Imagine this: you’re getting ready for a holiday party, and as you lean over the sink to adjust your jewelry, disaster strikes. That cherished necklace or earring slips from your fingers, tumbling past the drain stopper into the dark below.
No need to panic! With a few quick steps, you should be able to rescue your jewelry without harming your system or ruining your evening. Read on for a step-by-step process to retrieve jewelry or other small items from your drain and avoid a potential plumbing disaster.
Act quickly
It’s essential to act quickly when jewelry goes down the drain—not just to retrieve your items, but also to prevent potential clogs that can seriously damage your pipes. Once you retrieve your jewelry, it’s a good idea to run hot water through the drain for a few minutes to clear any remaining debris.
Turn off the faucet
The first and most important step is to stay calm and turn off the faucet, if it’s on, immediately. By stopping the flow of water, you’ll avoid pushing the jewelry any further down the drain.
Check the drain cover/plug
Most sinks have a drain cover that’s used to stop the flow of water. Check if your jewelry is caught on the drain cover–if it is, you can attempt to rescue your jewelry using a pair of tweezers or pliers. If your jewelry has fallen past the drain cover, carefully removing the plug will let you get a better look at what you’re dealing with.
Consider using a magnet
Even if your jewelry is made of gold, silver or aluminum, if part of your jewelry, such as the clasp, is made of a metal like steel, nickel, or iron, you may be able to use a magnet to retrieve it. If you have any small, powerful magnets that can be tied to a string, you may be able to attain your jewelry simply by lowering the magnet down into the drain. Many auto parts stores also carry small, inexpensive telescoping magnets that are used to pick up screws and bolts and can be used for drain retrieval.
Check the P-trap
Still no luck? It’s time to look below your countertop. Despite its name, the P-trap is a U-shaped pipe located beneath most sinks. It’s common for lost items to end up caught in the P-trap, and they’re usually pretty easy to retrieve. To check the P-trap, first place a bucket beneath the pipe to catch any water. Next, use a wrench to carefully loosen the slip nuts on either side of the trap. Remove the trap and check for your jewelry. If you find it, congratulations! If not, move on to the next step.
Call the professionals
If these steps have been unsuccessful, it’s time to call in the professionals before you go any further. At North East Air Conditioning, Heating, and Plumbing, our skilled plumbers have the experience and tools needed to navigate your plumbing system and retrieve your valued items without causing damage to your system. We also offer emergency services for those plumbing situations that just can’t wait.
Remember, no matter what you’re dealing with, staying calm is the key to a positive resolution. And if all else fails, don’t hesitate to reach out to your trusted family-owned plumbing professionals at North East.
