A.Balaban Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 My daughter dropped her blanket down the heating vent in her bedroom - lifted it right off and stuffed it down. It's a vertical chute and I can see the blanket stuck at some point about 10+ feet below me. I have no idea what to do to get it out. We have gas heat. I turned the heat off (I think) but I'm still worried. Is this fire risk? What can I do? Should I ask my DH to come home? I am freaking out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 As long as the heat is turned off I wouldn't worry. Do you have a vacuum with a long hose and enough suction to grab it and pull it up? I have a central vac with a long hose so I think that's the first thing I'd try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.Balaban Posted December 2, 2012 Author Share Posted December 2, 2012 As long as the heat is turned off I wouldn't worry. Do you have a vacuum with a long hose and enough suction to grab it and pull it up? I have a central vac with a long hose so I think that's the first thing I'd try. It will be worth a try but I don't think the hose is long enough. Dh doesn't get home until midnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 It will be worth a try but I don't think the hose is long enough. Dh doesn't get home until midnight. My DH suggests either a fishing line with a hook, or maybe a wire coat hanger on a string of some kind. Got anything like that available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Can you use two broom handles or similar things to try to pinch and grab it out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.Balaban Posted December 2, 2012 Author Share Posted December 2, 2012 I tried fishing pole - got it down to the blanket but it's stuck on something and I could only lift it a couple inches. It's too far down for any of my broom handles.... DH isn't answering his phone and I'm freaking out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.Balaban Posted December 2, 2012 Author Share Posted December 2, 2012 I tried taping an unwrapped wire hanger to the broom handle and it is STILL just a smidge too short. UGH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrn Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 My dh says not to worry. The heat can run, it's not any different than closing off the register. To get it out he suggests using a snake (the thing that unclogs drains) with a hook attached. When you crank on it, it will twist and should catch on the blanket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.Balaban Posted December 2, 2012 Author Share Posted December 2, 2012 My dh says not to worry. The heat can run, it's not any different than closing off the register. To get it out he suggests using a snake (the thing that unclogs drains) with a hook attached. When you crank on it, it will twist and should catch on the blanket. I managed to get the blanket out using a combination of two brooms, a fishing pole, and a wire hanger....but of course, I looked back down there and I can see more stuff. Apparently DD has been shoving stuff down there for quite some time. I can see diapers, a wrapped chocolate bar (from my secret stash), and a wooden jewlery box. :svengo: Need to wait for my heartrate to return to normal now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest inoubliable Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Glad to hear you got the blanket out! I'm sure things would have been okay until your DH could get home and help you out, but I can see how that would have worried you until then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I managed to get the blanket out using a combination of two brooms, a fishing pole, and a wire hanger....but of course, I looked back down there and I can see more stuff. Apparently DD has been shoving stuff down there for quite some time. I can see diapers, a wrapped chocolate bar (from my secret stash), and a wooden jewlery box. :svengo: Need to wait for my heartrate to return to normal now. Glad you got the blanket out but . . . oh my! Time to screw the register down after that's cleaned up I guess! Yikes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I managed to get the blanket out using a combination of two brooms, a fishing pole, and a wire hanger....but of course, I looked back down there and I can see more stuff. Apparently DD has been shoving stuff down there for quite some time. I can see diapers, a wrapped chocolate bar (from my secret stash), and a wooden jewlery box. :svengo: Need to wait for my heartrate to return to normal now. Glad it is out. Time to buy some wood screws and get that puppy fastened down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.Balaban Posted December 4, 2012 Author Share Posted December 4, 2012 You can screw it down? It's on carpet? I will have to look closely... DH was saying something about hardware cloth or something I don't know. the kids shoved more stuff down there today (we went to Home Depot the other night, but it was Sunday, and they closed at 7pm... we walked in at like 6:55pm....) Edit: yep, you can. I am so oblivious... :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 How'd you get all that other stuff out? I'm imagining going down into the basement and taking apart the ductwork... Are you sure they've only been filling that one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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