It can be almost impossible to remain calm and level headed when you accidentally flush a favorite piece of jewelry down the toilet. Especially if that precious jewelry item isn’t covered by homeowners or renters insurance or a standalone jewelery insurance policy.
But that is precisely what you need to do if you ever hope to see it again. While you are sure to be experiencing a wide array of emotions from sadness to anger at yourself for your careless act, it is essential that you immediately turn off the water to the toilet. This step will help prevent the item from being washed further into your home’s sewer pipe.
Next, locate a rubber glove and search the toilet bowl’s bottom to be sure that the piece of jewelry did get flushed and is not hiding just out of view. If you do not find the item, then it is time to remove the water from the toilet tank. This will ensure that no one accidentally flushes the water that is remaining in the holding tank.
Remove the tank lid and set it aside. Then bail the water out of the tank with a bowl or small bucket. The last small amount of water in the tank can be soaked up with old towels, or removed with a kitchen baster. You must now decide if you are ready to tackle removing the toilet yourself or if you are going to call (318) 202-9144 for assistance from the pros at Gordon AC & Plumbing.
The DIY Approach
First, locate an old blanket or large towel that will become the toilet’s resting place once it is removed. There will be a small amount of water leaked out of the toilet when placed on its side on the floor. Next, remove the covers from the mounting screws on either side of the toilet. You might need a putty knife or flat screwdriver to pry these covers off to access the screws. Loosen the screws that hold the toilet to the floor. Now remove the water supply line from the base of the toilet tank.
Carefully lift the toilet from the floor and place it on its side on the towel or blanket. Shine a flashlight into the toilet trap to see if your lost jewelry is stuck in this space. If not, examine the wax ring on the base of the toilet and the portion that is still on the floor. Small items can become stuck to either wax surface or on the mounting flange.
Hopefully, your hard work is rewarded by locating your lost piece of jewelry. But you still need to re-install the toilet. So save the celebration until the last few steps are completed.
Re-Installing A Toilet
It is always good to replace the wax seal any time you remove a toilet from the floor. They are very affordable, and it is a cost-effective way to avoid some nasty, smelly leaks in your bathroom. With new wax seals in place, carefully replace the toilet over the mounting flange. Tighten the mounting screws with your hands, being careful not to overtighten one side or the other. Next, finish tightening with a gentle turn using a wrench or pliers. Tightening too aggressively will result in breaking the base of the porcelain toilet.
Finally, reattach the water supply line to the toilet tank and turn the water on slowly. Make a couple of test flushes to ensure that everything is working correctly, and there are no leaks. Place the tank cover back on the toilet, and your bathroom is ready for business again.
No Luck Locating Your Jewelry
Even if you were unable to locate your lost jewelry inside the toilet, there is still one more option to explore. A call to the pros at (318) 202-9144, is the last hope of recovering your treasure. Our team uses a tiny camera inserted into the drain and sewer pipes to search for and your missing item. Once we find it, we can recover it for you and put this stressful day to rest.
Never think that just because a valuable item is flushed, that it is gone forever. Call the pros at Gordon AC & Plumbing at (318) 202-9144 to save the day and your piece of jewelry.
