Tub overflow stopper fell down pipe. Options.

Are there any special tools plumbers can use to extract the stopper?

The water is completely blocked. Tried a wire coat hanger, and could not fish it out. The wire bottomed out, the wire length seemed to reach the p-trap. so I'm concerned the stopper is further down, hopefully not through the p-trap.

Running a small amount of water, the drain quickly gets backed up, so hopefully it's in the straight part.


I called 2 plumbers. One guy said he could use a camera and see down the pipe and maybe fish it out. Sounded reasonable.

The other plumber was suggesting something more invasive- digging in the dirt and cutting out the p-trap, and changing the cast iron to ABS. That doesn't sound right.
I just want the plug fished out, not a whole replumb.

Here's the access panel next to the tub showing the overflow and drain.

 

This might work for you. It saved me a few times and you may find this at your Home Depot. Of you cannot reach to stopper, though these are 24" long, you remove the one or two screws at the overflow on the tub side, if possible with a wrench undo the the first fitting below it. It does look tight but it is all brass and usually there is no corrosion. If you can loosen it, you just lift the overflow off. The stopper is most likely in the same location when used, right at the tee for the tub drain.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-...l-tools/24-inch-2-in-1-pickup-tool-94162.html

 

this house was built in 1966.

Does that bottom corroded part look like a p trap? Anyone know?

 

I was the one who thought it might have fallen past the tee.

I disassembled the whole drain overflow today, and there is no stopper.

I remember I removed it a couple years ago because tenants' hair was getting clogged in it.


So, whatever is clogging the drain must be a hair ball or something.