That’s how I got out a bullet casing that fell in (don’t ask.) That being said, it is much easier as a two person job. (maybe even a lil less water left than normal). It is usually toddlers who actually flush them. And that folks is why I keep the lid down on my toilets unless I’m using them. Lost a practically brand new bar of soap that way. You can find the shutoff … If it clogs the damn drain into the septic I am going to be pissed. My toilet will not flush and is backing up. The causes the vacuum to suck the water back into the toilet where you can reach it. Then, jerk the plunger up with a quick motion. Just buy a new wax ring at the hardware store so you can replace it if needed when you reseat the toilet. Supervisor. It got wedged down in there out of sight. Turning off the water supply will prevent flooding and save you in the event you accidentally hit the toilet flush handle again. First, shutoff your toilet’s water supply before working on your toilet. At least I hadn’t used the toilet yet. That’s how i got out a bullet casing that fell in (don’t ask.). Doug_K October 21, 2013, 7:32pm #11. No food, kitchen wipes, cooking oil, floor wipes face wipes kids toys fruit etc they all go into the trash. Unless you have some sort of high-tech toilet, there’s almost no way that flushing a ‘foreign object’ could prevent the toilet from refilling. Skywatcher October 21, 2013, 7:31pm #10. I’ve done it many times (the last time because a kid managed to flush a popsicle stick down it, another time because of a medicine bottle). ), have you tried sticking your hand in there and feeling for it? Fatbergs are just one example of plumbing issues caused by flushing inappropriate items, like wipes. Look for the shut-off valve behind the toilet and turn the valve completely clockwise to close. Flushing baby wipes can quickly block sewer pipes and cause major plumbing problems in your community’s sewer or your home’s septic tank system. The next time I flushed, it seemed to empty normally - but no water appeared to go into the bowl. All this water (as well as other things like dirt, washing powder and soap) flows down the drain and into the sewerage pipes connected to your property. Reach your hand down as far as you can and see if you can feel the card and try to pull it out. An old mechanical auger doesn't hold a candle to it. If you want to retrieve the object that got flushed down, place the plunger in the bottom of the toilet and gently push until the air is completely out of the bowl of the plunger. Sometimes if you flush once, let the toilet fill up to that high level and then flush again it will add more water to the bowl and push the roll out more effectively. Locally, we have even seen Nashville Predator pucks intentionally flushed after a losing game. I have flushed the toilet 5 times since and there no visible sign of a blockage. My wife has accidentally flushed the cardboard toilet roll down the toilet. The only things that should be flushed down the toilet are excretions and flushable toilet paper. Luckilly … $200 worth of work later, he notices that it still takes a long time for the tank to fill, and suggests that I need a new toilet. I rinsed it and it was none the worse for wear. At first I thought it was a joke but when I rushed over to the toilet there Daryl was trying to see if it got stuck somewhere he could reach. Accidentally flushed down small clothing; Author: Hakka (WA) Hi, I was half asleep when I was taking off my clothes to jump in the shower, and accidentally threw my underwear into the toilet as it was nearing the end of flushing. It was a public toilet but I stuck my hand in there anyway because I really liked that pedometer. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share (MPSIMS), Dropped something in the toilet just as it was flusbing. When you accidentally flush something down the toilet (your phone, your ex’s number, a doughnut you weren’t finished eating), where does it … I washed the ring about 5 times and I still wear it today. Removing the toilet from the floor isn’t difficult. I killed my first iPod that way. Somehow I managed to pop that ring off and have it fly into the toilet bowl between my legs (yet again another public toilet!). I accidentally flushed the roll-holder when I was a kid. Something doesn’t make sense. Ditto on how easy removing the toilet is - except maybe if it is in a hard to get to spot. Since it was a softball sized blob of keys, I decided to flush the toilet and grab them while there was no water in it. With our busy lives, it can happen in the blink of an eye. Then Jay Mechanical in Essex recommends that you put on rubber gloves. Be careful with this because you may overflow your toilet. Then, one time, I was doing a number two and was fiddling with a spinner ring I wear on my thumb. Here’s the follow-up: I called a plumber (that I had previously found in the Yellow Pages when I needed my washing machine faucets replaced - yes, some of us still use the Yellow Pages), who removed the toilet, but couldn’t find anything, so he ran something down the toilet’s drain hole just in case it was stuck there. Even if you don’t have children, you might accidentally drop something into the toilet and flush it. Is this likely to cause issues and I presume the cardboard is unlikely to break down easily? Turn off the water supply to the toilet. They were tucked into the neck of my T-shirt and fell in the toilet when I went to flush. I don't want to have to unclog the damned thing with a plumber's snake or something. Toilets contain internal traps, to keep a "plug" of water between the sewer system gases and your nose. Tried using a coat hanger, a shower drain snake, my hand (ugh!!!) Newer plumbing tech has basically a power washer with a spinning/cutting head that's powerful enough to slice roots up and wash them down the drain. Rick. Do a test flush and then do a couple more test flushes with wads of toilet paper to ensure it goes down and stays down. Good luck, you're probably going to be fine! Then, jerk the plunger up with a quick motion. To the person who said tampons got clogged in their toilet: Tampons are a lot smaller and are biodegradable which means you can flush … Tell me a clog or septic back up nightmare story of something … It didn’t appear to impact the plumbing at all, but I had to make an extremely humiliating request for new keys (“Give it a few days, they might turn up.” “No, I don’t think these are coming back anytime soon.”) It also became a recurring theme of conversations about how various individuals weren’t smart enough to be at this school (“Did you know that SpoilerVirgin flushed her keys down the toilet her first week?”). But, if you have the tools and are relatively handy, you can manage to find it on your own. I flushed a pair of glasses (dimestore readers, not prescription, thank god). It’s still why I am careful to only replace the toilet paper with the lid down or while I’m sitting on the toilet. But I did it. I once had a pedometer on my belt and went to take my pants off to go - pop! I flushed my toilet, then tried to replace the toilet paper roll on the plastic holder, when I managed to drop the holder into the bowl just as the flushing completed, taking the holder with it. Slowly press down with a plunger and then pull up. We have snakes and other tools that allow us to get to the item quickly and efficiently. … I’ll start a separate thread for my new toilet search. Plunging will not make a … If there is any excess water … It went back to normal. I was emptying my electric shaver's hair in the toilet (not sure why I didn't use the sink...) by opening the top and dumping all the hair in. I have reached into the toilet to see if it was stuck however there is no sign of it. If they have been flushed, it is a lost cause, unless of course, they were in a waterproof case or pouch. Joel Dommett has revealed the awkward moment his wife Hannah Cooper accidentally dropped her wedding ring down the loo before she flushed. It is even worse when you drop an item while the toilet is mid-flush. You probably don’t usually think about what happens after you flush the toilet, wash your clothes or take a shower. Most of the solutions I have heard about getting it back out involve removing the toilet from the floor and pushing it out from behind. I accidentally flushed the roll-holder when I was a kid. Off the pedometer came. Have you tried sticking your hand in there and feeling for it? NO! I flushed the toilet and didn't notice the sponge until I just spotted it going down. You will need to unfasten the toilet from the floor, drain and invert it, and see whether the ring is still there. Whether it’s cotton ear buds, balls of hair or the family gold fish, we’ve all flushed something down the toilet that we probably shouldn’t have.  The idea is to have it … I accidently flushed the roll of my toilet paper holder (Plastic, about 6 inches long 3/4 of an inch wide) down the toilet in my apartment. Fell out of my pocket just as I hit the flush. You do know that shooting the shit usually refers to idle talking, right? Hard plastic object flushed down toilet by mistake of course. Website Optimized by Diversity Builder, Nashville Plumbing Broken Sewer Line Repair 37211, 6 Easy Tips to Save Money on Water Heating Bills, Six Essential Plumbing Tools to Have on Hand. Thirded there is no connection between the two. Let our plumbers take care of your flushed objects and have more time to play and teach your toddlers. :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: Odds aren't good, I'm afraid. Some of the most common items flushed down the toilet are cloth diaper wipes, rags, glasses, car keys, bars of soap, e-cigarettes, vaping devices, cell phones, action figures. It reached in as far as I could and couldn't feel anything, so I thought I'd flush it again and see what happened (stupid, I know but I wasn't thinking clearly). Close the flapper (the toilet component on the chain). I have also heard, “use a wet/dry Shop-Vac to pull it out.” Before I call a plumber (which I have a feeling I should do anyway), does anybody have any other suggestions? Finally, have a serious talk with your children about how toys do not enjoy being flushed. In my area, you can expect to pay$500 - $1,200 for that. While you are up close and personal with the toilet, it is best to turn off your toilet’s water supply. What a BITCH. We tried all manner of things to get it out and in the end wound up just replacing the toilet. My toilet will not flush and is backing up. If the phone cleared the trap IN the toilet, it has long since flushed out of the drain. It’s still why I am careful to only replace the toilet paper with the lid down or while I’m sitting on the toilet. You'll be fine. You dropped your wedding band in there, didn’t you? I just accidentally flushed a sponge down the toilet. Now you can flush the toilet to clear out all the water in the bowl. This liquid waste is known as sewage. Odds are, though, it will flush into the 3" pipe, and then down into the 4" pipe, and out into the 6+" sewer main. IIRC there are two types, but it might pay to get both just to be sure. It popped out of my hands while I was washing up and landed right in the bowl! Our plumbers are glad to help you with any plumbing questions or issues. Repeat the gentle down, quick pull action until you see the object. Years ago I was using the bathroom at my wife’s office in the China Basin building (near PacBell Park in San Francisco) and dropped her enormous set of work keys in the toilet. If that doesn't work, repeat same process on toilet you flushed the rag down. Not having had the, er, “privilege” of being married, no, I didn’t. chances are, you'll be fine. Unless they have a waterproof cover on them, they are rarely salvageable. If you have small children or toddlers in your home, you will have this problem at least once in your life: your child flushes a toy car or your car keys down the toilet. It bounced into the toilet bowl! Sort of nasty but the water was as clean as it gets. It went deep into the toilet and we both tried reaching for it but we could not reach it. After it was all over it was just lying at the bottom of the bowl, the click-wheel staring up at me like a baby HAL-9000 wondering why it was being punished. That’s how I got out a bullet casing that fell in (don’t ask.). (I had to go to work, and didn’t want to risk the toilet overflowing for eight hours while I was away, so I turned off the water to the toilet, and have no idea how long it would have taken to fill.). Kitty Litter. 32,331 satisfied customers. If you want to retrieve the object that got flushed down, place the plunger in the bottom of the toilet and gently push until the air is completely out of the bowl of the plunger. A New Jersey woman thought her diamond wedding ring was lost forever when she accidentally flushed it down the toilet nine years ago. I was shaking it to get all the little hairs out of the corners and the top came loose and fell in, and without thinking I just flushed the toilet and the top went down. His deadpan answer: “The Bay.”. and toys. WHY! DAMN IT! It was soft. I liked that ring a LOT…so I looked for a minute and decided I had to do it. We have had customers call us about their eye or sunglasses going down as well as spoons, sponges, forks, I phones, Androids, chargers, pocket knives, and toilet roll holders. If the ring is heavy enough and you haven't flushed repeatedly, it may still be in the toilet's trap. Reinstall toilet and try it. Do try retrieving them quickly if they have not been flushed, turning off, removing battery, and placing in a bowl of dry rice to dry them out. Grab the item with your hands if it’s still visible. Shut off the water and drain all the water out of the tank and the P-trap toilet seal. I don’t have any plumbing advice, but wish you good luck with the recovery efforts. Our plumbers have retrieved a number of toys including Buzz, Woody, and the Lightning McQueen car. [1] X Research source To make this process as sanitary as possible, put on a pair of elbow-length rubber gloves before sticking your hand in the toilet. Water flushes down, but af … read more. Do not use this toilet toilet until you have it fixed. The best way to drain water is to suck it out with a turkey baster, but you can also use a sponge. In the likely chance it did not fit, it will have to be physically removed. Then we tried to use a plunger and that did not work. No matter what your reaction to the problem, you now have two issues. Saturday morning I was having a nightmare about the toilet when I wake up to the words no one wants to hear first thing in the morning, "Cecilia, I accidentally flushed my phone down the toilet." If you can still see the item after it was flushed, you may be able to retrieve the item by sticking your hand in the toilet, grabbing ahold to the item, and pulling it out. (It goes without saying that you should be wearing gloves.) My first week at a prestigious Ivy-League college I dropped my room key down the toilet just as it was flushing. The only problem would be if it stays in the bottom of the trap inside the toilet, it will slowly collect debris and clog. For something important (like a wedding or engagement ring), you might want to call an emergency plumber to help dig it out for you. Another online DIY site goes beyond the basics into removing the entire toilet. Fix It All Plumbing is committed to providing you with premium plumbing services at fair rates in the Nashville area. Can things come back up the toilet? It spuns about 2 times and then went in, and what seemed like a full flush any normal time. I reached my hand in. Hopefully, the object is stuck in the toilet trap, which is the curved part of your toilet that leads to the drainpipe where all of your waste goes when you flush. Turning off the toilet’s water supply can be achieved by turning the toilet valve completely clockwise. Call Us at (615)568-5051, © Copyright 2019 Fix it All Plumbing. (Rather than the obvious thought of, “Obviously his company is trying to sell me one,” I think that he’s right - this particular toilet has had flow problems for the past three years or so, even after two previous plumbers had replaced parts.) On top of that, after he leaves, I flush the toilet, and now it fills almost to the point of overflow, then somewhat slowly (not overly slowly, as if there’s a clog) drains until it gurgles rather than “flushes” when it gets to the bottom, then it takes about 10 minutes for the tank to fill, and even then, the bowl is only filled to about half of what it was when it worked properly. The causes the vacuum to suck the water back into the toilet where you can reach it. Sometimes items are lodged in and stuck. Lost a practically brand new bar of soap that way. to remove object, but nothing has worked yet. Phew, it’s going towards the tile floor, we’re oka–it’s bouncing! I dropped my boyfriend’s toothbrush into the bowl as it was flushing (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it). If not either call the maintenance guy if you live in an apartment or condo, or call a plumber. Step 2 Something going down the toilet and catching might cause the bowl to overflow, but it wouldn’t keep the tank from filling (which is what it sounds like you’re describing).