There is always a moment of panic when a cherished ring or another piece of small jewelry is lost down a sink drain. Fortunately, with a little plumbing know-how, it may not be lost forever. Below is advice on what to do after this kind of accident.

What to Do After Dropping a Ring Into the Drain

1. Use a Vacuum Cleaner

Before dismantling your plumbing, start with the basics. Turn off the water faucet, dry out the sink, and plug in your household vacuum cleaner. Place the hose attachment tightly against the drain, and turn the vacuum on. If your vacuum has settings, switch it to the highest amount of suction. Let it run for a few minutes before checking the bag for the missing ring.

2. Remove the Access Plug

If that is unsuccessful, the next solution requires a bit of elbow grease. Place a bucket under the curved section of pipe immediately below the sink (the P-trap), and look for the access plug, a small, removable flange. Carefully remove it, letting the bucket catch all the water and debris that spills out, which, hopefully, will include your ring. Unfortunately, some sinks, especially older ones, don’t have this same set-up.

3. Call a Plumbing Professional

If both of these methods fail, a plumbing service will likely be your best bet for retrieving the ring. They have specialized equipment that can access all the nooks and crannies of a drain. If necessary, they can perform a thorough drain cleaning to flush out the ring better.

While losing jewelry down a sink can be nerve-wracking, stay calm. Drain Doctor is here to help. Serving the Hockley County, TX, region, they provide plumbing and drain cleaning services, as well as leak and clog repair. Review these offerings on their website. Or to schedule service, call (806) 894-3796 today.