Black Tank Bug Spray

[davemoore]

Got a little bit of a problem. After our last camping trip I was doing some cleaning up and had the toilet open letting in some water. Our medicine cabinet is directly above the toilet. I'm sure you can guess by now that something fell in. Yep, I was straightening up the medicine cabinet and rearranging all the items as they had fallen over from the ride home. Sure enough there was a can of bug spray on the top shelf. As I saw it start to wobble and eventually fall out of the cabinet into the open toilet I could do nothing as I was frozen in time by the shock and horror of what was about to happen. The can of bug spray initially landed horizontally in said toilet but after a brief second proceeded to straighten itself out and poof, disappeared into the black abyss.

I finally had a chance to drain the system last night. The can ended up near the outlet. I can see it setting in the "Y" where the grey and black come together to finally exit the system.

I took a broom handle and tried poking at it to try and dislodge it, I got it to wiggle but I am feeling like the physics of the whole thing is working against me. I don't think the can can make the final turn at the "Y"

I've considered filling up the system with water and seeing if I can float it back up to the toilet and grabbing it that way. My only other thought is to try and use some kind of grabber tool and reach in from the drain and grab it, hopefully giving it a good tug to finish it's journey.

I REALLY don't want to have to cut into my pipes....

Anyone out there have a similar situation now or in the past who can give me some ideas???

I'm stumped!

-Sincerely -Guy who will NEVER ever have the toilet open at the same time as the medicine cabinet!!!

I've attached a pic looking into the system drain exit. At the end of the 4ft or so of plumbing you can see my little pest of a problem sitting there gloating.

[Tbos]

Whatever you do I'd make absolutely sure that tank is spotless. I'm guessing you've already tried filling it with clean water to see if it would come out. Good luck.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW

[notanlines]

I'm going to go with the "go to the hardware store and buy the grabber" idea. And, Tbos, I'm going to guess you haven't the mind set to be a plumber. Hands do wash. Ask any parent.....(supposed to insert a smiley face here)

[shov]

I like the idea of filling it and floating it to the top if you can reach it that way. I wouldn't try to flush it out, I e never been that lucky of a guy. Maybe a magnet on an extension.


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[Harleydodge]

I have a super strong bar magnet stuck on the side of my toolbox in the garage that,taped to your broomstick, would be worth a shot. Oh ya you can keep the magnet when you're done with it

[davemoore]

Originally Posted by Harleydodge

I have a super strong bar magnet stuck on the side of my toolbox in the garage that,taped to your broomstick, would be worth a shot. Oh ya you can keep the magnet when you're done with it

Bwhaha, thanks I may see what I can do with a magnet. Other ideas I've had floating around are to somehow puncture the can with some type of spear made out of rebar or something, have some kind of tip on the end that will go into it and not come out, kinda like a fish hook and see if i can convince it to come out.

[vampress_me]

Possibly an older smaller shop vac like we have at home? One that you don't mind possibly sacrificing due to the small "pile" in front of the can in the photo? I could see using that to try suctioning it onto the can end to see if that would help get it lined up to pull out of either hole (outlet or toilet) you decide to try.

I'm not sure it's a great idea, but it's an idea.

[hornet28]

Try using a magnet. DO NOT puncture the can that will just shoot it further away from where it is now. The force behind it could possibly jam it in some elbow then you would have to cut the pipe

[davemoore]

Success Happy Camper Here. After much debate and analyzing I ended up bending and crushing the can slightly with a big piece of steel I had. After that I used one of those magnet tools to pull it the rest of the way out and it slid the rest of the way out.

Thanks to all who gave input, ...LOVE this forum!

[chuckster57]

What you were going to do was bugging me LOL.

[Eastham]

Dam shame to loose all that bug spray.I hope you could salvage some of it.

[notanlines]

Ok, I'll ask now that OP has been ultimately successful. Who keeps bug spray in the medicine cabinet? Maybe I should have asked this in "can you do that."

[MattHelm21]

We kept cookies in the oven growing up. Why not bug spray in the medicine cabinet?