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jennysee's avatar
jennysee
Explorer
Aug 12, 2013

Toliet plugged on our retreat

We had a busy weekend with lots of company. Dumped a few times during the weekend but today noticed that we still have toliet paper almost to the top when we push the lever. We have used our black tank washer and tried pushing a hose thru our end to no avail. Any other ideas

Thanks! Jenny
  • Now I know why that motorhome I saw last Friday night had a porta-potty hanging on the back. Visitors use the porta-potty when they visit!!!
  • I have printed up, and laminated, a fairly complete instruction on proper use of the RV toilet and pinned it on the inside of the bathroom door. Since putting that up, over 3 years ago and many guests I have had no trouble.
  • Sometimes stuff gets stuck down there. Reach your arm down the hole as far as you can. When down to the max feel around for anything chunky. Grab it and squeeze it between your fingers until it gets smaller then dump some water in it (After you pull your arm out of coarse}. Do this once a month for regular maintenance. Wash your hands before cooking. I do have a self help video available. Hope this helps
  • jennysee wrote:
    Dumped a few times during the weekend but today noticed that we still have toliet paper almost to the top when we push the lever.

    Thanks! Jenny

    Unless the entire campground is using your toilet, you should not be dumping your black tank, "a few times," in one weekend.
    Let it fill up - at least 2/3rd before dumping..and use LOTS of water each flush.
  • I had a clogged bunch of TP at the opening of our toilet after we had a bunch of family camp with us. I turned off water to the camper and when you stepped on the toilet lever, you could see it all down there. I did the needful and donned a glove and started pulling out as much as possible by hand.

    After that, we took a hose in the door and used it full blast to break up the remainder of the clump. A clear elbow let us see what was coming out. It took 4 or 5 complete fillings and emptyings until it was finally cleared up.

    I now give better directions when non-RV'ers are staying with us.
  • When you get it unplugged...key word is "WATER" The toilet in your home uses a full tank of water to flush...majority of people do not use enough water after use...you should end up with 2/3 water & 1/3 waste when you dump the tank...the force of all that water trying to get out the hole sucks paper and waste with it...See how long it takes to fill your water bowl...1001, 1002, 1003, 1004...whatever it is, add water equal to two bowls of water...yes you will dump more often but will not end up with a pile of waste & paper below your toilet....ice cube method works also....add a bag of ice down the toilet...make sure there is water in the tank...drive around...the ice cubes bouncing around in the tank will break up waste and be melted by the time you're ready to dump
  • You're saying if you stick a running hose down the toilet with the dump valve open nothing comes out? If you can see TP down the pipe, it may also be clogging the valve. You could try backflushing from the sewer outlet side but that would be temporary. It might dislodge the TP but since you have so much in the tank another wad would probably get stuck again.

    If it was me, I'd fill the black tank as full as possible with water, open the dump valve and wait for the TP to break down. The weight of the water will eventually push it through. A clear sewer connection would be very helpful during this process.
  • Fill it up with water close to the top and drive around. Don't dump it so much, you need liquid to disolve the TP.
  • When I had one guest use a full roll of TP, I ended up using a meter stick as a ramrod to get the was of TP from inside the toilet to inside the black water tank. Then I added water and stirred until it was broken up enough to push out through the macerator pump, using the grey water tank to backflush a couple times.

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