I am a little embarrassed, but today I flooded my own bathroom. I was drawing a bath, got distracted and when I got back my bathroom was half converted to a pool. I like swimming much as the next guy just not when I am sitting on the potty. Pulled the plug and the overflow cover to drain and everything drained down fast. There is no blockage, and the over flow drain works great with the cover off.

I thought that perhaps it was that the threaded end of the pvc of the overflow was too close to the cover and not allowing water to flow freely in between so I trimmed the pvc a bit. Nope still didn’t drain with the cover on. Now I think that the way the cover is designed is making a pocket of air that pushes against the water.

Now before anyone says anything about how a vent properly placed wouldn’t allow for that, this is a 1940’s farm house and I am sure proper venting meant something very different. What I need is a snap on cover for a tub drain that allows for more free flow of air I think, but that is my best guess.

Any thoughts or product suggestions?

? drill a 'small' hole at the 'top' of the overflow cover to act as a vent ?

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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

I thought of drilling a small hole, but even though I think it would work, and I could deburr any sharp edges I just hate the way it looks even in my head.

I took the easy road turned the trim cover for the overflow sideways with the open end facing inwards toward the tub surround. I don’t like that either, like putting in a faucet sideways, it just bugs me, but now the overflow is functional.

I wish Watco made a replacement cover with a fast drain design with slats or something especially when a tub goes into an older home that would be really smart, but unless I want start cutting into it this appears to be the best option, but I can’t be the only one this has happened too.

I wonder if the same issue would happen in a horizontal wet vent in the bathroom. That is legal in my neck of the woods... that would be a bad day for some apartment owners.

the only place an overflow can come out in the piping is a low point trap.
yeah it can come out at the toilet seal bi it's not supposed to leak there.

if the cover is 'typical' you could cut a small notch on the top 'back' edge which butts against the tub

a hacksaw cut 1/16 - 3/32 would suffice


it would be virtually invisible

OR

if you have a one hole overflow cover:



[www.plumbingsupply.com]

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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638



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