Is the bathtub over a crawlspace or open basement? If so, you could remove part of the drain and check for obstruction.

Do you have a level stopper that mounts on the tub? If so, remove that and see if you can pull it out. There might be a set up gob of epoxy & hair.

Post pictures so we can see what you have.

Hi-

Photos are attached.

There's certainly not a crawlspace and though I live on the ground floor of an apartment building, I'm pretty sure there's not an open basement with access to it. The level stopper faceplate and assembly I removed already for the procedure and bought a new set that I plan to install (although moot at the moment I guess). I buzz my head down to almost bald so I'd imagine that any hair in it would be minimal. Am I screwed? Thank you. I really appreciate any advice.

After my posting last night I tried the following:

1. I bailed out all water and using my wet handvac managed to get it down into the drain.
2. I poured about 6 oz of acetone and let it sit for an hour. It either evaporated or managed to drain.
3. Since heat is also a manufacturer-recommended method of cleanup, I boiled water and did the same.
4. The hot water sat for about 10 minutes and then using the curved end of the old level stopper rod, I fished it down to see if I was able to clear anything. It seems to move about pretty freely though. The remaining water seems to have drained somewhat and the rest I just vacuumed out again.

Could be bound up with hard water deposits. Have you tried poking thru the gob with an old screwdriver? Be careful because you don't want to puncture the drain pipe.

Couture Vert: It's very thick epoxy. It's poured and scooped and poured and leveled and then left to set. I sealed the drain with duct tape until it cured enough to have no further movement. The tape was still quite secured on removal. There doesn't visually seem to be anything obstructing or built up, so it doesn't make logical sense to me that it would randomly have done so out of visual range.

ci_lantro: I considered that -- I'm not able to conceptualize, even with that middle crossbar removed (I ordered a removal tool), how would I get a screwdriver in there at such a sharp angle with less than 2" between surface level and the visible bottom?

I've ordered the following items from Amazon which are due on Sunday:Goof Off Super Glue Remover, denatured alcohol (both of which are said to dissolve epoxy), and the dumbbell drain removal tool. In my toolset now, I have a drain snake (auger I believe they're called(?)) and heat gun.

Now that I'm researching I realize I may have been incorrect about the crawlspace. What do you think would be the likelihood of a Jersey City 3 floor, 2 apartments per floor building having underneath-tub access? Also ci_lantro please let me know about the screwdriver dilemma I mentioned in the last post. Thank you so much you guys! I'm really desperate at this point.

Have you tried a plumber's snake thru the overflow opening?

I haven't - I assumed the stuff wouldnt have made it down far enough. I'll give it a shot now though. Please tell me more about the screwdriver idea though if you're able to think of a way Id get it down there.

I was thinking the obstruction was right below that cross piece in the drain because it looks kinda' white in the photo. Since that isn't the case, the screwdriver idea is no good.

Do you have hard water? Problems with minerals accumulating? How long have you lived there?

(Hard water deposits & long hair--previous occupant?)

My laundry sink kept getting more & more sluggish. When I took the drain pieces apart, I was flat out amazed at how much hard water deposits had obstructed the pipe---close to 50% blocked. I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. And my water isn't super hard, either.

I've been here since '05 and my hair's been no longer than 1/4" since I've been here. I honestly don't know about hard water but I've not really experienced any issues with clogs other than the occasional toilet.

I snaked the overflow and got it down about 28" till it stops. No amount of turning makes it go further and I can hear something that sounds like a flap (or like a faint version of how flipping the switch of the overflow sounds).

Do you think perhaps a bent wire coat hanger might make it through? I don't believe I need to get it in any further than like 4" from the visible area.

Actually I just thought of my wire fish tape and am completely baffled now. I managed to get 28" of that into the drain itself with no problem and hear the same flap that I do from the overflow. So if that's the case please- should it not be draining?

Video attached: Fish tape test

time to call a good plumber.....

I agree; plumber time. I can't imagine that the epoxy is the problem. You had the drain covered and the drain is clear part of the way. Something else is going on. I think it is a coincidence that the drain plugged up just when you refinished the tub. No good deed goes unpunished, as they say.

Do check in & let us know when the mystery gets solved. I hate cliffhangers!

Perhaps you plugged the upper hole, which is a vent in addition to an overflow. Or perhaps your plumbing system has a vent problem elsewhere. Drains slow down if not vented correctly.

Since this post is from 2020, I would imagine he has had it repaired by now.