Welp....wife dropped her wedding band down a vent in the floor....
Too far to reach by hand or vacuum. I borrowed a flexible endoscope and can't see it. I found a collection of debris but did not see the ring in it. The scope is pretty hard to control at the distance and it's possible I missed it. More likely though, it's a little further down. I'll try another round with the camera but I'm not optimistic I'll find it.
What's the next move? I figure I should be able to get in the crawl space and find the low point of that section of ductwork and open it up. I've never messed with ductwork before. Should I just punt this to a pro? It's not all that valuable, outside of the sentimental part. We probably paid less than $80 for it in 2003 dollars. It would irk the crap out of me to pay several hundred bucks to retrieve it, but failure is not an option.
** Edited by JoesterVT at 2/4/2026, 1:57:46 PM
36 Replies
5mo
You can buy 20-40ft hoses for cheap….buy a thinner diameter one to navigate the vent with adapter. Vacuum ring and clean vents at the same time. Winning!
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
(In response to this post by kjhokie)
5mo
Don't answer any knocks on the door -- it might be @bourbonstreet. And you don't want to know what he's wearing.
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
Is that not how you roll with the last call and fat chick at the bar in the Wild Riders Saloon?
(In response to this post by bourbonstreet)
E
EDGEMAN
5mo
That should keep it from being lost in the future...lol
** Edited by EDGEMAN at 2/4/2026, 3:17:41 PM
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
First, the band had been fused to her engagement ring by a jeweler.. So for the last 15 years that was essentially one ring. Well, on the first day of shoveling that bond broke so it is now two items.
When it happened she was pulling her gloves off by the front door. I think the rings came off with the glove and somehow the band slipped out of her hand.
Then a couple of crazy bounces off the tile floor and into the vent, which is in the floor instead of the wall. This particular vent drops off quickly.
I'm sure this will be featured on "Seconds From Disaster" one day...
(In response to this post by astrohokie)
5mo
Before getting back on boat. Somehow that pulled my wedding ring off my finger which I didn’t notice until climbing up ladder to boat.
Spent half an hour diving but among all the coral it was impossible to find. Same boat trip I had put personal effects including my phone in a towel and as boat pulled into pier wifey flipped up the towel and phone hit the water. I did find it while diving with some of boat crew. It was a long way away from where it went in. Miraculously it worked after I dried it out a bit. Rinsed with fresh water right after retrieval.
Not a good day. Good luck!
** Edited by DonHo-kieHi at 2/5/2026, 12:12:41 AM
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
She’s a keeper!! Just buy her another bigger and better ring. 💍💰
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
40 inches of snow plus snow drifts. Took us a few days. We finished up, and hours later my landlord came with a backhoe to do our driveway.
I do not need a gun to protect my house. My wife with many years of martial arts is ready!!!
(In response to this post by Spudnut)
5mo
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
Since your furnace is in the crawl space it should be easy to get to the ductwork right below that floor vent. Good thing it's winter, but wear goggles and a respirator and use a very strong, bright flashlight. If you shine the flashlight over in the direction of that line of ductwork before you start crawling over there and you see the glare from some critter's eyes, go back and get your firearm.
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
Some good advice herein. You pay your money, or don't, you make your choice.
(In response to this post by PhotoHokieNC)
5mo
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
I am not, at this point in time, looking to be unmarried.
(In response to this post by RhinoVT)
5mo
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
look, reach in and find it. Hopefullythe vent is near the crawl space entrance.
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
(In response to this post by Chesapeake_Hokie)
5mo
That crawl space is unbearable when it's not sub freezing.
(In response to this post by Stork)
5mo
It is easy to cut the flex duct, retrieve the band and then use a splicing collar to reassemble the flex duct using large zip ties and/or mastic.
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
Link:
caution!
(In response to this post by HOKIE)
5mo
Plugs into my iPhone. Cost around $20. Worth a shot!
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
(In response to this post by Spudnut)
D
D-Day
5mo
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
5mo
(In response to this post by D-Day)