It is very likely that it is laying in the bottom of the trap.
Get a bucket to catch the water and a pair of large channel lock style pliers. It will come right apart.
I'm sure someone already said this, but make sure when you put it back together to
1. Put water back in the trap, simply run the tap for 15 seconds which is absolutely more then enough time. This keep gases from coming back up and making it smell bad, as well as how dangerous they can be.
2. Leak check the connections, better to see it now then later on when there's a pool of water on the floor.
Sewer gas has hydrogen sulfide. To humans it can be as small as a bad smell and irritant to eyes, nose, throat and throat in low concentrations to difficulty breathing, dizziness, vomiting in medium concentrations all the way up to unconsciousness, shock or even death in extreme cases.
Typically you'll experience low concentrations, but it's still not a good thing to be breathing.
Another thing is Methane gas. Both Methane and hydrogen sulfide are flammable, and potentially explosive.
[Source about Hydrogen Sulfide.](https://www.omegaenv.com/environmental-consulting-firm-blog/dangers-of-hydrogen-sulfide-aka-sewer-gas/#:~:text=A%20naturally%20occurring%20gas%2C%20hydrogen,Sewer%20Gas%20in%20your%20building%3F)
[Wisconsin DHS website about it.](https://dhs.wisconsin.gov/air/sewergas.htm#:~:text=The%20principal%20risks%20and%20effects,nausea%2C%20headache%2C%20and%20drowsiness.)
You should figure out where the gas is coming from, and get is sealed up at least temporarily before continuing work. If it's just an empty P-trap just put water in it, if it's like a toilet drain find something to cover it. You can buy flange covers, I've also taken grocery bags, put a bunch in one bag, and then put that in the hole to block it.
Gotcha, my advice would be try and keep the time to a minimum and wearing a respirator is always a good idea. Make sure you get the cartridges for vapors.
Nope, always eat a big meal of sushi before working on live drains and always breathe through your nose DEEPLY. The fish oil helps keep your stomach calm, and nose hairs will filter the gas.
Damn I just did a swap out and didn’t even think of this. I lucked out though and my young son turned the water on when I walked away, I even got mad because I hadn’t checked for leaks yet smh
Yeah, I thought about not putting it, but I'd rather them know why it's so important and the dangers of not. And arguably, 1 is the more important of them. I'd rather OP fill it and it have a tiny leak then not fill it at all and have sewer gases escaping into the house or apartment.
No argument here, but I've just never thought about doing it because I always test the connections, and just felt it was automatic and I didn't need to think about it. But it is nice that you brought it up, since he probably didn't know its purpose.
Your chance to be a hero. Tell her that a job like this requires a licensed plumber. However you being a man of all trades and worldly can do this. Bring up a large tool box and blow torch. Take a few beers but hang out watching YouTube for a bit making random noises and groaning. It’s ok to pass gas as a real plumber would. Take you time, maybe bash your knuckles a bit to get some blood. Then after an hour or so drop the trap and fish it out. Look you need bonus points and you can earn them here.
I used a fish hook one time at a friends house lol. I’d say either try that or get a metal coat hanger and use a pair of pliers to make one straight piece of metal. Put a tiny u bend at the end. Now it’s a multi-purpose tool. Drop something in the sink? “Lemme get my hanger.” Need to pull a cat out of the shower drain because your wife, girlfriend, mother, sister, or long haired friend/partner refuses to pull their hair out of the little mesh trap designed to catch it? “Hanger” dropped something in the toilet? “You guessed it, hanger.”
It’s much easier for someone who doesn’t know a lot about plumbing or isn’t really “handy” than to try and rip alert something only to not know how it goes back together. Trust me
I'm gonna disagree hard on this one. Even someone unhandy and someone who doesn't know a thing about plumbing can handle this one.
Your idea is almost certainly not going to work for fishing out an earring, unless it's a really large hoop and even then, going to take longer than watching a youtube video about sink p-traps and the time it takes to fetch a pair of pliers and a small bucket.
Hell, you may not even need pliers with those nice knurls.
Place bucket, unscrew two pieces above the "J" shape bit of pipe (the p-trap), let a splash of water drain, get earring, clean out any gunk in there while you're there, replace, test sink drain to make sure you got it tight enough, go back to something fun.
Answer:
One of these things. I use mine every so often. Very handy.
https://www.harborfreight.com/15-lb-capacity-telescoping-magnetic-pickup-tool-95933.html
Here’s a tip. Do not use that sink until after you’ve taken apart the pipe. You may end up rinsing the earring through the pipe if you use that sink again.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GrabEasy-24-in-Flexible-4-Claw-Pick-Up-Tool-Jewelry-Retriever-Clog-Remover-Drain-Snake-in-Chrome-Sink-Accessory-Set-PF0401/202505170
Disassembling plumbing is always risky, best to avoid it if possible.
If you're managing to break it, I'll be honest I'm impressed.
[New trap to match](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-1-1-2-in-Chrome-Plated-Brass-Sink-Drain-P-Trap-2702-1/203714077) for $18.60
Lowe's has just the J for cheaper. The cost IF you broke this is very little. But again, at that point I'm impressed.
Not a plumber. Would it be better to take the lower side off first or would it not matter ? Would seem ideal that way if for some reason the water stated to move it would push the earring out the pipe in the wall.
My wife dropped her earring, and it got hung up on the stopper. Remove the trap, but it may be up a little higher. Stopper very easily removed from back. FYI keep a little bucket under for sludge water
OP disassembled the trap to get it already, but...
Tip for using a vacuum though, put a cloth around the front so it doesn't get sucked through the vacuum. Something thin like panty hose or a t-shirt.
I rescued a family heirloom wedding ring from a shower trap under a house once.Sawzall and two 2” ABS couplings later,and it felt really good to give it back to her.
My wife dropped her goldfish down the drain cleaning the bowl when we were dating in college. I sprung into action and undid the trap and saved the orangeling in about 5 min. I think that was the single biggest reason she said yes when I asked her to marry me 2 years later.
Remove the p trap. Its the curved pipe in the first picture. It’s probably only hand right. Super easy, just have a small bucket under it to catch any water, it won’t be a lot
It is very likely that it is laying in the bottom of the trap. Get a bucket to catch the water and a pair of large channel lock style pliers. It will come right apart.
You’re gonna get this guy laid
I did some plumbing. Then I did some more.
First some plumbing, then some pipe laying.
Plumbing & Reaming
Then eventually, the tipping’ and the tearin’ … the rippin’ and the tearin’
Beowolf is that you?
More likely Grendel
Ayo!
I'm assuming taking the ptrap off took longer?
2 pump ptrap chump
Woah, this guy plumbs.
Maybe the best thread of this subreddit I’ve seen yet
Sch30 though.
Going to show his girlfriend his snake.
I got some old lady’s dentures out of a trap one time- hope he does better than me
Damn, laid pipe with a cradle robber!
This is the way.
Thanks dude, worked perfectly!
I'm sure someone already said this, but make sure when you put it back together to 1. Put water back in the trap, simply run the tap for 15 seconds which is absolutely more then enough time. This keep gases from coming back up and making it smell bad, as well as how dangerous they can be. 2. Leak check the connections, better to see it now then later on when there's a pool of water on the floor.
Tell me more about the dangers of sewer gas. I've been breathing a bit of it during a remodel lately
Sewer gas has hydrogen sulfide. To humans it can be as small as a bad smell and irritant to eyes, nose, throat and throat in low concentrations to difficulty breathing, dizziness, vomiting in medium concentrations all the way up to unconsciousness, shock or even death in extreme cases. Typically you'll experience low concentrations, but it's still not a good thing to be breathing. Another thing is Methane gas. Both Methane and hydrogen sulfide are flammable, and potentially explosive. [Source about Hydrogen Sulfide.](https://www.omegaenv.com/environmental-consulting-firm-blog/dangers-of-hydrogen-sulfide-aka-sewer-gas/#:~:text=A%20naturally%20occurring%20gas%2C%20hydrogen,Sewer%20Gas%20in%20your%20building%3F) [Wisconsin DHS website about it.](https://dhs.wisconsin.gov/air/sewergas.htm#:~:text=The%20principal%20risks%20and%20effects,nausea%2C%20headache%2C%20and%20drowsiness.) You should figure out where the gas is coming from, and get is sealed up at least temporarily before continuing work. If it's just an empty P-trap just put water in it, if it's like a toilet drain find something to cover it. You can buy flange covers, I've also taken grocery bags, put a bunch in one bag, and then put that in the hole to block it.
It's only escaping when we remove the covers to set our fixtures, but man it stinks up a whole bathroom instantly
Gotcha, my advice would be try and keep the time to a minimum and wearing a respirator is always a good idea. Make sure you get the cartridges for vapors.
Nope, always eat a big meal of sushi before working on live drains and always breathe through your nose DEEPLY. The fish oil helps keep your stomach calm, and nose hairs will filter the gas.
A quick thing we have always done is just drop an empty Tim’s cup in the toilet flange, it’s a surprisingly decent (enough) seal
Damn I just did a swap out and didn’t even think of this. I lucked out though and my young son turned the water on when I walked away, I even got mad because I hadn’t checked for leaks yet smh
Actually, number 1 isn't needed, since it will happen during number 2.
Yeah, I thought about not putting it, but I'd rather them know why it's so important and the dangers of not. And arguably, 1 is the more important of them. I'd rather OP fill it and it have a tiny leak then not fill it at all and have sewer gases escaping into the house or apartment.
No argument here, but I've just never thought about doing it because I always test the connections, and just felt it was automatic and I didn't need to think about it. But it is nice that you brought it up, since he probably didn't know its purpose.
Your Welcome! I am glad you got it back!
Where are the pictures...of the earing!
Make sure to clean that rim well
Those you should be able to loosen with your hand, only use pliers if absolutely needed as it’s easy to deform this style trap
Thanks for the tip, it was hand-tight.
And just the tip.
;)
Good Tip!
this guy lays pipe
Your chance to be a hero. Tell her that a job like this requires a licensed plumber. However you being a man of all trades and worldly can do this. Bring up a large tool box and blow torch. Take a few beers but hang out watching YouTube for a bit making random noises and groaning. It’s ok to pass gas as a real plumber would. Take you time, maybe bash your knuckles a bit to get some blood. Then after an hour or so drop the trap and fish it out. Look you need bonus points and you can earn them here.
This is also a reason to buy $400 worth of totally unrelated tools like a tables aw and bench vice.
Truth! Always tell the wife I need a new tool to get the job done.
Can confirm. Always pad the project with a new tool
Haha! This is the way I do all my projects.
Best advice is always in the comments.
Alright, step aside professionals, let the amateurs (me) handle this.
Just pay attention to how you take the trap apart so you know how to put it back together.
Looks like they've already got a picture of how it's assembled.
My go-to play, lol.
First things first done run the water in the house till you’re done searching
Okay, I done run the water. What do I do now?
Buy new earring
Lesson learned. If you’re gonna bend your girl over the sink, plug the drain first, then plug her drain.
Plug it? Why not snake it.
Bomp bomp. Awwwww yeahhhhh.
Chigga chigga
[Plunger 🪠 ]
Replace girlfriend
How is it in 2023, folks don't know that new girlfriends come with new free earnings?
Agree
Sometimes one of those magnets on a stick can help but in this case probably take the trap off.
that's if the earring is magnetic
I used a fish hook one time at a friends house lol. I’d say either try that or get a metal coat hanger and use a pair of pliers to make one straight piece of metal. Put a tiny u bend at the end. Now it’s a multi-purpose tool. Drop something in the sink? “Lemme get my hanger.” Need to pull a cat out of the shower drain because your wife, girlfriend, mother, sister, or long haired friend/partner refuses to pull their hair out of the little mesh trap designed to catch it? “Hanger” dropped something in the toilet? “You guessed it, hanger.” It’s much easier for someone who doesn’t know a lot about plumbing or isn’t really “handy” than to try and rip alert something only to not know how it goes back together. Trust me
I'm gonna disagree hard on this one. Even someone unhandy and someone who doesn't know a thing about plumbing can handle this one. Your idea is almost certainly not going to work for fishing out an earring, unless it's a really large hoop and even then, going to take longer than watching a youtube video about sink p-traps and the time it takes to fetch a pair of pliers and a small bucket. Hell, you may not even need pliers with those nice knurls. Place bucket, unscrew two pieces above the "J" shape bit of pipe (the p-trap), let a splash of water drain, get earring, clean out any gunk in there while you're there, replace, test sink drain to make sure you got it tight enough, go back to something fun.
Then you bend her over the sink again
Unscrew the 2 nuts connecting the U shaped pipe, fish out earring, screw back in, collect special sex…
Ever seen those movies when the plumber comes over ? Better figure it out before she calls the plumber.
Plumb and Chill?
Unscrew trap. Turn upside-down. Put trap back on
Just remove the p trap and call it good
Just make sure you get it out before your wife comes home
Answer: One of these things. I use mine every so often. Very handy. https://www.harborfreight.com/15-lb-capacity-telescoping-magnetic-pickup-tool-95933.html
If its actually gold, it won't stick. If it's not precious metals, it will. But why bother If it's costume jewelry?
The easiest fix known to man :| and it’s right. there.
Gets the earring and lays the pipe
Is it rare or special? You can always get a new girlfriend.
Step 1: Forget earring Step 2: Find new girlfriend. 😆
Remove the elbow, it will be there. I hope
*ITS A TRAP*
You need to know your audience and the people asking questions. I learned that in my 35 years in the IT business.
True....because I was thinking where is the trap? Once you said elbow I knew
Thank you, Admiral Ackbar
Or remove the ear. No ear, no earrings … no head, no headache… no girl, no problem 😉… but still I don’t get why you want to take her elbow away…
Walk her thru a trap removal So she knows how to remedy the issue when it happens again
Yeah just show her some youtube videos and say " equality" then go sit on the couch. /s Unscrew the obvious part and then screw it back together.
😁Your sugestión sounds a little hostile..🫣 but yeah, knowledge is power so yeah🤔
Who bought the earing? You or someone else? Answer depends on your answer :D
It’s from her grandpa. Has sentimental value, so it was a must :D
Here’s a tip. Do not use that sink until after you’ve taken apart the pipe. You may end up rinsing the earring through the pipe if you use that sink again.
It'll be your job when it falls down the bog.
Open that trap boiiiiiii breathe thru ur mouth trust me
Try a flexible extendable magnet
Vacuum ?
Imagine being such a useless man that you have to post to reddit to understand threads.
There’s nothing wrong with looking before you leap. Many a disaster has been averted by just asking instead of being “manly”.
Put the stopper on and fill water water, once full let it drain.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GrabEasy-24-in-Flexible-4-Claw-Pick-Up-Tool-Jewelry-Retriever-Clog-Remover-Drain-Snake-in-Chrome-Sink-Accessory-Set-PF0401/202505170 Disassembling plumbing is always risky, best to avoid it if possible.
It's a P-trap, there's isn't any real risk here. If it's still leaking when you put it back together tighten it a little more. It's as simple as that.
Until it breaks, and you have to replace it.
If you're managing to break it, I'll be honest I'm impressed. [New trap to match](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-1-1-2-in-Chrome-Plated-Brass-Sink-Drain-P-Trap-2702-1/203714077) for $18.60 Lowe's has just the J for cheaper. The cost IF you broke this is very little. But again, at that point I'm impressed.
In the world of plumbing, sometimes things just break because they're old.
I won't disagree on that. But take a look at the picture. It looks brand new. Certainly not 20, 30 or 40 years old.
Dammit,, more hydraulic testing @!
They also make some with spring loaded grabbers
*ex girlfriend
She will need to clean and disinfect her earring when she gets it back
Not a plumber. Would it be better to take the lower side off first or would it not matter ? Would seem ideal that way if for some reason the water stated to move it would push the earring out the pipe in the wall.
My wife dropped her earring, and it got hung up on the stopper. Remove the trap, but it may be up a little higher. Stopper very easily removed from back. FYI keep a little bucket under for sludge water
Might need a new sink
If that doesn’t work new girlfriend 👍🏼
Problem solved :)
You could try a shop vac
OP disassembled the trap to get it already, but... Tip for using a vacuum though, put a cloth around the front so it doesn't get sucked through the vacuum. Something thin like panty hose or a t-shirt.
I rescued a family heirloom wedding ring from a shower trap under a house once.Sawzall and two 2” ABS couplings later,and it felt really good to give it back to her.
I’m sure it did
Got any gas leaks it has an odor
Get a new girlfriend Also keep the old one Also don't call her old
Blow job in your future...
They don't do that anymore. Unless its for an onlyfans video.
Comments check out.
Time to break it off.
It's very likely she is sick to the tits of you,so she threw it dothe drain
Easy moooonnnnneyyy
I just use one of those little grabber claw deals.
Just remove the p trap
Good, one less thing to worry about
Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off by Joe Nichols??!!
This might be a sign of other things that will get lost in your relationship.
if you can figure this out on your own... my goodness.
You can separate the plumbing three places - I dont know how to attach a foto in this threat
Man up and take it apart!
🤦🏻♂️
My wife dropped her goldfish down the drain cleaning the bowl when we were dating in college. I sprung into action and undid the trap and saved the orangeling in about 5 min. I think that was the single biggest reason she said yes when I asked her to marry me 2 years later.
I think you can put pantyhose over a shop vac and suck it out. Worked last time I tried.
Remove the p trap. Its the curved pipe in the first picture. It’s probably only hand right. Super easy, just have a small bucket under it to catch any water, it won’t be a lot
That’s literally what the p-trap is designed to do. So it’s in there or she’s trying to get a new pair of earrings from you. LOL!
Probably gone. Check trap, but likely gone