Lost Ring

Losing a ring or other small, valuable object down the drain may seem like an emergency, but it most likely hasn't gone past the trap. It may seem a simple enough task to take the trap apart and retrieve the jewelry, but traps and other plumbing parts have a way of becoming corroded, and what seems like a simple ring retrieval becomes a major plumbing job. It is possible to get the object back without taking anything apart. With a shop vacuum and a little ingenuity, you can extract the lost object. The hose diameter may have to be reduced to fit down the drain -- use duct tape to connect the smaller hose or pipe to the vacuum hose. Next, disconnect the vacuum hose from the vacuum and insert piece of loosely woven material (like pantyhose) to catch the ring before it goes in the vacuum tank. Reconnect the vacuum hose and give it a try. As an added bonus your drain might run better when you are done.

- Stephen Corwin

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2001