Something's dropped down the heating vent.....

[Barley53]

...the vent/tube that comes into the cabin from the Webasto heater under the van. A small bit of plastic off the vent cover, gone out of sight, and apparently too heavy to be blown back out. Has anyone got any tips or tricks to retrieve the object, or is it time to dismantle something under the van?

Many thanks.

 

[Spaghetti]

I can’t help, sorry, but I’ve always been paranoid about this happening on mine, as the vent is pointed vertically out of the floor.

 

[Barley53]

No problem @Spaghetti , fwiw I ordered one of these, available in several sizes and colours all over the web:

Eberspacher Closeable Air Outlet 60mm black with Fitting Flange, Night Heater Kits, Eberspacher, Webasto, Mikuni, Durite

www.melloronline.co.uk

Unfortunately a bit's fallen off, but a good idea (I thought) in principle....

 

[Spaghetti]

Like it! Just have to remember to open it before sparking up the heater!

 

[DXX]

Vacuum cleaner and sift it out of the dust container if you still need it.

 

[Barley53]

Definitely worth a try @DXX ....

 

[RedUn]

Like it! Just have to remember to open it before sparking up the heater!

Why about fitting some mesh? Might be a safer option?

 

[Paynewright]

I’ve had success with wire and gaffa tape sticky side out. You sort of stick it to the wire and wrap it back on itself so its sticky side out. Use some extra insulation tape to bond the gaffa to the wire but still leaving the sticky end exposed (you dont want to be retrieving two items!!)

Hoover is a good idea - I’ve taped on smaller flexible tubes to poke inside things!

 

[Niknak]

From experience with my kids deciding to fill air holes up with peppa pig characters and fruit flakes on my old surround sound air vent anything like this I now take the cover of and stretch tights over and elastic band it or cable tie it

 

[DXX]

Many years ago my 2 year old daughter thought it was hilarious to feed stuff into the VHS player, needless to say it wasn‘t long before I needed a solution preferably without moving the VCR.
Having cut my finger with a Stanley knife I decided to tell her that the VCR bit me, problem solved.

 

[ThreeBridgeT6]

Many years ago my 2 year old daughter thought it was hilarious to feed stuff into the VHS player, needless to say it wasn‘t long before I needed a solution preferably without moving the VCR.
Having cut my finger with a Stanley knife I decided to tell her that the VCR bit me, problem solved.

Reminds me of my mate's lad who pushed a piece of toast into the VCR - with jam!!

 

[Barley53]

Some creative thinking going on here...many thanks. Hoover first, then gaffer (thoughts of the sticky end coming adrift from the stick and joining the plastic bit cross my mind....), then I'll replace the closeable air outlet over some kind of filter

 

[Barley53]

Like it! Just have to remember to open it before sparking up the heater!

Defo, although the Webasto shut itself down the one time the vents got knocked closed by the dog sitting on it...

 

[Ali-G]

Many years ago my 2 year old daughter thought it was hilarious to feed stuff into the VHS player, needless to say it wasn‘t long before I needed a solution preferably without moving the VCR.
Having cut my finger with a Stanley knife I decided to tell her that the VCR bit me, problem solved.

Started reading this and thought you were going to say that you fixed a Stanley knife blade inside the VCR.

 

[oldiebut goodie]

Defo, although the Webasto shut itself down the one time the vents got knocked closed by the dog sitting on it...

You should always have one vent that cannot be closed ( ALL IN THE MANUAL!)

 

[bullracing]

TBH you might be better off taking the cover off the underside of the van and take the duct off. I however have an eberspacher I installed so yours might be a little different.

 

[Barley53]

You should always have one vent that cannot be closed ( ALL IN THE MANUAL!)

I take your point, however the closeable air outlet (which as mentioned is supplied by Eberspacher (known for their heating kits) is designed to fit theirs and other heating kits, generally stays open whilst air is coming through as the vents are on lightweight hinges. No accounting for dogs sitting on it though....

 

[oldiebut goodie]

The closeable vents are for multi-outlet systems not single outlet.

 

[JOG]

Many years ago my 2 year old daughter thought it was hilarious to feed stuff into the VHS player, needless to say it wasn‘t long before I needed a solution preferably without moving the VCR.
Having cut my finger with a Stanley knife I decided to tell her that the VCR bit me, problem solved.

Oh, I laughed! Fantastic!

 

[JOG]

Started reading this and thought you were going to say that you fixed a Stanley knife blade inside the VCR.

I had to read it twice!