Hello - I'm just a homeowner who's done something dumb, and needs help!

[Kim Klein]

I was trying to clean hair out of the tub drain (one of the flip lever type with a screen thing over the drain) using one of those plastic zip-it things? Well, the zip-it caught on the crossbars of the drain and about half the %)_(@!! thing broke off and is in the drain. I immediately flipped the lever to try and keep the zipit from going down the drain (so to speak) but now I need to see if I can get it out. I have a small diameter snake I could use, but I have to get the drain out as it won't go past the cross bars, and I'm not sure I'm strong enough to do that.... I gave it a whirl yesterday and got nowhere.

I have read where heating the thing to soften up the old plumbers putty would help - is that true? Is there anything ELSE I should try other than to snag it with a snake? I was actually thinking a long flexible spring might work too - it might be easier to catch the teeth on the broken piece of zip-it with a spring...

I would sure appreciate any advice you'd care to offer!! I'm so mad that this happened; I should have been more careful. Halp a lady out? Thank you!

 

[Smooky]

Can you see the Zip-it? A picture might help of what you are up against.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Kim Klein]

Can you see the Zip-it? A picture might help of what you are up against.

No I can't. that's why I closed triplever on the drain to try and (hopefully) keep it from sliding down into the pipe....A picture isn't really gonna show you anything but a tub drain.

 

[WorthFlorida]

Don't put a torch to soften up the old plumbers putty. Old putty is brittle with no moisture left in it so heat won't do a thing. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to remove a tub drain from the top. After you get the drain out you have more room to use a wire hanger bent with a hook or get one of these.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GrabEas...emover-Drain-Snake-in-Chrome-PF0405/302873178

 

[Reach4]

I was trying to clean hair out of the tub drain (one of the flip lever type with a screen thing over the drain) using one of those plastic zip-it things?

Flip lever is on the overflow, and you did not pull that lever linkage out?

Which kind do you have?
https://terrylove.com/forums/index....b-difficulty-with-shaft-in-overflow-tube.889/ #5

 

[mell652]

you need to attach a neodymium magnet to it and try to pull it out!