lov2fly690
Member
Any ideas when you are sitting in a park on unclogging the black water tank?
Clogged black water tank
- Thread starter lov2fly690
- Start date
danemayer
Well-known member
If you can get a Flush King with a gate valve you can close the gate valve and back flush from the flush king to move the blockage. If you can only find the flush king that doesn't have it's own gate valve, you can lift the sewer hose higher than the black tank to do the same thing.
Just be careful how much water you put into the tank so you don't end up with sewage coming up through the toilet.
Just be careful how much water you put into the tank so you don't end up with sewage coming up through the toilet.
GOTTOYS
Well-known member
I second the Flush King idea. It will force water into the tank from the drain hose. Just be careful not to overfill your tank with it. Once you get it to break loose then leave the drain valve open and connect your tank flusher to rinse it out well. I've never had a problem with a clog..yet. I always use a lot of water when we flush the toilet and never leave the tank valve open except to drain the tank. No chemicals, no special toilet paper just dump it and flush it out when i notoce the first "gurgle" telling me it's full. Good luck..Don
Boca_Shuffles
Well-known member
This was our experience at the 2011 Michigan rally:
Our tank would not drain. I used the gate valve and applied back pressure through a garden hose attached to the valve. The tank would not drain, in fact the water was higher in the commode. The tank would not drain.
I put water down the drain vent on the roof. The tank would not drain.
I disconnected the cable to the black water tank gate valve and opened and closed the tank gate valve by hand. The tank would not drain.
We called a septic tank service and they put a hose down the commode and the tank started to drain.
We were not using enough flush water to push the toilet paper down the drain pipe. Since the drain pipe has an elbow in it, the TP was accumulating and eventually clogged the drain. When I used the Valterra back flush, it pushed the TP up from the bottom and compressed the blockage. The water from the roof, down the vent pipe, probably compressed the blockage also. So using the back flush and the black tank cleaner did not work, there was a vacuum formed and the tank could not drain.
Removing the TP buildup from the commode side, let air in and the tank then drained properly.
I regularly use the black tank drain and the back flush. But these only clean the tank and the bottom drain. They do not clean the pipe above the tank.
If your commode is backed up and drains part way every few hours, you might be able use a chemical that works in holding tanks to help emulsify solids. This might get the pipe open enough to allow air passage. Then when the tank starts to drain, use a water hose through the commode to clear out the upper drain pipe.
When using TP, make sure you use a lot of water to flush the toilet. Using only a quick step on the peddle will not be sufficient over the long run. If you are going to use TP (some people to do not put TP in their commodes), then after the initial flush, fill the commode half way and flush again.
If your commode is working properly, once a month, use a hose to thoroughly flush the drain pipe.
This is the full version of story about our drainage problem at the rally. I told Jim Beletti that I would tell it some time so that ours could learn from our experience.
I hope everything comes out okay for you.
Our tank would not drain. I used the gate valve and applied back pressure through a garden hose attached to the valve. The tank would not drain, in fact the water was higher in the commode. The tank would not drain.
I put water down the drain vent on the roof. The tank would not drain.
I disconnected the cable to the black water tank gate valve and opened and closed the tank gate valve by hand. The tank would not drain.
We called a septic tank service and they put a hose down the commode and the tank started to drain.
We were not using enough flush water to push the toilet paper down the drain pipe. Since the drain pipe has an elbow in it, the TP was accumulating and eventually clogged the drain. When I used the Valterra back flush, it pushed the TP up from the bottom and compressed the blockage. The water from the roof, down the vent pipe, probably compressed the blockage also. So using the back flush and the black tank cleaner did not work, there was a vacuum formed and the tank could not drain.
Removing the TP buildup from the commode side, let air in and the tank then drained properly.
I regularly use the black tank drain and the back flush. But these only clean the tank and the bottom drain. They do not clean the pipe above the tank.
If your commode is backed up and drains part way every few hours, you might be able use a chemical that works in holding tanks to help emulsify solids. This might get the pipe open enough to allow air passage. Then when the tank starts to drain, use a water hose through the commode to clear out the upper drain pipe.
When using TP, make sure you use a lot of water to flush the toilet. Using only a quick step on the peddle will not be sufficient over the long run. If you are going to use TP (some people to do not put TP in their commodes), then after the initial flush, fill the commode half way and flush again.
If your commode is working properly, once a month, use a hose to thoroughly flush the drain pipe.
This is the full version of story about our drainage problem at the rally. I told Jim Beletti that I would tell it some time so that ours could learn from our experience.
I hope everything comes out okay for you.
CliffP
Well-known member
I hope everything comes out okay for you.
Good one!
Is really necessary to use special toilet paper? We always have but it would sure be easier to grab some from the house.
JohnDar
Prolifically Gabby Member
Initially, we bought the "RV" toilet paper. Then we got edumucated on the forum and now just use Angel Soft in the rig and at home. I don't put chemicals in the toilet, either. Just a cup of Calgon powder dissolved in a bucket of water after each dump. I also run five gallons or so back into the tank after dumping using the tank flush line (I can measure it on my water meter). We don't scrimp on flushing the toilet and I dump it about every 4 or 5 days during our stays (summer seasonal site) and before we leave for home.
I am curious, however, on what Tom's alternative to TP is. Or maybe we don't want to know.
I am curious, however, on what Tom's alternative to TP is. Or maybe we don't want to know.
Boca_Shuffles
Well-known member
recumbent615
Founding MA Chapter Leader-retired
are you getting any Drainage when you open the valve? If not you may want to verify that your Gate Valve is actually opening.
Kevin
