Small and sometimes valuable items can easily get washed away into the sink drain. It may be an expensive ring that you removed to do dishes or earrings that slipped into the sink's drain as you washed your face. With a little luck and some DIY plumbing skills and techniques, small metallic items can be retrieved after being washed away into the drain. What makes this possible? The plumbing design.
Most sinks, bathtubs, and showers' plumbing systems consist of a pipe with a J-shaped bend beneath the fixture. This arch forms a P-shaped trap which prevents sewer gases from coming back through the drainage pipes. Heavy items such as stones, coins, jewelry, and metals are likely to sink in the P-trap instead of getting washed further into the pipe. The P-trap is your best chance at retrieving any small metallic that get washed away into the sink drain. How do you do this? Read on to find out.
Turn off the faucet
The chance of retrieving an item from the drain is dependent on how fast you shut down the faucet. Do so once you realize something has been washed down. If water continues running, its pressure can push the item up the P trap and further down the drain and into the sewer. At this point, you will not be able to retrieve it. However, if the item is quite heavy, it may settle at the bottom of the trap even with the water running.
Retrieve the item
The process of retrieval will require you to open up the bend under the sink. The exact procedure will vary depending on the type of plumbing system you have and materials used, but there are general guidelines that are relatively easy to follow. You will require an adjustable wrench or pliers, which luckily can be found around the house. Follow the following steps:
• Set a bucket under the sink to hold any water that may spill out.
• Unscrew the slip nuts on both sides of the J-bend with the pliers or wrench. If this part is made of plastic, you can unscrew it by hand.
• Push the slip nuts away and remove the U-shaped part of the P-trap.
• Retrieve the item from the U-shaped part by gently shaking it out.
Once you have retrieved the item, you can assemble the parts again and screw them back using the pliers or by hand. Ensure you tighten them to prevent any leaks.
The process of retrieving an item from under the sink is relatively easy for any DIYer. However, if your sink's plumbing has a sophisticated design, or you are unable to do it, you can always call in plumbing services. You could end up getting your pipes cleaned and unclogged too.
Share30 June 2016
Welcome! My name is Frances, and this is my first blog. Whether you found me through a Google search or were passed my link by a friend, I am so glad you found my blog. I plan to fill it with a range of commentary on the world of contracting and construction work, and I hope that you find my ideas compelling and creative. I am a dog trainer, but I have always loved the world of construction. I tend to work a lot on the weekends and evenings, when my clients are off work. As a result, I have a lot of time to write during the day, and I decided to create this blog. Thank you for reading.
