saflyer Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Several experts advise cleaning the water heaters once a year. So I bought a Camco Water Heater Tank Rinser, connected it to my hose and proceeded to clean the tank. As soon as I turned the valve the tool on BAM, the tube that attaches to the valve and is inserted in the tank blew off and is now residing in the tank out of sight and reach! Great. Any suggestions? (Can I make a comment about cheap Chinese junk?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacwjames Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 The tank is cylindrical so the end of he rinser should be laying in the bottom. Make a fishing tool from a piece of coat hanger and just keep trying to the opening until you see the end. should be able to get it out but will take persistence and time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbr046 Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Know anyone with an endoscope? Might help hooking the open end of the rinser . . . . *AND* an excuse to buy a new tool! https://www.amazon.com/Seesi-Endoscope-Waterproof-Inspection-Semi-Rigid/dp/B07PBF6DX5/ I bought the more expensive one (Depstech). It turned out be a huge overkill - only used it once and it was difficult to push long distances without a guide. - bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ray Davis Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 This might be worth a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocketman3 Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 What a great excuse to get that slightly bigger or smaller or newer rig… 😊 Maybe add a garden hose of water stream into the heater and it will move it to an area you can see. - with my luck it would make it harder to get to… but your luck might be different. Or plug the heater back up and fill then drain it. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saflyer Posted January 17, 2023 Author Share Posted January 17, 2023 1 hour ago, Rocketman3 said: What a great excuse to get that slightly bigger or smaller or newer rig… 😊 Maybe add a garden hose of water stream into the heater and it will move it to an area you can see. - with my luck it would make it harder to get to… but your luck might be different. Or plug the heater back up and fill then drain it. Good Luck! My shop recommended running the fill water with the plug out. So far no luck. Will try my borescope next. But even if I can see it getting something on it will be a trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ray Davis Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 2 hours ago, Ray Davis said: This might be worth a try. I really think this might do the trick and it has a light built in the end. https://www.tequipment.net/General-Tools/70399/Other-Hand-Tools/?Source=googleshopping&/?utm_content=pick up tool&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Shopping Campaign(BSC)&utm_source=Bing_Yahoo&utm_medium=cpc&msclkid=68287f6798c318b3c1f11ca1256c43bd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saflyer Posted January 18, 2023 Author Share Posted January 18, 2023 20 hours ago, Ray Davis said: I really think this might do the trick and it has a light built in the end. https://www.tequipment.net/General-Tools/70399/Other-Hand-Tools/?Source=googleshopping&/?utm_content=pick up tool&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Shopping Campaign(BSC)&utm_source=Bing_Yahoo&utm_medium=cpc&msclkid=68287f6798c318b3c1f11ca1256c43bd They don’t indicate if it’s flexible. Is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solution lusgi Posted January 18, 2023 Solution Share Posted January 18, 2023 Just leave it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saflyer Posted January 18, 2023 Author Share Posted January 18, 2023 18 minutes ago, lusgi said: Just leave it? That’s the advice of Camco. They say the melting temperature of the nozzle is 230-250°. I located it using my borescope. I might be able to hook it with a coat hangar or claw tool. But once I get it to the drain orienting it to remove will be difficult. I still don’t like leaving it in there, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ray Davis Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 1 minute ago, saflyer said: They don’t indicate if it’s flexible. Is it? Good question, so I took a look and it says it is, below is a quote from them. I bet you can buy one a Harbor Freight or at many other stores however the one I have doesn't have a light in it. The light shining down inside the tank while you fish seems like a possible game changer. I have a really good LED flashlight but in cases like yours it will blind me, a case of too bright. EASY TO USE-save yourself the headache and reach a flexible pick-up tool up to 36 inches into cramped, tight, or dark spaces 4 minutes ago, saflyer said: still don’t like leaving it in there, though. I don't blame you. It would probably be ok, but who knows what the Chinese may put in the plastic. Remember the sheetrock a few yrs back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saflyer Posted January 18, 2023 Author Share Posted January 18, 2023 11 minutes ago, Ray Davis said: Good question, so I took a look and it says it is, below is a quote from them. I bet you can buy one a Harbor Freight or at many other stores however the one I have doesn't have a light in it. The light shining down inside the tank while you fish seems like a possible game changer. I have a really good LED flashlight but in cases like yours it will blind me, a case of too bright. EASY TO USE-save yourself the headache and reach a flexible pick-up tool up to 36 inches into cramped, tight, or dark spaces I don't blame you. It would probably be ok, but who knows what the Chinese may put in the plastic. Remember the sheetrock a few yrs back. Missed that. But still wondering if it will be like the dog with a 3 foot long stick in its mouth trying to go through a 2 foot wide door? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Pumphrey Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Just grab it by the end?🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96 EVO Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 On 1/18/2023 at 7:10 AM, saflyer said: That’s the advice of Camco. They say the melting temperature of the nozzle is 230-250°. I located it using my borescope. I might be able to hook it with a coat hangar or claw tool. But once I get it to the drain orienting it to remove will be difficult. I still don’t like leaving it in there, though. It's not like your going to be consuming water out of the water heater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ray Davis Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 5 hours ago, 96 EVO said: It's not like your going to be consuming water out of the water heater. What, you don't drink hot water❓ Actually that's a good point, why worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saflyer Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share Posted January 21, 2023 5 hours ago, 96 EVO said: It's not like your going to be consuming water out of the water heater. That’s the conclusion I came to. Hot water is only used fir dish washing, hand washing and showers. Leave it there and don’t worry about it. Actually we never use cold water for anything that will go in our bodies. But it still burns me up the cheap junk didn’t last the first use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96 EVO Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 59 minutes ago, Ray Davis said: What, you don't drink hot water❓ Actually that's a good point, why worry. Yeah, that would make the wife happy if I was making her tea out of hot tap water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now