Have you just dropped a ring in the sink? Whether it was just a random ring, your engagement ring, or your wedding ring, don’t panic! It’s not impossible to get it out of there; you should be able to do it in just a few minutes.
Before learning to get a ring out of the sink, you should know that your precious ring is probably stuck in your sink’s P-trap. But what is a P-trap?
A P-trap is a piece of plumbing pipe that looks like the letter “P,” which is why it got this name. Its purpose is to prevent smelly and potentially poisonous sewer gasses from entering your home, but it was also designed to trap debris and small objects that have fallen down the drain.
Here is how you can get your ring out of the P-trap and back on your finger.
1. Turn off the water immediately
If the water was running when your ring fell down the drain, you probably turned off the water right away. You just have to ensure that no one touches that faucet until you get your ring back.
If water keeps flowing down the drain, it will probably carry your ring away from the P-trap. And if it goes too far into your home’s plumbing system, you might never be able to get it back, even with the help of a plumber.
2. Try to fish your ring out of the drain
You will need to remove the P-trap to get your ring out of the sink. But before you do that, you can try to fish your ring out of the drain. If it did not get into the bend of the P-trap yet, you might be able to get it back this way.
Take a wire hanger, and unwind it, so you end up with one straight line with one small hook at one end. If you have already tried to unclog a sink, you might already have such a device at home.
Insert the hook down the drain, and try to fish out your precious ring. If it doesn’t work, you may want to contact Hamilton plumbing services for help.
3. Gather a few tools and supplies
You will need a few tools and supplies to remove your sink’s P-trap. You will need a bucket or a large bowl to catch the water and debris flowing out of the plumbing pipes, an old towel or paper towels to soak up spills, and a pair of rubber gloves.
Now, look underneath your sink and inspect your P-trap. Some P-traps have a drain plug that can simply be removed without needing any tool. However, most P-traps have one or two pipe connectors that need to be unscrewed with a plumbing wrench.
4. Turn off the water supply
Whenever you attempt to work on your plumbing pipes or fixtures, it’s best to first turn off your home’s water supply. This way, you won’t risk flooding your home.
So before you go further, locate the water supply valve, and turn it off.
5. Remove the P-trap from under the sink
Put on your rubber gloves and place your bucket or bowl under the P-trap. If you are lucky enough to have a drain plug on your P-trap, simply pull it out. Dirty water will flow down the bucket.
If one or two pipe connectors are attached to both ends of your P-trap’s bend, you must use the wrench to unscrew them. When this is done, the bend will either fall, or you will have to pull it down to remove it.
6. Empty the P-trap into a bucket
You can then empty the P-trap into your bucket. You may see your ring immediately, but you must dig through some nasty clumps of hair and black gunk to find it. You will want to clean and disinfect your ring before you put it back on your finger.
But you might also take a moment to clean your P-trap, so it will be free from clumps and debris when you reattach it.
7. Put it all back together and check for leaks
You can finally reattach the P-trap pipe by turning its pipe connectors in the opposite direction with your plumbing wrench. Make sure they are tight and that nothing is moving.
But before you remove your bucket from there, turn on the water, fill the sink, then let it drain. If water is leaking from the P-trap’s connectors and into your bucket, you will have to tighten them again until there is no more leak.
When everything looks fine, you can pat yourself on the back for rescuing your ring from the sink.
