What to Do If Something Gets Accidentally Flushed Down the Toilet - Wisler Plumbing & Air

We’ve all been there. Your necklace pendant falls off your neck, your toddler throws his dinosaur toy, and your cat accidentally knocks your phone off the bathroom counter. This can be done in a number of ways. But over time, we’ve all accidentally flushed something down the toilet. It happens! If you accidentally flush something down the toilet, take a deep breath and read on. We are here to help you !

How to Retrieve Something Flushed Down the Toilet 

Most of the time, accidentally flushing something down the toilet doesn’t mean the object is gone forever. Getting your lost item back is usually easier than you think. If you can still see the object at the bottom of the toilet bowl, it’s only partially emptied or hasn’t collapsed. If so, put on rubber gloves and carefully fish your object.

Unfortunately, if you can no longer see the article, it may take a little more effort to find it again. Here’s what to do:

• Try using a plunger first to see if gentle pressure is enough to pop the object. Sometimes a larger object doesn’t make it to the end of the drainpipe; It can be loosened with a plunger and brought to the surface.
• If a plunger didn’t work, you can try using a bent wire shackle. However, this method is a bit risky – you could end up sticking the item in the pipe or scratching your toilet bowl. If you decide to give it a try, form a small hook at the end and leave the rest of the hanging wire as straight as possible. Then gently run your metal hook over the top of the drain pipe and gently push it down. Once the hook is in place, rotate while gently pulling up. If the item is metal, you can try attaching a magnet to the top of your hook.

What If You Can’t Retrieve the Object? 

If neither a plunger nor a wire hanger recovered your missing item, it may be time to call in the pros. Before damaging your toilet or pipes, consider having a professional plumber use their specialized equipment to find your missing item. For example, Wisler Plumbing has a very cool way to find missing items in the toilet. Rather than blindly fishing around your pipes, we can conduct a video inspection of the installation to find the exact location of your missing item! This will allow us to choose the best method to recover the object while destroying your pipes and plumbing system as little as possible.

Trust Your Local Plumbing for Reliable Help 

So what happens when you flush a ring down the toilet? If none of the above methods helped you find it, call Wisler Plumbing & Air. We will do our best to locate your ring and ensure your toilet is in good condition. Call us at (540) 402-9785 or request an estimate online today.