Children are naturally curious about the world. That’s great because it helps them learn quickly, but that also means a lot of silly experiments that could drive parents crazy. For example, toddlers might get fixated on the flushing action of the toilet bowl. They might press the button several times and waste lots of water. They could even flush their own toys just to see what happens. It’s common around the holidays when kids get a ton of new toys and are eager to test them. If your kid flushed toy down toilet, then read on to find viable solutions.
Kid Flushed Toy In The Toilet? Here’s What You Need To Know
Contents
This article discusses what you need to know should your child flush a toy into the toilet bowl.
How Do You Know If a Toy is Stuck in the Toilet?
Before making any moves, you need to be sure about what you are dealing with. Seeing your child around the toilet may be a total coincidence. You need to check by looking for other signs. There is a high chance that there is a toy stuck in the toilet if you start hearing gurgling sounds from the plumbing system. Water may also back up from the bowl or even overflow down to the floor. Lastly, you can clearly smell raw sewage from the drains. Any of these three paired with a guilt-looking child is your cue to begin troubleshooting.
What to Avoid When Trying to Retrieve an Object from the Toilet
When attempting to get anything from the toilet bowl, refrain from using a plunger. This will only push the toy deeper into drain and make it harder to recover. Use the strategies below for better results. Of course, you don’t have to tackle this by yourself if you don’t want to. It is perfectly understandable for you to call a plumber right away. Not everyone has the stomach, time, or ability to tinker with the toilet, even if it’s immaculately clean. Besides, professionals are sure to retrieve the toy and sort out the toilet clog right away.
Proven Strategies for Toy Retrieval Inside a Bowl
This is a common scenario, so experienced plumbers already know what to do when they encounter it. Some of the initial troubleshooting steps are easy enough for homeowners to do on their own. If these don’t work, then call the experts. Just make sure that you act right away. Letting the toy sit in the pipes for a long time will make it harder to recover. It may also worsen toilet damage. Now let’s get to work with the following strategies:
1. Using a Drain Auger
Protect your hands with a pair of rubber gloves. Ideally, this is long enough to reach your elbows. Scoop out as much water from the toilet as you can. Use a shop vac to make this task easier, if available. Less water means less mess and greater ease of retrieval.
If the toy is not visible, then it has probably gotten further down the drain. You will need to get the toilet bowl out of the way to reach it. Do this by removing the bolts with an adjustable wrench or other suitable tools. Lift the bowl up and place it carefully on the floor or the tub.
Get a drain auger or a drain snake and insert it into the toilet drain’s opening. Go ahead and push the end into the drain until it hits an object. Rotate this clockwise to grip the toy and extract it carefully. You may need a few tries to get it out, so stay patient. Put back the toilet bowl in its proper place.
2. Using Your Hands
The thought of placing your hands inside the toilet may be unpleasant. However, it is your best bet if you don’t have special tools in the house. Use long rubber gloves to keep it sanitary and avoid skin irritations. Begin removing as much water as you can from the bowl.
You will also need to remove the bowl from its original position in this method. That is really the best way to reach into the drains and get the offending toy. Just put your gloved hand down the drain until you grab the object. Use your fingers to move it around and wiggle it out. Simple reattach the bowl once you’re done.
3. Call a Professional Plumber
If you have done your part and you still can’t get the toy out of the drains, then you will need to call the professionals for assistance. Maybe the object has slipped too far down for you to reach. Perhaps its shape or size is making it hard for this to move up. It is also possible that the toy has been broken into several pieces. You might have recovered some parts but others remain stuck where they are, keeping the toilet clogged. Pros can employ advanced tools and techniques to solve the problem. They can get things back to normal in no time at all.
Conclusion
Toddlers are unpredictable. They may cause accidental damage due to carelessness and curiosity. It’s a natural part of growing up. Parents need to teach them patiently to avoid these incidents in the future. In the meantime, they must deal with present problems such as clogged toilets due to flushed toys. The strategies outlined above are great starting points. In most cases, they will be adequate to solve the problem. However, they also have their limitations. There is no need to get frustrated because experienced plumbers are just one call away. Dial their number, schedule a plumbing repair, and get immediate relief.
Call Robinson Plumbing For Superior Plumbing Services
Contact Robinson Plumbing, one of the most trusted plumbing companies in the Lehigh Valley, for reliable plumbing services. We offer various plumbing services ranging from water heater replacements, toilet repairs and replacements, drain clogs, water leaks, and more. We always give a wide range of solutions when possible for any plumbing repairs. This allows you to choose the best options for your home and budget.
Find yourself dealing with an unexpected plumbing problem in the middle of the night? No worries! You can count on the expert plumbers at Robinson Plumbing to take care of you. We offer reliable 24-hour emergency plumbing services. You can count on us to get the job done quickly and correctly and, best of all, at an affordable price.
We proudly offer the most affordable and best plumbing services in the Lehigh Valley area. Our plumbers all have the proper licenses and expertise to ensure your satisfaction. All of our work comes with a guarantee. Contact Robinson Plumbing today and schedule your free estimate.
Some of the areas we service include Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Lehigh Valley, Whitehall, and these zip codes: 1 8101, 18015, 18042, 18001, 18052, as well as all surrounding areas in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.
Call us today at (610) 351-9889 or contact us for any questions that you might have!