The Do’s and Don’ts of Rescuing Something You Dropped Down the Sink Drain. Sometimes it just happens. You’re doing some work at the kitchen sink and something valuable – a wedding band or earring – drops into the sink drain. If this happens, you are not only in danger of losing your valued possession, there is also a risk that the object will block the drain, warns SGI Management. What should you do when this happens?
The item is not irretrievably lost, but it could be if you don’t act fast. You have the option of calling a professional plumber or trying to get the object out by yourself. Most objects that drop into a sink drain lodge themselves inside the P-trap and it is possible to retrieve them if you know how.
Whether you decide to do it yourself or call a plumber, there are steps you should take to keep the situation from getting worse. Below are the things you should do and not do when trying to recover a valuable item you accidentally dropped down the sink drain.
What to do and not do when you drop something down the sink drain
Turn the water off
The first thing is to turn the faucet off. If you let the water run, it could push the object further down the plumbing system. Secondly, a large enough object could block the drain and result in flooding. If you are unable to turn off the water at the faucet, use the shut-off valve.
Do not put anything else down the drain
You may be tempted to stick something down the drain – say, a coat hanger – to try and rescue the object. Do not do this! This could push the object deeper into the drain. The only time you should attempt this is if the object is clearly visible.
Get ready for some dirty work
The next step will involve your coming into contact with a lot of grimy stuff. If you can’t deal with that, this might be the time to call a professional plumber. But if you have no problems handling smelly sludge, proceed to the next steps.
Protect your home and yourself
Get a bucket and position it under the sink, specifically under the P-trap (if you don’t know what this is, the explanation is further down). The bucket will catch water and help you prevent a mess. Also, put on rubber gloves and get a face mask (so you don’t have to breathe the bad smell).
Remove the drain plug
To do this, pull on the plunger behind the faucet (to close the sink plug), look for a horizontal pivot arm under the sink (a metal rod attached to the plug), unscrew the nut on the shorter end of it, by going counterclockwise, disconnect the rod from the plunger, pull the rod straight back to release the drain plug, and pull the plug out of the drain hole in your sink.
Retrieve the object
If the item is lodged at the bottom of the drain plug, you can simply reach into the drain plug with a pair of pliers or a magnet to get it out. If the item is not in the drain plug, go to the next step.
Locate the P-Trap
If you didn’t find the object in the drain plug, it is likely going to be in the P-trap. This is the section of piping located directly under the drain and it looks like the letter P, hence the name. The P-trap has a U-shaped section where the item is probably lodged.
Dismantle the P-trap
Before dismantling the P-trap, make sure you still have the bucket in position. Loosen the two slip nuts around the pipe bend, pull it away from the tailpiece, and gently pry it loose from the sink. If your P-trap does not have slip nuts, it must be cut open and you need a plumber for that.
Empty the P-trap
Dump the contents of the P-trap into a bucket and look for the lost item in the sludge. This is the part where the rubber gloves and face mask really come in handy. If you find the item, reassemble the P-trap by doing the process in reverse. But if you did not find it, all hope is not lost.
Call a plumber
If after following the above steps, you still do not find the object, you need to get a professional plumber. But before you do, you should also double-check. If the lost item is really small – like an earring – it might be hard to see it among all that gross stuff that came out of the P-trap. Brace yourself and go through the sludge one more time. You might need to pour it out onto a flat surface to do this properly.
If you still don’t find it, you have done your best and it is time to call a professional plumber. If the item has gone beyond the P-trap into the plumbing system, a professional plumber knows what to do to find it.
We hope you enjoyed this article on the Do’s and Don’ts of Rescuing Something You Dropped Down the Sink Drain.