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    Ellymay's Avatar
    Ellymay Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Aug 29, 2010, 03:49 PM
    BATHTUB Plunger dropped-
    I was cleaning my bathrub , and the plunger housing dropped- I can't reach, or get it, NOW WHAT? Thanks in advance-
    Mary
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #2

    Aug 29, 2010, 04:13 PM

    Plunger housing??
    Show us a picture of what you are talking about.
    Ellymay's Avatar
    Ellymay Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #3

    Aug 29, 2010, 04:26 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by hkstroud View Post
    Plunger housing?????
    Show us a picture of what you are talking about.
    Uh, it is the assembly with the weight at the bottom
    mygirlsdad77's Avatar
    mygirlsdad77 Posts: 5,713, Reputation: 339
    Plumbing Expert
     
    #4

    Aug 29, 2010, 04:58 PM

    So the faceplate with the triplever is off and the plunger dropped? Try a thin piece of fairly rigid wire, make a J hook at one end, send it down the overflow pipe, and start fishing. Good luck and please let us know if you get it out.

    Worst case, you will have to gain access from either underneith the tub waste and over flow, or from the back side of the wall to dissasemble the overflow assembly and retrieve the plunger.
    afaroo's Avatar
    afaroo Posts: 4,006, Reputation: 251
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    #5

    Aug 29, 2010, 05:48 PM

    I agree with lee, see the images below will give you an idea how to dissasemble the overflow assembly and retrieve the plunger, good luck.

    John
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    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #6

    Aug 30, 2010, 07:33 AM

    As you can see the plunger has a rod across the top.
    Take a coat hanger and put a small hook on the end and go fishing.
    Another way would be to go through the access panel and, after removing the face p-late , open up the waste to retrive retrieve the plunger.
    Good luck and I hope you catch a plunger. Tom
    afaroo's Avatar
    afaroo Posts: 4,006, Reputation: 251
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    #7

    Aug 30, 2010, 08:12 AM

    Tom,

    I think Lee (mygirlsdad77) mentioned the same thing in his post #4, Thanks.

    John
    Ellymay's Avatar
    Ellymay Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #8

    Aug 30, 2010, 03:50 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by mygirlsdad77 View Post
    so the faceplate with the triplever is off and the plunger dropped? Try a thin piece of fairly rigid wire, make a J hook at one end, send it down the overflow pipe, and start fishing. Good luck and please let us know if you get it out.

    Worst case, you will have to gain access from either underneith the tub waste and over flow, or from the back side of the wall to dissasemble the overflow assembly and retrieve the plunger.
    YUP! YUCK! I anticipate going through the crawl space under the house, under the tub and with help from a friend, fishing- ORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR- get a flat, plate, seal it up and use a type of cover over the drain- right? This is maybe a 55 yo house with a cast iron bath tub-- either way, I must wait until the weather is cooler- thanks for all the info
    mygirlsdad77's Avatar
    mygirlsdad77 Posts: 5,713, Reputation: 339
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    #9

    Aug 30, 2010, 04:02 PM

    Actually you can fish for the plunger from the overflow plate in the tub, only need to get in the crawl space, or wall is if you can't get the plunger out. However, if the plunger didn't drogp all the way, and the tub still drains fine, just put the overflow cover back on and use an over the drain type stopper as you mentioned and you should be all set. Only reason to get the plunger out in your case, is if its plugging the tub drain. Let us know what you decide. Take care.
    parttime's Avatar
    parttime Posts: 1,440, Reputation: 113
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    #10

    Aug 30, 2010, 04:08 PM

    Ellymay, you might try a magnet on a flexible shaft. Good luck
    mygirlsdad77's Avatar
    mygirlsdad77 Posts: 5,713, Reputation: 339
    Plumbing Expert
     
    #11

    Aug 30, 2010, 04:15 PM

    If the plunger or plunger rod is brass, a magnet won't stick, but if it's a steel rod or plunger, that would be a very good thing to try.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #12

    Aug 30, 2010, 07:21 PM

    Ellymay,
    You don't do this from underneath the house. You have not said whether you have an access panel on the other side of the wall. If you have an access panel it is fairly easy to undo the over flow piping and get the stopper.

    Let us know if you have an access panel.
    afaroo's Avatar
    afaroo Posts: 4,006, Reputation: 251
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    #13

    Aug 30, 2010, 07:30 PM

    I agree with lee (Mygirlsdad) If the plunger is Brass then it is a non-ferrous metal, and therefore magnet will not work, Thanks.

    John
    KISS's Avatar
    KISS Posts: 12,510, Reputation: 839
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    #14

    Aug 30, 2010, 08:40 PM

    This is when we all wished we owned a $250 inspection camera?
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #15

    Aug 31, 2010, 04:42 AM

    I think we scared Ellymay away.

    Tools needed.
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    afaroo's Avatar
    afaroo Posts: 4,006, Reputation: 251
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    #16

    Aug 31, 2010, 04:57 AM

    Yes the flexable mecanical fingers may work, Thanks.

    John
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #17

    Aug 31, 2010, 06:10 AM

    ellymay, you might try a magnet
    A magnet isn't going to get it with a brass plunger. As I see it your best bet is what I posted a few posts back,
    Take a coat hanger and put a small hook on the end and go fishing.
    Another way would be to go through the access panel and, after removing the face p-late , open up the waste to retrive retrieve the plunger. Good luck, Tom

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