The Strangest Things We've Found in Drains and Sewer Lines

Most people assume drain problems come from the usual suspects: grease, hair, soap scum, or maybe a clog somewhere under the sink.

And most of the time, they're right. But every now and then, a sewer camera inspection reveals something unexpected.

Over the years, we've found everything from lost valuables to children's toys to blockages so strange they sound made up. Some are accidental. Some are surprisingly common. And some leave homeowners wondering how they got there in the first place.

Here are a few of the strangest things we've actually found inside drains and sewer lines.

A Full Set of Car Keys

We've found a lot of strange things in sewer lines over the years.

A full set of car keys is still near the top of the list. The homeowner had been dealing with a toilet that clogged repeatedly. Every time it seemed fixed, the problem came back.

When we inspected the line, we found the cause: a key ring lodged sideways in the pipe. Over time, toilet paper and debris had collected around it until the line was nearly blocked. The homeowner thought those keys had disappeared months earlier. Technically, they had. Just not where anyone expected.

The Tiny Dinosaur That Ruled the Sewer

If you've ever had a toddler in the house, this one probably won't surprise you.

A plastic dinosaur had become lodged inside the toilet line. Every flush caught a little more paper against it, creating a clog that would clear temporarily before returning a few days later. The problem went on for months before a camera inspection finally revealed the culprit.

The Prison Shank

Most people don't expect a homemade weapon to be the cause of a clogged toilet. Neither did the correctional facility that called us.

During an inspection at a state prison, we were tracking down a persistent blockage that kept causing problems in one section of the facility. The toilet would clog, appear to clear, and then back up again.

The culprit? An improvised weapon.

Lodged inside the line was a homemade prison shank, which appeared to be fashioned from a piece of rigid plastic that had been sharpened to a point and wrapped with makeshift material to form a handle. It wasn't particularly large, but it didn't need to be.

Once lodged in the pipe, it became the perfect trap for toilet paper and debris. The blockage would partially break apart, allow some flow, and then slowly rebuild itself until the toilet backed up again.

How it got there wasn't our department. Getting it out was.

It's not the kind of thing most people expect to find inside a drain line. Then again, after enough years in the drain and sewer business, you stop saying, "We've seen it all." Because sooner or later, somebody proves you wrong.

The Great "Flushable" Wipe Disaster

Actually, there isn't a grand story to share here.

The Dead Animal Nobody Was Looking For

The homeowner originally called about a foul smell near the side of the house and a downspout drain that wasn't working the way it should.

A camera inspection revealed the culprit: a dead squirrel lodged inside the downspout drain line where leaves, sludge, and other debris had been collecting. By the looks of her, she'd been in there for a few months.

Over time, the squirrel became the center of a growing blockage. Every rainstorm washed more debris into the line, making the drainage problem worse and the smell harder to ignore.

The good news? We found the problem. The bad news? We found the problem.

The Ring That Wasn't Gone Forever

Not every drain story ends badly.

One customer called us in a panic after realizing her grandmother's ring was missing. After searching every drawer, pocket, and countertop, there was only one possibility left: the ring had gone down the toilet.

To make matters worse, the plumbing had already been used throughout the day. Most people would assume it was gone forever.

Instead of guessing, we performed a drain camera inspection to see exactly what was happening inside the line. The ring hadn't traveled far, and using specialized equipment, we were able to locate it and retrieve it safely.

It wasn't just a piece of jewelry. It was a family heirloom she thought she'd lost forever. Thankfully, this story had a happy ending.

Want to read the full story? Check out our blog, "Flushed Something Valuable? One True Drain Story You'll Never Forget."

What Causes Most Drain and Sewer Clogs?

While toys, car keys, wedding rings, prison shanks, and the occasional dead animal make good stories, most drain and sewer problems come from far less exciting sources.

The biggest offenders include:

• Grease and cooking oils
• "Flushable" wipes
• Hair buildup
• Paper towels
• Hygiene products
• Tree root intrusion
• Food waste
• Recurring buildup that was never fully removed

Many major sewer backups begin with a small restriction that slowly gets worse over time.

Warning Signs Something May Be Hiding in Your Drains

If you're experiencing any of the following, there may be more happening inside the line than you realize:

• Slow drains
• Frequent clogs
• Gurgling toilets or sinks
• Sewer odors
• Water backing up unexpectedly
• Problems that return shortly after being cleared

Recurring drain problems are often a sign that the real blockage was never fully removed.

Don't Wait for Your Own Strange Sewer Story

Most major drain and sewer problems start small.

The trouble is that small problems have a habit of becoming expensive ones when they're ignored.

Whether you're dealing with recurring clogs, slow drains, sewer odors, or backups that keep returning, a professional inspection can help uncover what's really happening inside the line.

Sometimes it's grease. Sometimes it's tree roots. Sometimes it's something you'd never expect. Either way, it's better to find out before water ends up where it shouldn't.

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