How to Get a Rubber Duck Out of the Main Basement Drain

Control the Damage

• When the main basement drainpipe clogs, wastewater backs up into the lowest fixtures first. This may be a basement shower or a floor drain. Until you get the rubber duck out, anything that goes down the drain system will add to the problem. Instruct family members not to flush a commode, wash a load of dishes or laundry, or run any water until you give them the all clear.

Sewer Auger

• You can rent a sewer augur, also called a sewer snake, at many hardware or construction rental stores. Powered by electricity or gasoline, these augers feature long hoses that contain flexible rods that spin when you turn on the machine. Rent one with a hose long enough to reach from your home’s main sewer cleanout to where you think the rubber duck is lodged. You’ll have the option of attaching different tips to the end of the long hose. Some tips have springs and others have knives, sharp and strong enough to cut through tree roots.

Main Cleanout

• The main sewer cleanout is usually just outside the foundation. By unscrewing the cleanout cap, you can insert the end of the sewer auger hose into the cleanout and start the auger. You’ll need heavy leather gloves to hold and control the hose, which may jerk and pull as it works its way into the basement drainpipe. Start by attaching a flexible spring tip that will wrap around the rubber duck so you can pull it out. When you’ve fed enough line into the cleanout to reach the toy, reverse the spinning direction on the machine, and guide the line back out gradually. You can also attach the knife tip, which will cut up the toy and unclog the drain.

Before You Auger

• If there’s a chance that the rubber duck didn’t make it to the basement drainpipe yet, try using a manual closet auger, which works on the same principle as a sewer auger. Slip the tip down the commode to see if you can grab the toy and pull it back out. If only the toilet is clogged, but there is no backed-up water in a shower or tub, the duck may be stuck in the toilet drain.