Black Tank Flush line leaking into underbelly

[gesmith5]

I have a 2013 Hearland Northtrail 24RBS. The first time I used the black tank flush line it worked perfectly. The second time was after a few months and it didn't put any water in the tank. It seemed as if all the water was going to the underbelly. Does anyone have a schematic of the black tank and where the flush line connects? I started pulling the underbelly and it looks like I may have to cut it to get access and I want a schematic so I know where to cut. The black tank flush line starts on the back of the trailer by the city water connection and goes inside under the shower then forward under the sink and I lose it after that.

 

[jimtoo]

Hi gesmith5,

Welcome to the Heartland Owners Forum and to the family. We have a great bunch of folks here with lots of information and all willing to share their knowledge when needed.

I'm sure some of our other North Trail owners will jump in soon with some info for you.

Be sure and check out our Heartland Owners Club. Join us at a rally when you can and meet lots of the great folks here and make friends for a lifetime.

Enjoy the forum.

Jim M

 

[silvasp]

Not sure if they are the same layout plumbing-wise, but my NT22RBK tank flush did the same thing. Turned out the fitting came loose or was connected wrong. Dealer took care of it under warranty.

 

[mlpeloquin]

Had a big leak over several days on one gray water tank and did not know it. The leak was slow so that tank had a lot of water in it do to morning showers. I dumped water a 1/4 mile down the road. Our camping friends were following and let me know. They thought it was black water do to the stink. Gray water can smell worse than black water. When I got home I opened the coroplast and it thankfully was gray water. The fasteners on the valve had vibrated loose. I now use Loctite on everything. Contact Heartland for the plumbing schematic. Don't be surprised if the valves are not where shown on the schematic. Two of mine were not. Easier for the assembly crew to put them at the drain pipe junction that at the tank drain exit. The coroplast can be sealed back up by cleaning with a good cleaner like DEP commercial cleaner or 409. Then finish with a 90 to 95% isopropyl alcohol. You can get this in the pharmacy at Walmart. The use Gorilla tape. It sticks like nothing else. If you need to reseal around the drain pipe, use aluminum flashing. Cut it out to fit around the pipe in two pieces. Again wipe down with isopropyl alcohol and Gorilla tape.

 

[Garypowell]

could be that your vacuum breaker has broken and the water is simply draining down into the underbelly. Don't know your model but many times they are behind the shower.

 

[mlpeloquin]

could be that your vacuum breaker has broken and the water is simply draining down into the underbelly. Don't know your model but many times they are behind the shower.

If it doesn't stink, it maybe a fresh water leak. It could be a vacuum breaker leek. I also had a PEX connector leak. Drip drip drip. At least it was in the storage bay and I caught it early. I was one mile from a Home Depot. Got a Shark Bite fitting.

 

[Ldo]

You folks are scaring me with the hidden water leaks.

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[Bob&Patty]

Sometimes we think we have a leak and its only water in the underbelly from driving in the rain. Just saying because it happened to me. I drilled some 1/4 holes in the low spots of the coroplast and.....no more water leaks.

Ldo, you have a rolling house and some leaks can happen. You should check all fittings you can get to from time to time. RV's need maintenance and inspections from time to time. I don't care who made them. The most important thing is the caulking...you must stay on top of it all times.

 

[mlpeloquin]

You folks are scaring me with the hidden water leaks.

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My PEX leak was caused by not having the black water tank rinse after the water pressure regulator. My mistake. I was at an RV park that warned me of water pressure as high as 160psi. I replaced the gray water valve water valve that leaked. Why the fasteners came loose? I have replace them before on my class C and never had a problem. I now use Loctite. No more problems. So don't worry. You will find and fix the leak. Use a good pressure regulator and make sure all water comes from its output.

 

[gesmith5]

Thanks for all the replies.

My vacuum breaker is under the sink in the bathroom so I know it is not leaking there.
The water only flowed out when I tired flushing the black tank and we had been in the park for 3 nights with no rain, so I know it wasn't road/rain water.

What I need is the piping schematic for where Heartland factory installed the black water flush so I don't destroy my underbelly trying to find it.

2013 Hearland Northtrail 24RBS

 

[danemayer]

Thanks for all the replies.

My vacuum breaker is under the sink in the bathroom so I know it is not leaking there.
The water only flowed out when I tired flushing the black tank and we had been in the park for 3 nights with no rain, so I know it wasn't road/rain water.

What I need is the piping schematic for where Heartland factory installed the black water flush so I don't destroy my underbelly trying to find it.

2013 Hearland Northtrail 24RBS

For a plumbing diagram, I'd suggest you call Heartland Customer Service at 877-262-8032 / 574-262-8030. Have your VIN # ready.

As for your vacuum breaker under the sink, I wonder if that's the Studor Air Admittance Valve to vent the gray. The black tank flush has a vacuum breaker with a pex line coming into it and another going out.

 

[Bob&Patty]

Were you using a pressure regulator before the coach fresh water line?? I did not use one once at home to flush the black tank and had water running out the door. Found out the vacuum breaker does not like #110 of water pressure.

 

[Ldo]

I don't understand. How could flushing you blackwater tank cause an overflow.

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[Ldo]

I currently have a Keystone Montana and have always just put the hoses to the outside fitting. I have ordered a new Heartland however.

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[Ldo]

Were you using a pressure regulator before the coach fresh water line?? I did not use one once at home to flush the black tank and had water running out the door. Found out the vacuum breaker does not like #110 of water pressure.

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[danemayer]

I don't understand. How could flushing you blackwater tank cause an overflow.

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The black tank flush line has a vacuum breaker located a few feet higher than the black tank. The discussion is whether high water pressure may have caused the vacuum breaker to split apart, leaking water which would then flow into the underbelly.

 

[mlpeloquin]

I currently have a Keystone Montana and have always just put the hoses to the outside fitting. I have ordered a new Heartland however.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

You have been very lucky. The parks that you stayed at had low enough water pressure. The highest water pressure at a park was 200psi. We were warned at the office. This park was across from Appomattox Cort House. Parkview RV Park, Appomattox, VA. A couple of other parks warned us as well with 110psi and 140psi. Anything over 45psi can pop your fittings. A good pressure regulator is a necessity not a luxury. My cousin has a Montana and popped a fitting with high water pressure. He purchased a pressure regulator right after.

 

[Bob&Patty]

I don't understand. How could flushing you blackwater tank cause an overflow.

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If you have the flusher turned on with gate valve closed and walk away. You bet the tank will overflow. Could come up in the toilet and flood your coach or could blow out the tank vent pipe and run all over the roof.

 

[wdk450]

Here is a link to the B&B Molders black tank flusher document. Pictures of the plumbing are on Pages 3 and 4. In the middle of the plumbing is a picture of the vacuum breaker. http://www.bandbmolders.com/files/The_Flusher2_Install_.pdf