How to Get a Wedding Ring Out of a Kitchen Sink Drain

Because thousands of items have been accidentally washed down a kitchen sink, plumbers began installing drain traps to catch earrings, rings and coins before they are washed into the sewer lines. Retrieving items from a kitchen sink drain is a simple matter, and many drain traps even build in easy access!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Towels
• Pan
• Pipe wrench or lockjaw pliers

1. Remove any obstructions and items from under the sink.

2. Place a towel or two and a wide pan under the drain pipe.

3. Identify the trap, a U or J shaped curve at the lowest part of the sink drain. Check to see if there is an access plug of some type, as some traps allow access for removal of clogs and lost items.

4. Remove access plug if present. If not, loosen the trap connectors with a pipe wrench or lockjaw pliers. Water will leak as connections are loosened.

5. Unscrew both connectors and remove the trap, holding it carefully over the pan. Turn upside down and allow the water and ring to drain out. While the trap is out, clean it with a rag to lessen the possibility of clogs.

6. Replace trap and tighten both connectors by hand. Then tighten each with the wrench or lock-jaws. Run water through sink and check for leaks.

7. Tighten connections if leaking occurs. When connections are tight, wipe away spilled drain water and clean area with sanitizing cleaning. Replace items under sink and thoroughly clean ring.

[rockypeterson]

on 2/1/2009 This pretty much ALWAYS works; it would take a fairly tremendous pressure to wash a ring down and up and out a trap. I retrieved a customer's earring this way and she hugged me and cried... and jumped for joy throughout the entire house. Beforehand, my boss told me not to feel bad if I couldn't find it; he said if it can't be found in the trap, the lady is probably pulling a scam on her insurance company and only hired us for show, which is apparently pretty common.

So make sure all of your lavatories and sinks are properly trapped. If it goes down your tub or shower drain, then you may have a problem... call a plumber and he can probably retrieve it for ya, though.

[vortigern]

on 2/27/2008 A minor nit.... Yes, it is very convenient that sink traps catch things before they wash into the septic tank, but the actual purpose of the trap is to prevent unpleasant odors from the septic system from coming up through the drain.

[lilaclady]

on 2/27/2008 That is very good info to know about, I have heard of a few people losing things down the sink, into my future vault, thanks