Usually, we’re very careful around the toilet because we don’t want to flush anything important. Unfortunately, all it takes is a lapse in attention or a moment’s misjudgement and valuable jewellery (or something equally valuable) goes swirling down the toilet. Of course, you could knock a necklace, ring, or bracelet into the toilet and notice it before you push down on the handle or the button. When that happens, all you have to do is to pull on some rubber gloves so you can retrieve the item.
But what do you do if you realise you’re in the midst of flushing a valuable object down the drain? Unfortunately, there’s a chance that the toilet’s drain won’t catch something that’s really small. But if what you flushed is big enough, you can still retrieve it. Here’s what you need to remember before calling a 24 hour plumber Sydney.
Don’t flush again
Pushing the handle or button won’t reverse the flush; on the contrary, flushing the toilet again will only push the item further down the pipe, which will make it harder for you to get it back.
You can, however, check and see if it was completely flushed. Maybe you didn’t push all the way down on the handle, resulting in a half-flush. If your toilet is an older model, the chances of this happening go up. If you think you just half-flushed the toilet, there’s a chance that you can just wait and see if the object comes back up a little. If so, you should see it in the bowl again, or you’ll be able to fish it out with some sturdy wire. Don’t forget to wear gloves if you have to stick your hands in the toilet.
Turn off the water supply
Look for the toilet valve – this is usually found behind and under the toilet. You’ll want to do this so that you won’t have to deal with any flooding should you accidentally hit the toilet flush handle while trying to retrieve whatever it was that got flushed.
Remove the toilet
You’ll need a partner if you plan on removing the toilet to try and get a valuable object back. Before doing so, though, make sure you take out the water in the tank, then use a wrench and putty knife to take out the bolt covers and bolts so you can remove the toilet.
Check the waste opening and toilet wax ring
Lay the toilet on its side, and then grab a flashlight. You’ll want to inspect the waste opening and the toilet wax ring. Half of the wax ring is typically connected to the floor, with the other half connected to the toilet’s flange. Jewellery or some other small valuable object can get stuck in either of these parts, so make sure to carefully check both.
If you still haven’t found the item and have had no luck getting it back, it’s better to call a professional. Not only will they have the right tools for the job, but they know the ins and outs of a plumbing system. They’ll be able to check other places your valuables may have gotten stuck in, and they’ll be able to retrieve them for you.
