Replies

1. 
   john7g | Oct 12, 2006 09:36pm | #1

   You could drill a small hole through the side of the nut and wire it to something stationary (ala aircraft safety wiring).

1. 
   user-144543 | Oct 12, 2006 09:46pm | #2

   Thats actually not a bad idea. I will look at the nut to see if theres enough lip to do it with. Its pretty funny though. I had an old jeep along time ago and had to do the same thing with a loose steering column. I used aircraft wire to keep it tight. Thanks, Jon

2. 
   BigBill | Oct 12, 2006 09:52pm | #3

   Put in a glued together P trap.  For a non accessable area it may be code to have a glued together trap (You would have to check your local codes)

3. 
   DanH | Oct 13, 2006 12:51am | #4

   If the P-trap is working loose, it's because something's moving. It may be the pipes in the wall moving up and down, it may be an adjacent toilet rocking, or it may be the tub itself bouncing due to poor support. Figure out what it is and see if you can correct the problem.

   If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
4. 
   UncleDunc | Oct 13, 2006 01:48am | #5

   If I couldn't figure out a permanent fix, I would at least put a tastefully trimmed access hatch in the ceiling.

1. 
   DanH | Oct 13, 2006 03:05am | #6

   I was thinking that's probably a good way to guarantee it'll never leak again.
   If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison

5. 
   ned44 | Oct 13, 2006 03:15am | #7

   if you have slip fittings by code you have to have an access hole.why not just get ABS fittings and glue them up. there is a glue that can be used to glue ABS to PVC if necessary.

1. 
   user-144543 | Oct 13, 2006 04:26am | #9

   Could I not just use PVC cement on the slip fitting just as well? I like the idea of the hockey tape too.

1. 
   Pierre1 | Oct 13, 2006 06:43am | #10

   The cement would likely set up before you had the two trap parts tightened all the way. 

2. 
   moltenmetal | Oct 13, 2006 02:22pm | #11

   Dunno about the PVC fittings- we don't use that stuff around here except for drainage.  But on the ABS fittings, the nuts are polyethylene- glue won't touch them.

   I'd figure out what's vibrating this thing loose and fix that- urgently.  If it's not the trap, it'll be something else that fails later, probably somewhere much less easy to fix than your trap.

6. 
   Dinosaur | Oct 13, 2006 03:49am | #8

   Wrap two layers of hockey tape around the joint and for a couple of inches above and below it. The nut will not turn until you take the tape back off again.

   But do as Dan suggested first and figure out why it's working loose. It's not supposed to do that.

   Dinosaur

   How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
   low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
   foolish men call Justice....
   

   

7. 
   plumbbill | Oct 13, 2006 02:29pm | #12

   As someone posted if you have "SJ" fittings (slip joint) they must be accessible.

   Most pvc glue will glue abs to pvc, although that is not legal, must have a "transition" coupling.

   Gluing your current "p" trap as someone posted will probably set before completely together then yer screwed.

   When asked why is there four engines on a 747------ "cause we couldn't fit six" a Boeing engineer

8. 
   bricky | Oct 13, 2006 04:41pm | #13

   Dan h is right you have to remove tub then set in wet cement to stabilize it

1. 
   DanH | Oct 13, 2006 05:10pm | #14

   Well, I didn't say that. If the tub is moving probably some bracing can be installed from below to stabilize it.
   If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison

1. 
   bricky | Oct 13, 2006 05:14pm | #15

   How can you brace a tub from below? theres a floor there

1. 
   DanH | Oct 13, 2006 06:09pm | #17

   Yeah, and he's opened up the ceiling, and can see some of the tub bottom through the opening for the drain.First off, a very likely scenario is that a joist was cut to install the plumbing, and fixing that problem somehow would rectify the situation. Next, if the problem is floor bounce, sistering the joists or installing bridging would likely help. Finally, if the problem is that the tub bottom itself is moving up and down, bracing it through the (possibly enlarged) drain opening would prevent movement of the trap.

   If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison

9. 
   Shacko | Oct 13, 2006 05:30pm | #16

   Agree with BigBill, use a glue trap. Do not mix ABS+PVC together. Universal glues have been banned where I work, [The N.E.] for many years; they will leak. If you use a glue trap the only nut you will have will be accessable on the back side of the tub, not the ceiling. You should have a access panel there anyway. Lots of luck.

   .....................................................................
   "If all else fails, read the directions"
1. 
   BillHartmann | Oct 13, 2006 08:48pm | #18

   " Universal glues have been banned where I work, [The N.E.] for many years; they will leak. "That is the wrong type of glue.Universal will work on either ABS or PVC, but it is not designed for use on a combination.However, there is a TRANSISTION adhesive that is speced for that purpose. But IIRC you are only suppose to have one per house.Of coure there are the rubber (fernco, mission) type of couplings that can be used.

1. 
   Shacko | Oct 13, 2006 09:18pm | #19

   Sorry Bill, I guess that I wasn't clear on my post, what I was trying to say is you can't mix the material with universal glue. My bad.