It’s an all too common scenario – you’re washing your hands or brushing your teeth when a ring slips off your finger, or you knock a small, valuable item into the drain. Don’t worry! Your item may not be lost forever.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing has a solution – follow these simple steps to retrieve items dropped down your bathroom sink drain.
1. Turn Off the Water Supply. While it can be tempting to reach for your item as quickly as possible, it’s important to turn off the water supply first. Otherwise, you’ll risk causing a flood while you disassemble your sink. Turn the shut-off valve under your sink to the off position.
2. Remove the Drain Plug. You’ll need to get the drain plug out of the way to see if you can spot your item. Place something under the plug so it won’t close, then look under the sink to find the horizontal arm that attaches to the plug. Disconnect the arm, making sure to note the way the system works so you can reconnect it later.
3. Retrieve Your Item With a Tool. Once the drain plug is out of the way, you may be able to see your item. Use a magnetic tool or a small grasping tool to seize your item and pull it out of the drain. However, be careful not to push your item further down.
4. Disassemble the P Trap. If you can’t see your item, it may be resting in the P trap, a u-shaped portion of your drainpipe. Place a bucket under the P trap and loosen the slip nuts holding it in place. Your item may fall out along with the water that was trapped there; sometimes, you may have to remove a drain plug or plug assembly from the P trap to find your item.
When to Contact a Plumber
If your item does not appear during these steps, or if your P trap does not contain slip nuts for easy removal, you will need to contact a plumber to disassemble your sink and help you retrieve the item. For help with any sink drain issue, contact Mr. Rooter of Central Oregon. Our team of professionals can ensure the safe disassembly and reassembly of your sink and may be able to recover your lost valuables in the process.