Almost all of us have been in this situation before, when we dropped a valuable item down the drain. It could be a diamond earring, an engagement ring, or any other item of sentimental significance. Some folks panic when such an incident occurs, and rightly so. That type of reaction is normal! Take a deep breath (repeat as necessary) and try these handy tips and tricks to recover your valuable items if this happens to you. Useful tips for recovering items: A MAGNET AND A STRING: A magnet can be very helpful if you lose something made of iron or metal Here are some simple steps to follow: Turn off the water immediately Hang a magnet from the sink drain with a string Hopefully, your lost item will be found with the magnet, but if not, try this next trick. THE VACUUM CLEANER: The fallen item can be sucked up from the drain with a vacuum cleaner. Unless the item is too far down, the vacuum will pick it up. For this, you should use a wet shop vacuum. TAKE A LOOK AT THE P-TRAP: In the event that you are unable to retrieve your lost item with a magnet or vacuum, it may have gotten stuck in the P-trap. Here are the steps you need to take in this situation: Under the sink, locate the P-trap pipe, which is the U-shaped bend. To keep everything clean, place a towel under the sink pipes. Put a bucket under the sink pipes. Remove the pipe nuts connecting the P-trap to the rest of the piping using a pipe wrench. Turn the P-trap upside down into the bucket after carefully removing it. Don your rubber gloves and remove your valuable item from the bucket. Helpful prevention tips: If you want to avoid losing valuable items again, install a drain guard in your sink. While washing your hands or dishes, don't wear jewelry. Keep slippery bracelets and necklaces away from the sink. If you fix a simple jewelry holder near the sink, you can place your jewelry there while using the sink. There you have it, some simple tricks that can help you retrieve your valuable item. However, if all your efforts fail, this is the time to hire a professional. Fortunately, SPS has a team of drain professionals that can help you with your problem. Whenever you need us, just contact us, and we'll work hard to find your lost item, and while we are there we'll check the drain system, too.
Standing in ankle-deep, dirty water due to a pesky hair clog in your shower drain is no fun. Despite your best efforts, you just can't prevent hair from clumping together and slowing drains to a painful crawl. There are plenty of simple steps you can take to prevent and eliminate hair clogs in your drains. DRAINS: PREVENTING CLOGS To mitigate the likelihood of any problem occurring, take precautionary measures. Hair clogs in drains are nothing new to our expert plumbing professionals, and we know how to prevent them. Here are some easy preventative measures: Drain Cover Installation: Install a drain screen in every shower and tub in your home. There are even underneath drain screens specifically designed to trap hair. Remove Hair from Sinks & Showers: Before taking a shower or bath, brush the excess hair off your head to prevent any loose hairs from falling on the tub floor. Keep an eye out for any hair you see and wipe it away from the drain. Flush Your Drains: Getting this done requires a little family coordination. Make sure each drain in the home is closed, each tub or sink filled with warm water, and a person standing near each drain and toilet. Flush all the drains at once by opening the drains and flushing the toilets simultaneously. Clogged drains in the home can be prevented with these three prevention methods. Despite your best efforts, hair clogs may still cause your drain to slow down. Fortunately, you can take steps for safe removal without hiring a professional. REMOVING HAIR CLOGS FROM YOUR DRAINS In some cases, prevention simply isn't enough. If your drains become clogged, try the following DIY tips: Grab a Plunger: Plungers aren't just useful for clogged toilets - they can also clean drains by sucking up hair and other debris by placing them securely over the drain and plunging away! Use Natural Solutions: When it comes to removing drain clogs, harsh chemicals can be more harmful than helpful. Try pouring boiling water down the drain instead, or try mixing 3 cups baking soda with 1 cup vinegar and then pouring boiling water down the drain. Use Your Hands: Whenever you have a drain screen installed, be sure to remove any debris it catches to prevent clogs. Get your hands dirty or grab a pair of gloves to remove the clog manually. These tried-and-true methods will save you from having to call your local plumber. In the event that you can't clear your drain clog with DIY trickery, Southeast Plumbing Solutions offers the professional assistance you need.