As homeowners, we understand that accidents happen. We also know that when something valuable or expensive has been flushed down the toilet, it can be a costly and frustrating experience to try and fix.
In this blog post, we will outline some of the best ways to handle this type of situation so that you can minimize the damage and hopefully get your home back to normal as quickly as possible. Let’s get started!
If you are unfortunate enough to have something valuable or expensive flushed down the toilet, the first thing you should do is call a plumber. They will be able to help assess the situation and determine the best course of action for fixing it. In some cases, the plumber may be able to fix the problem without having to tear apart your entire bathroom, but in other cases, they may have to remove some of your plumbing in order to get to the source of the issue.
In addition to calling a plumber, it is also important to document what was flushed down the toilet. This will help the plumber identify the problem and fix it as quickly as possible. You can do this by taking pictures or videos of the item(s) that were flushed, as well as the toilet itself.
Here’s some guidance on what to do if you’re looking for something but accidentally flushed it down the toilet:
1 – If the item is still in your home, do not flush anything down the toilet. Chances are that you will be able to find it if you keep looking for it.
2 – If the item has completely disappeared and sanitary sewers are backed up on your street or in your neighborhood, try calling a plumber (see above). They can put cameras down into the sewer system to determine where exactly the blockage is located so that they can clear it out as quickly as possible.
3 – If only your home’s pipes are being affected by a lost item, then you’re going to have to go through with fixing them yourself. This is actually pretty simple most of the time. A plunger be able to fix small clogs, and a plumbing snake can help remove bigger clogs. If you’re not comfortable doing this on your own, or if the clog is in a hard-to-reach place, then you should definitely call a plumber.
How to Avoid such situations in the future?
The best way to avoid costly, frustrating situations with your plumbing is to prevent them from happening in the first place. If you are diligent about checking your toilets for leaks before they become problems, you can save yourself a lot of headaches down the road.
These are all great options if you need to check your toilet for leaks!
If you don’t want to have to deal with clogs or any other issues that come part and parcel with owning a home, then perhaps it would be wise to move into an apartment complex that has maintenance staff on-site. This way, when something breaks down or gets damaged beyond repair, someone will be there to take care of it quickly and efficiently – saving you time and money in the long run!
So, if you are unfortunate enough to have something valuable or expensive flushed down the toilet, the best thing to do is call a plumber. They will be able to help assess the situation and determine the best course of action for fixing it. In some cases, the plumber may be able to fix the problem without having to tear apart your entire bathroom, but in other cases, they may have to remove some of your plumbing in order to get the source of the problem.
Can my flushed item be claimed by an insurance company?
Unfortunately, water damage is not covered by most homeowners’ insurance policies. This means that your claim will be denied if you file one with your insurance company.
However, you may be able to salvage some of the items that were flushed down the toilet without having to pay for them yourself! It’s best to conduct a thorough search through the plumbing system before calling in a plumber, as they will probably have to rip apart your bathroom(s) in order to access all parts of the piping system. This way, you can identify any items that need special care or treatment before sending them off with the plumber so that they are not lost forever!
If there’s nothing left but dirt once everything has been taken apart and cleaned out completely, then you may have to face the fact that your valuable or expensive item is gone for good. However, it’s still worth trying to find it – especially if the item is of high sentimental value.
Here are a few things that you can do in order to try and find your lost item:
1 – Check the sewer system. If you think that the item may have made its way down the drain, then one of the best places to look for it is inside the sewer system. This may sound gross, but it’s actually fairly simple – you just need to climb up on your roof and lower down a flexible cable or long stick so that you can feel around in the nooks and crannies of the wastewater drainage pipe. However, keep in mind that this method will only work if your clog is close to the street – if it’s further down the line, then you won’t be able to reach it.
2 – Use a metal detector. If you think that the item may have been flushed out into the sewer system but got stuck somewhere along the way, then you can try using a metal detector to find it. This way, you won’t have to be in contact with any sewage, but it can still be an effective way of finding small metal objects.
3 – Look in the yard. If your item is made of a very small or light material, then it may have landed on the ground and gotten covered by dirt or grass. In this case, you can try to look for it in your yard by using a shovel or metal detector.
4 – Hire a professional. If you’ve tried all of the methods listed above and still can’t find your lost item, then it may be time to call in a professional. This is especially true if the item is of high value or sentimental value.
A professional plumber will have the experience and tools necessary to find your item, even if it’s at the bottom of a sewer pipe! They will also be able to help you get it back without having to break the bank.