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**Found Metal Balls Under Your Kitchen Sink? Here’s What They Mean**
If you’ve recently found metal balls under your kitchen sink, you might be scratching your head, wondering what they could possibly be. They don’t seem to belong there, but there they are—shiny, metallic, and seemingly out of place. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! This mysterious discovery is more common than you think, and there’s a simple explanation for it.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the potential causes of these metal balls, why they end up in your kitchen, and what you should do about them.
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### **What Are These Metal Balls?**
These little metallic spheres are likely **ball bearings** or **steel shot**—a small, smooth metal ball that’s often used in various mechanical applications. You may find them in different sizes, and they’re typically made of stainless steel or another durable metal. But why are they under your kitchen sink?
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### **1. They Could Be Ball Bearings from Your Plumbing**
One of the most common reasons for finding metal balls under your kitchen sink is that they’re **ball bearings** that have fallen out of a plumbing component. Ball bearings are used in a wide range of household and industrial machinery, including faucets, shut-off valves, and other plumbing fixtures.
Over time, components like faucet cartridges or valve stems may degrade, and their internal ball bearings can fall out, ending up in places you wouldn’t expect, like under the sink.
**What You Should Do:**
– **Check your faucet or valve**: If you notice any leaks or difficulty turning your faucet or valves, you may need to inspect or replace the part containing the ball bearings.
– **Consult a plumber**: If you’re unsure where the ball bearings came from or how to fix the problem, it’s a good idea to call a plumber to ensure that everything is functioning correctly and safely.
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### **2. Steel Shot from a Tool or Appliance**
Another possibility is that the metal balls could be **steel shot**, a material often used in shot blasting or cleaning metal surfaces. Steel shot is also used in certain machines or tools like dishwashers, washing machines, or other appliances in your home. Over time, these little steel balls can escape from the appliance or tool they belong to and end up under the sink.
**What You Should Do:**
– **Inspect your appliances**: Look for any tools or appliances near your kitchen sink that might use steel shot or ball bearings. If you’re missing a part from your dishwasher or washing machine, this might be the cause of the mysterious balls.
– **Take care of small repairs**: If you find that the balls came from an appliance, it may be a sign that something needs to be repaired or replaced. If you’re unsure, reaching out to the manufacturer or a repair technician is a smart idea.
