Indoor plumbing is so common in North America now that it’s easy to forget that people were without it for most of human history. It’s actually an advanced technology something you should really appreciate, but it’s also something to respect and show deference to.
There are professional plumbing services near you that can efficiently take on complicated repairs to get your sinks and showers back up and running properly. But there are some smaller fixes that you can do on your own. Be careful, and don’t hesitate to call a professional plumber if your confidence ever dips. But here are some tips so that if you accidentally drop something down the sink, you can get it back yourself.
Stay Calm, it’s Not Lost
Sometimes a small and valuable item manages to squeak down the sink — maybe a stone from a ring or something tiny enough to fit through the drain stopper. Thankfully, even if it does get there, it isn’t gone for good. Don’t freak out!
Turn Off the Water
First, turn the water off. Do this as soon as you possibly can. If there’s anything stored underneath your sink basin, move it away so you have room by the pipes to operate. Then, place a bucket underneath the pipes.
P-Trap
Next, locate the “P-trap,” the section of piping under the faucet. It gets this name because of its resemblance to the letter “P.” The P-trap has three parts: the section of pipe connected directly to the basin, the curved “u” overflow pipe, and another pipe connecting directly to the sewer line.
The overflow pipe is what contains a water seal system that performs an important function: it lets water flow down the sink, but prevents sewer gas from entering your bathroom. It also is where whatever you dropped down the drain is likely to be.
Remove Drain Plug
Before emptying the overflow pipe you’ll need to remove the drain plug. This refers to the nut on the backside of the vertical pipe above the overflow pipe. Turn the retaining nut counter-clockwise.
Loosen the Slip Nuts
At this stage, you may be able to get access to the drain and find the lost item among the pipe’s griminess with a grasping tool. If so, good! Put the drain plug back in and you’re set.
If not, wearing a mask and rubber gloves, loosen the slip nuts at either end of the “u” shaped pipe, so that it can be removed completely. Be careful to do this work over the bucket, as brackish water could ooze out.
Spill the water in the pipe into the bucket: whatever you dropped down the drain should be in there. Rinse out the overflow pipe to prevent future blockages, and screw it back in. After you’re finished, make sure nothing is leaking out of your pipes.
If you’re downtown and have more complex problems requiring professional plumbers with gizmos like pipe cams visible on an iPad, there are companies offering such services at budget-friendly prices. But relatively small jobs like retrieving a lost item down the drain is something everyone can do on their own, so long as they’re careful and follow the above steps.