-drain-stopper.html

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Toolaholic]

I'm also a welder , If it's cast iron ,I'd use My mag drill with My 2 " annular cutter ,or what ever size I needed. Marble or
cement , I'd use My diamond core bitts.

 

[mrg80]

Smooky, The trap is in some new plumbing they ran from the drain assembly. I tried snaking from the drain and from below, but I could try to get the over flow off. Not sure about the stopper...the top is long gone and it's more of a hole. Sorry, probably not much helpful info.

Toolaholic, are you saying this just to suggest how I'd get the old stuff off?

 

[Toolaholic]

Smooky, The trap is in some new plumbing they ran from the drain assembly. I tried snaking from the drain and from below, but I could try to get the over flow off. Not sure about the stopper...the top is long gone and it's more of a hole. Sorry, probably not much helpful info.

Toolaholic, are you saying this just to suggest how I'd get the old stuff off?

This is to enlarge the drain hole in the tub. Try snaking down from the roof vent. Good luck We need a picture of the tub drain from above the tub !

 

[hj]

A larger drain, if you could even find one, would NOT help your situation. BUT, I would have to see your situation in order to tell you how to minimize it. I, personally, think you are trying to snake the drain improperly, otherwise you would not have any problems.

 

[Asktom]

I agree with HJ. The problem is a clogged drain, and you won't find a larger tub drain. Ask your friends if they can recommend a good drain cleaning company.

 

[Smooky]

The best way to snake a tub is through the overflow. Some overflows have a linkage and stopper mechanism that would need to be removed. Sometimes the linkage mechanism needs adjustment. If the stopper hangs too low the tub will drain very slow and may clog up more quickly. The link I provided has some of this information. The drain hole and strainer may need cleaning too. I always clean out both when I am doing it.

Tub drain with out the linkage mechanism

http://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/mnt-plumbing-bdwunv45.jpg

Trip Lever Plunger Style Stopper with linkage

http://www.plumbingsupply.com/watco-bathtub-drains-and-replacement-parts.html

 

[mrg80]

For some reason the forums will no longer load in Firefox. I thought the site was down, but got it to work in internet explorer.

Here's some pictures. I can't get anything from above, as the main drainage pipe runs through the entire house. If it's critical, I'll have to get into the attic when my 3f tenants won't be indisposed and try to see what's up on the roof. Everything goes to the main drainpipe and there's no drain issues in any of the upper floors. I will try to snake through the overflow, as you suggest Smooky. What I've been trying to do is get a snake all the way through the piece under the tub, which hasn't been working. Everything from the trap and over to the main drain is new. The main drain is obviously quite old - I actually had to have a chunk of it replaced recently due to a leak.