How to Get a Diamond Out of a Drain
The plumbing trap beneath your sink holds water to prevent sewer gases from coming into your house. The trap, also known as a p-trap, uses gravity to hold the water in place. Gravity also works to hold dropped valuables, such as a diamond from a ring, in the trap. Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes to retrieve a lost item from the drain. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Shut the water off immediately. The diamond is less likely to wash away when there is no water flowing through the pipes.
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Locate the p-trap beneath your sink. The p-trap resembles a goose neck.
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3
Place a bucket under the trap to collect water and debris. It's necessary for the trap to hold water; the bucket will prevent this water from pouring on you while you're under the sink.
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Loosen the slip nuts on the trap using a pair of slip joint pliers. Once loosened, you will be able to finish unscrewing them by hand. Slide the slip nuts away to remove the p-trap.
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Dump the water and debris into the bucket. Clean the trap with the small wire brush to remove any remaining sludge. Look for the diamond in the bucket.
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Replace the trap in the reverse order in which you took it off. Call a plumber if you aren't able to find the diamond. A plumber can run a camera through the pipes.
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Tips & Warnings
You can also use a wet/dry vacuum to retrieve a valuable from your drain. Place knee-high pantyhose over the vacuum attachment. The purpose of this is to keep the item from entering the vacuum. Place a plastic bag over the overfill valve in the sink. Use the vacuum attachment to suck out the item from the drain without having to take apart any plumbing.
References
Resources
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