So if you are someone with clumsy hands, a small bathroom counter, or a lost item down a sink drain, then this blog is for you! Continue reading to learn an easy method to retrieving lost items that have fallen into drain pipe abyss.
Professional Drain Retrieval Services
We only lead with this because there is no shame in calling a plumber for help with retrieving lost items in your sink drain. Even if you could do the task on your own, sometimes it is more efficient to let a professional manage the problem for you. They retain the proper tools and knowledge, and of course hands-on experience, which allows them to get the job done quickly and safely. This way, you won’t have to worry about accidentally damaging or jeopardizing your home’s plumbing system in any way, and you can avoid the trouble you would experience in the case that you run into larger plumbing problems as you open up your drains and dive into the process.
But if you are confident that you are equipped and capable of doing it on your own, you should still consider contacting a local licensed Indianapolis plumber for free plumbing drain advice. Trusted and honest plumbers will happily provide free advice upon request.
What You’ll Need:
• Slip/Lock Nut Wrench
• Rubber Gloves
• Old Bath Towel
• Flashlight
• A Partner (optional)
Getting Started:
Locate the water valve under the sink and turn it clockwise to shut off the water supply. You may need to use your wrench to turn it. If you cannot turn it manually, try your main water shut-off valve for the whole home.
Clear out all the items from under your sink. Place your old towel under the sink pipes to control any leakage or mess.
Locate the pipe catch. Also called the “P trap”, “J bend”, “J pipe”, or U valve”, this pipe piece is curved and has two slip nuts at each end. Since this part of the sink piping is bent, most lost items are found there.
Note: In the picture above, you can clearly identify both the slip nuts and the pipe catch. The wrench is on the vertical slip nut, and the hand is on the pipe catch.
Remove the pipe catch. To do so, loosen the slip nuts by turning them counter-clockwise, either with your hands or your wrench.
When opening plumbing valves, it is helpful to remember the popular phrase, “Lefty-Loosey, Righty-Tighty”, which means counter-clockwise opens and clockwise closes.
Once you have the pipe catch off, you can inspect the contents inside to look for your lost item. Depending on how clean your pipes are, there could be a lot of gunk and bacteria inside. So be sure to wear your rubber gloves for safety, and use your flashlight for a better view.
If you found your item, then congratulations! If you did not find it, then you at least put in the effort to find out whether or not your item was still there. And for that, great job! Now move on to the last step.
Reattach the pipe catch by holding it in place and turning the slip nuts clockwise. You may need a partner to assist you with this step. This can be anyone capable of holding the pipe catch in place, so feel free to appoint your inquisitive 3 year old for help! What a great learning experience!
Be sure to catch next week’s blog for a guide to retrieving lost items in the shower drain!