Step 2: Remove the P-Trap Tougher seals will need the pliers or pipe wrench. Start by stabilizing the connecting pipe with one hand and unscrewing a nut with the other.
Check for a possible adjustable swivel connection where the P-trap elevates and becomes horizontal. If you are working on a PVC pipe P-trap, you should be able to loosen the nuts on either end with a little bit of strength. Then, turn them counterclockwise to loosen and unscrew.
Heat up the end of the pipe with a heat gun, candle, or lighter, then form the moldable PVC over a nut that's the exact same size as the one you need to remove. When it cools, remove the nut, and you'll have a tool that can loosen nuts on almost any length of bolt.
So, if your orientation is looking from ABOVE and looking down on the piping (ie. looking from the sink down to the floor), you will need to turn it COUNTER- CLOCKWISE. This will unscrew it from U shaped piece and towards the top (90 degree) piece.
Most standard screws, bolts or nuts are unscrewed by turning them anti-clockwise, as shown in the image below. A good way to remember this is to try and commit to memory the phrase that all junior mechanics learn – righty tighty, lefty loosey.
Dislodge The Object Manually With Hands Or a Wire Hook
An excellent long metal coat hanger can make things easier if you can't reach the object. By bending a wire hanger into a slip knot or hook-like shape, you can manoeuvre it within the drain to dislodge and retrieve the blocking object.
Using the right sized spanner or an adjustable wrench, tighten the nut a little, then give it a wriggle before trying to loosen it again (remember righty tighty, lefty loosey!). Turn on the heat. Heat makes metal expand, so applying a little heat to the nut could make it expand enough to loosen.
If you are trying to separate threaded PVC pipes and fittings that have not been glued together with solvent cement, it may be possible to simply twist the two pieces apart. If you cannot loosen the pipe by twisting with your hands, you can try using a pipe wrench.
A plumber wrench (or plumber's wrench, pipe wrench, Swedish wrench or Swedish pattern wrench) is a form of plier described as a pipe wrench that uses compound leverage to grip and rotate plumbing pipes. Similar to the action of a Vise Grip plier, its jaw opening is adjusted to width by rotating a threaded ring.
Unlike other plumbing fixes, there is no need to turn off the home's main water supply. You only need to make sure water going into the specific area you're working on is off. It's important to remember that this is still a wet process.
Nine times out of ten, a sewer gas smell problem is coming from a P-trap that has lost its water for some reason; the trap is leaking, something is siphoning the trap empty (Example: it's full of long hair that is 'wicking' the water down enough to break the water-seal), or it's just drying out from not being used.
P-traps are known for their reliability and efficiency in maintaining a water seal, which helps to prevent sewer gases from entering buildings. Additionally, P-traps are less prone to syphoning and drainage issues compared to S-traps, making them a preferred choice for both residential and commercial plumbing systems.
Locate the compression nut on both ends of the trap (the curved part of the piping that holds water). Loosen the nuts with caution. Gently lower the trap and let the water inside it spill into the bucket. Hopefully, at this point, your lost item will spill out with the water.
Put on a pair of gloves. If you can see the toy, reach down the drain to retrieve or loosen it. If the toy isn't visible, but further down the drain, use a flange plunger if you have one to loosen and remove the toy. This type of plunger has a smaller cup and a curved flap below the lip.
Open the cabinets under the sink, and place your bucket underneath the P trap as this holds water even when functioning correctly and is not blocked. Use a wrench, or your hands, on the top coupling above the P trap and turn counter-clockwise to loosen.
Start by pulling out anything that is visible. Then take your wire brush and scrub the inside of the pipe well. Clean the pipe with the brush until you see all the debris gone. Rinse with plenty of water .
Alternatively, you can use a penetrating lubricant to remove the glue on the plastic fitting. It is important to apply heat only to the fitting if the glue has not yet melted. Use the appropriate amount of heat to loosen the glue without melting it. After two hours, you can use slip-joint pliers to turn the fitting.