October 05/2024
How to Retrieve Jewelry That Fell Down the Drain
It’s normal for a piece of jewelry to accidentally fall into the drain. Here at Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we often retrieve a wide range of items from blocked drains, including jewelry. Today, we’ll explain three ways to remove jewelry from drain pipes.
Use a Magnet
This trick only works if the piece of jewelry is made of metal, such as iron, nickel, or cobalt. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for gold and silver jewelry. This is how the trick works—tie a magnet to a string and lower it into the drain, then draw it back up to see if it comes out with the jewelry. You can use a flashlight to achieve better visibility in the drain.
Use a Coat Hanger
In the event that the magnet doesn’t retrieve the jewelry from the drain, try using a coat hanger. This technique is more likely to work for retrieving larger pieces of jewelry. Unwind a coat hanger and make a hook at the end, then feed it down the drain. Depending on where it’s lodged, you may be able to pull it out. Alternatively, you can use a four-pronged tool if you don’t have a coat hanger. However, keep in mind that this method works if the piece of jewelry is lodged a few inches down the drain. It’s advisable to take precautions not to damage the drain line or push it further down the drain.
Take Apart the P-Trap
It may happen that the jewelry is stuck in the P-trap; hence, requiring taking apart the fixture. Tiny stud earrings, micro rings, ear cuffs, and nose rings are some of the pieces of jewelry that often end up in the P-trap. Dismantling this fixture can be a bit messy, so you need to approach it with a little bit of caution. Here are the steps to follow:
- Turn off the water at the shut-off valve
- Place a bucket underneath the P-trap
- Unscrew the slip nuts
- Remove the piece of jewelry and clean the P-trap
- Reinstall the P-trap
The P-trap tends to be complicated to take apart for the average homeowner. If you’re not sure how to disassemble the fixture, contact a professional plumbing service for help.
Retrieving Jewelry from a Garbage Disposal
The process of removing a piece of jewelry from a garbage disposal is quite different from that of a standard drain. The first step is to turn the power off at the circuit breaker for purposes of safety. Next, use a long handle of a wooden spoon to pull it out of the drain. If you can’t find a wooden spoon, you can use a thin wire with a hook at one end. You should exercise a lot of caution when dealing with a garbage disposal. If you have any doubts, call a qualified plumbing repair service to help you retrieve the jewelry. Mr. Rooter Plumbing is one phone call away if you need help from a trusted plumbing company.
Need Expert Drain Cleaning Service? Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing
Have you noticed persistent, unpleasant odors coming from your drains? Are multiple drains in your home clogged? Have you tried to clear drain clogs yourself with no success? Call the plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing for professional drain cleaning. Instead of dumping chemical drain cleaners down your drains, let our plumbers help you clean your drains. Apart from clearing drains, our experts provide professional pipe repair services to help our customers keep their plumbing in top shape.
