You’re rinsing dishes and the ring slides right off your finger. You turn off the water right away, but you’re too late. It is down the drain. Now, it is gone for good, right? Maybe. But, since you turned off the water instead of letting it keep running, there is a chance that your ring didn’t wash completely away. A little “U” shaped pipe may have just saved the day.
Photo: SXC
According to Popular Mechanics, this “U” shaped pipe, also called a P-trap, is actually designed to keep sewers from sending a nasty smell back up the pipes and into the kitchen or bathroom. (No, I have no idea why they call something shaped like a “U” a P-trap. Although when you see it installed, I guess it sort of looks like a “P” turned sideways.) It just so happens that, while it is busy keeping gases at bay, the trap also tends to catch small items, like rings, instead of sending them straight down the pipes.
Now, the catch is, you have to open the trap to see if the ring is there and this can be a messy job. If you have old, fragile pipes or you get all nervous when someone hands you a wrench, call a plumber. Otherwise, get a bucket, some rags, a pipe wrench and your favorite plumbing gunk or tape. Stick the bucket under the trap, unfasten it from the sink pipe with the wrench, empty the excess water into the bucket and look for your ring. If it is there, take some time out to do a happy dance. If not, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll never see the ring again. Now, use your gunk or tape and the wrench to put it all back together again, use the rags to mop up any spills and get yourself a small vintage flower pot or another cute container for the counter right beside the sink so you can put your rings in a safe place while you’re rinsing dishes.
And would you believe I found a step by step video that shows you exactly what to do? Here it is:
Post from: Blisstree