putty knife down the toilet drain

Over 698,000 strictly plumbing related posts

Plumbing education, information, advice, help and suggestions are provided by some of the most experienced plumbers who wish to "give back" to society. Since 1996 we have been the best online (strictly) PLUMBING advice site. If you have questions about plumbing, toilets, sinks, faucets, drains, sewers, water filters, venting, water heating, showers, pumps, and other strictly PLUMBING related issues then you've come to the right place. Please refrain from asking or discussing legal questions, or pricing, or where to purchase products, or any business issues, or for contractor referrals, or any other questions or issues not specifically related to plumbing. Keep all posts positive and absolutely no advertising. Our site is completely free, without ads or pop-ups and we don't tract you. We absolutely do not sell your personal information. We are made possible by:

Post New

How to Show Images

Newest Subjects

putty knife down the toilet drain

Author: Cactus Gal (AZ)

My husband is replacing our toilets with low flow 1.28gpf. After removing the old toilet and scraping the old seal and caulk away, the putty knife slipped out of his hand and down the exposed sewer pipe. We can't see it, reach it or get it with a magnet. There is most likely a Y where the two bathroom toilet drains meet but we don't know if it is stuck or not.
I have flushed the other toilet (which was replaced yesterday with the new low flow) several times and it has flushed fine (at least for now).
Any suggestions? Do we just "go with the flow" and when it plugs up (someday) we'll know why?

Post Reply

Re: putty knife down the toilet drain
Author: packy (MA) your other option would be to have a sewer camera sent down the pipe to look for the putty knife. if it were me, i would wait..
Post Reply

Re: putty knife down the toilet drain
Author: KCRoto (MO) City sewer or septic tank? How old is your house?
Post Reply

Re: putty knife down the toilet drain
Author: hj (AZ) You may know WHY, but the plumber may NOT be able to remove it, or push it further. I would get it out now, while it is still close to the opening.
Post Reply

Re: putty knife down the toilet drain
Author: sum (FL) Just have to be careful to not lose a coat hanger and flashlight down there.
Post Reply

Please note:

Inappropriate messages or blatant advertising will be deleted. We cannot be held responsible for bad or inadequate advice.
Plbg.com has no control over external content that may be linked to from messages posted here. Please follow external links with caution.
Plbg.com is strictly for the exchange of plumbing related advice and NOT to ask about pricing/costs, nor where to find a product (try Google), nor how to operate or promote a business, nor for ethics (law) and the like questions.
Plbg.com is also not a place to ask radiant heating (try HeatingHelp.com), electrical or even general construction type questions. We are exclusively for plumbing questions.

Search for plumbing parts on our sponsor's site:

Plbg Advisor List Common Plumbing Terms Find A Plumber Plumbing Manufacturers Directory theplumber.com

Special thanks to our sponsor:

to FAQ's - to popular subjects - to plumbing books - to Tankless 101 - to plumbing history - to helping charities - to contact us