Bath u bend/trap problem

[StainlessSteelCat]

Have bath fitted with shallow trap. It got blocked about 3-4 months ago (too many hairies in this house) and when immac/soda crystals filed to shift it, I took off the bath panel and tried to take off the trap. The screw connection at the bath end of it undid OK, but I can't shift the one at the other end. And I couldn't reach in far enough to move the hairball and obstruction, so I used a coat hanger. And the coat hanger got stuck. Really properly stuck. Eventually we gave up trying to pull it out, I cut off the end and did up the trap again.

So to today. Bath not emptying again, immac not solving problem, so I have taken the bath panel off and fished out the hair ball wrapped around the wire in the trap - I was expecting this to be a problem, but was hoping it wouldn't happen so fast. I still can't shift the fixing that was stuck before, nor can pull out the end of the coat hanger.

I don't want to have to pull off the bath panel every 3-4 months, I need to fix the coat hanger problem - what are my options? I tried running hot water thought the trap to warm it up, hoping that might soften it enough to pull it out, but no joy. I've considered filling the trap with something acidic to rust the wire enough to weaken it to pull it out, but I used a plastic coated hanger, if I manage to get through that I think I might get through the trap as well

I've tried various ways to get more purchase on the screw of the fixing in order to move it, but nothing has worked - I've ended up rotating the length of black pipe that leads outside, and I pretty certain that is a bad thing to do. My last thought was to use a hacksaw to cut through the black pipe and replace the whole trap and joint in a new piece of pipe. Is this the sort of job and enthusiastic but slightly haphazard inexperienced person should try? I'm not sure how accurate my pipe cutting would have to be and I tend to dive into jobs without thinking them through, causing more problems (like this).

Any more ideas? Please solve my problem, even though I made it myself!

tldr: small length of plastic coated wire coat hanger stuck inside stuck bath trap. Help!

[PeterParkerSays]

My suggestions would be - try drain clearer, proper Mr Muscle type stuff to clear the hair, rather than immac. Try heating the screw fitting with a hair drier so it loosens more easily and might unscrew for you.

[PigletJohn]

If you undo the screw in the centre of the plughole you can pull the trap downward.

Before reassembling clean all dirt, scale and hairs off the mating surfaces and plastic washer.

[StainlessSteelCat]

Hair dryer! Right, off to try that, thanks

Might have to try weekly dose of something vicious to keep it clear, might have side effect of eating through the wire as well (always hopeful!)

[PeterParkerSays]

From now on, step away from the hacksaw - if you want that pipe replacing get in a plumber to do it, you really don't want ill-fitting pipes leaking on you, and keep your hangers in your wardrobe from here on in...

[StainlessSteelCat]

PigletJohn - I can undo the screw joint at the top of the trap, it's the one joining the horizontal end of the trap to the black waste pipe that won't budge :(

PeterParker - I tried the hair dryer. Got a face full of dust. Then a better angle of attack, and warmed it up, but still no budging the bugger. And I tend to agree with you, after the coat hanger and hair dryer, I'm probably best kept away from plumbing. I'll have a look for something noxious to try and keep the pipe clear longer, though with multiple long haired users and a cunningly placed wire for them to wrap around, I might be on a hiding to nothing. Or a call to a plumber

[Tubularbells]

www.lakeland.co.uk/23108/Oxo-Good-Grips®-Plug-Guard

Try mr muscle then stop hairs going down the plug from now on.