Having a clogged drain can be an irritating issue to deal with. There are couple of steps that you can take to help get your drain flowing cleanly and clearly again. One of the first things that you can try to do to clear a drain way, is using a liquid drain product that is compatible with your particular plumbing system. It important to remember that some drain cleaners are not compatible with PVC pipe. For this reason it is important that you read the label carefully before using any liquid drain cleaner. If you happen to apply liquid drain products into your drain, and it does not clear the drain, it is important to remember to never remove a trap if chemicals are present in the drain.

If you have simply lost something valuable down a sink drain, such as a ring , money or jewelry of any kind, the easiest way to retrieve this lost item is by removing the “P” or the “S” trap below the sink. In most cases this is very simple and can be done in just a few minutes. Simply unscrew both connecting pieces from the “P” Trap.

After you have removed your item, simply reinstall.

On a more detailed step-by-step process, let’s discuss the top three basic steps to removing a “P” or “S” trap.

Step one. Here you will need to place a pan or a bucket underneath the trap to catch any water runoff once it is unattached from the rest of the drain piping. If you think there may be chemicals in the trap, make sure that you wear chemical resistant gloves, and also some form of  eye protection.

Step two. Next you will need to loosen the two in nuts of the couplings on the trap. In most cases these nuts can be loosened by hand, but if they are tight, a pipe wrench may be needed. Once the trap is loose, simply unattached and remove the item or remove whatever is clogging the drain.

Step three. Before replacing the trap back onto the drain piping, it is a good time to check the washers for any damage such as tears, or holes. If you notice anything wrong with the washers, replace them now as they will help save you from a leak later on. Congratulations you’re done.