Watching your wedding ring or favorite bracelet charm clank down the drain is a heart-stopping moment. However, it's possible that the cherished piece is not lost forever. In many cases, the jewelry is just below the grate. There are plenty of techniques to try when it comes to retrieving your valuable items, and the following plumbing tips can help during the recovery process.

How to Get Your Jewelry Out of a Drain

1. Use a Magnet or Tool

A small magnet will attract and capture metal jewelry. Tie it to a string, and slowly feed it down the drain. You should feel the thread tug when it connects with the lost item. Gently draw the line back out to retrieve your piece.

Since silver and gold jewelry aren’t attracted to magnets, try feeding a spring-loaded pronged tool down the drain instead. Shine a flashlight down the drain to increase your visibility. This might help you determine when you’ve passed the ring or necklace so you know when to release the prongs.

2. Remove the P-Trap

The P-trap or U-shaped bend below a sink prevents sewer gases from firing up the pipes and into your home. These areas are also perfect for catching jewelry. Use a wrench to unscrew the connecting nuts on either end of this curved fixture. Place a bucket and towels underneath the tubing since some water and debris will likely spill out when you remove the part. Sort through the contents for your item, and shine a flashlight up the pipe to see if it’s stuck.

If you’re uncomfortable doing this task, contact a plumber. They can handle the job without risking damage to the system and causing leaks. These professionals can also snake a camera down the drain to locate and capture your jewelry.

3. Use a Wet/Dry Vacuum

Wet/dry vacuums are powerful enough to draw small pieces of jewelry from bathtub and shower drains. Unscrew the cover and set the vacuum to the wet setting. This will prevent electrocution if you come into contact with water. Activate the appliance for a moment, and check the filter to see if it captured your ring or necklace. Consider wearing gloves since you may have to sift through hair and other debris drawn from the plumbing.

People throughout Cleveland, OH, trust the team at Do It All Plumbing, Inc. These professionals have been assisting residential and commercial customers throughout Cuyahoga County for 25 years. The fully licensed and insured company knows there’s no time to waste when it comes to plumbing repairs. They provide emergency assistance, sewer line replacements, drain cleaning, and bathroom remodeling. Call (440) 356-0756 to schedule an inspection, and visit them online to learn about their full scope of services.