Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    lariandpam's Avatar
    lariandpam Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Dec 5, 2010, 06:45 PM
    Toy in sewage pipe
    We have a toothbrush in the house pipes.We have tried liquid plumber and a large snake with no luck. Please any ideas?
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #2

    Dec 5, 2010, 08:06 PM

    Hi Lariandpam...

    How about more info. On where the toothbrush is located, what fixture the toothbrush got down past, and how far past the fixture and into the pipes do you think the toothbrush got, OK?

    Now, liquid plumber won't do anything, but you know that now, right? A snake could do the job, but you would really need to have a RETRIEVER HEAD... see image below. Here, you would feed the retriever head out past the toothbrush and then you would pull the snake back by hand to retrieve the toothbrush. If you use the machine powered in reverse it would just slip right past the toothbrush so use your hands to pull the snake out... should capture the toothbrush and bring it back if you are lucky. It could also take more than a few tries... ;)

    Most likely you'll be hard pressed to find a retriever head, but check with a local tool rental store if you want to do this yourselves. Otherwise, you can probably plan on calling in a drain company or a properly equipped plumber to see what they can do for you.

    Questions? Let me know...

    Mark
    Attached Images
     
    masterofnotmuch's Avatar
    masterofnotmuch Posts: 12, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #3

    Dec 5, 2010, 10:10 PM
    Well I'm guessing it's in a sink so you could take the water trap off and it should fall out if it has a trap that is or you can try what massplumber2008 says I never heard of a retriever head lol
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #4

    Dec 6, 2010, 06:17 AM

    well I'm guessing it's in a sink
    Ahhh! If it were only that simple. I'm guessing toilet and Mark's right we need more informatiom. Isn't that what happened? Ya flushed a toothbrush down the toilet and now the paper catches on it and the toilet backs up? If that's the case and you can't get your hand in far enough to reach the toothbrush the toilet woll have to come up and you go fishing up in the bottom. If you have to pull the toilet click on back and we'll walk you through the process. Good luck, Tom
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Pipe works plastic building toy [ 11 Answers ]

My kids have very fond memories of playing with their pipe works set. They built amazing stuff. Now my first daughter is having her first child and I would love to find this toy for her. Does anyone know where I can find a pipe works set?

Sewage pipe slope and size [ 2 Answers ]

My neighbor is redoing his sewage pipe across my property. Pipe is now exposed on each side. The existing pipe is 5" ID ceramic pipe. The slope is 2" total for a 66' run. He thinks it will help to put in 4" pipe using trench less installation. I think he should leave it alone and just install...

Sewage pipe pressure test [ 4 Answers ]

We've putting in a bathroom on a pole barn. The county inspector wants us to perform a 5 pound pressure test on the pipe. He said the equipment to do the test is expensive. Is there a cheap way to perform this test that doesn't involve buying expensive equipment? He also said you could do the...

Leaky sewage pipe I think? [ 5 Answers ]

I think my sewage pipe is leaking. I have a pipe that is in my basement underneath my bathroom (it's a fairly wide pipe). It seems to be leaking a brown substance every now and again that has a bad smell. There is a brown residue on the outside of the pipe. It seems to be at the connection of...

Gravel clogged sewage pipe/lateral: how and what to do about it. [ 4 Answers ]

In an earlier thread, https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/plumbing/standing-water-beneath-concrete-basement-floor-184273.html , I described three stages of digging in the basement (perimeter French drain; replacement of sewage pipes; then smaller section of French drain). The smaller French drain, put...

View more questions Search