Diamond engagement ring flushed down toilet... any plumbers out there?

mamamoi

My 3 1/2 year old daughter dropped 2 of my rings down the toilet earlier and then flushed it!!!! One of my rings (the cheaper and less sentimental one) was sitting at the bottom of the bowl when I discovered what she had done, but there was no sign of my diamond engagement ring. It obviously has great sentimental value.... it was made to my husbands design and engraved etc, so it could never be easily replaced.

My husband loosened the pipe (behind the u-bend) enough for me to get my hand in the pipe.... I've had a good feel around and I really don't think its there. It's a first floor bathroom on an old terraced house, so I'm worried that it's gone out into the mains.

Can anyone offer any advice on what we can do next? Is it worth calling a plumber? We haven't flushed the toilet since, just in case.

Please offer any advice if you can? I feel sick to my stomach at the thought of losing it... and my poor daughter is so upset after we yelled at her!

thanks in advance

olias

Find where your inspection chamber is, take the cover off, locate the pipe that is the inlet from your toilet, hold a net or similar over the opening, then get someone to flush the toilet several times. everything in the pipe should come down and be trapped in the net. If it doesn't then it is either lodged somewhere in the pipe from toilet to inspection chamber, or it's gone through into the sewer and is gone for good, sorry. Oh and be prepared to get your hands covered in !!!!!!!

Olias

mamamoi

Thanks for your response Olias. What does an inspection chamber look like and where would I find it?

olias wrote: »

Find where your inspection chamber is, take the cover off, locate the pipe that is the inlet from your toilet, hold a net or similar over the opening, then get someone to flush the toilet several times. everything in the pipe should come down and be trapped in the net. If it doesn't then it is either lodged somewhere in the pipe from toilet to inspection chamber, or it's gone through into the sewer and is gone for good, sorry. Oh and be prepared to get your hands covered in !!!!!!!

Olias

SailorSam

How much does it cost to have someone come out with a camera to search the drain, would it be worth getting this done ?

facingthefuture

OMG I feel so sorry, hope you get it....let us know!

mamamoi

I have thought about this.... I haven't called any plumbers yet with it being late, but if anyone can give me an idea on price for this I'd be grateful.

SailorSam wrote: »

How much does it cost to have someone come out with a camera to search the drain, would it be worth getting this done ?

Nile

Hello mamamoi

I saw a news clip on the BBC News Website about an accidental flushing down the toilet of a puppy!!! If you watch the news clip, it shows how a Dyno-Rod plumber used a video camera to locate the puppy and rescue him.:cool:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8101938.stm

I hope you find your engagement ring. Let us know how you get on.

Regards

Nile

mamamoi

OMG that poor puppy... well that success story has given me hope, thanks!!!

Nile wrote: »

Hello mamamoi

I saw a news clip on the BBC News Website about an accidental flushing down the toilet of a puppy!!! If you watch the news clip, it shows how a Dyno-Rod plumber used a video camera to locate the puppy and rescue him.:cool:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8101938.stm

I hope you find your engagement ring. Let us know how you get on.

Regards

Nile

olias

Inspection chamber is a manhole cover covering a chamber that your toilet soil pipe leads into before leading out again and into the sewer. It could be located in your front garden/back garden/driveway. Basically you will need to look at where your soil pipe comes out of your toilet on outside wall and where it enters the ground, look around and see if you can see a manhole cover somewhere in the vicinity.

Camera inspection by dynorod is expensive, I would guess at a couple of hundred £££s (equipment is expensive)

Olias

mamamoi

Thanks for the info.... Our pipe goes straight down into concrete, so we went for the dyno rod option. It cost £161, so not exactly MSE style, but at least we know we have exhausted our options.

Unfortunately, after an exhaustive 3 hour search of 30 metres of piping all the way out to the mains there was no sign of it. The plumber had the toilet completely out as well, so we know he did a thorough job. At least we know that it's not just sitting around the bend when we are on the loo! Wonder if the sewers have a lost & found dept?

Guess the next step is the insurance company now... although after another exaustive search we still can't find the valuation!

Thanks for advice

olias wrote: »

Inspection chamber is a manhole cover covering a chamber that your toilet soil pipe leads into before leading out again and into the sewer. It could be located in your front garden/back garden/driveway. Basically you will need to look at where your soil pipe comes out of your toilet on outside wall and where it enters the ground, look around and see if you can see a manhole cover somewhere in the vicinity.

Camera inspection by dynorod is expensive, I would guess at a couple of hundred £££s (equipment is expensive)

Olias