The hole is the easy part, what I am asking is how best to patch a 1/4" drilled hole in the bottom of the tank. The valve quit working and I need to drain the full tank before disassembling it. I plan to drill a small drain hole, then do the repairs, including sealing the drilled hole. Any better ideas? Siphoning won't work for this problem.

It's gray water, get a bucket and unbolt the bad valve and the tank will drain.

I think you're making trouble for yourself by drilling.Why not just drain the tank good and then drive onto a slope or blocks to keep the "contents" away from the valve?Or just put a kitty litter tray down and catch the "contents?" I'd do that with even a Black Tank before I'd drill a hole in it.

just remove the valve and stand back, as long as it is just grey water.bumpy

When a hole that size was accidently drilled in my fresh water tank the repair shop used a "sensor pad" to seal it. This pad is usually used to sense the level of the tank. In this case it was used as a seal and the wires which extend from it were not connected to anything. It worked perfectly.

Drive it on the lawn and drain it. I wouldn't drill a hole in a grey tank. EVER.

Hole in grey water tank | Good Sam Community

47 Replies

stevenal
Nomad II
Mar 09, 2015

Look for Wellnuts in the small parts bins at your local hardware. No threads through soft plastic to strip. No epoxy to crack. And it's removable in case you need to drain again.
mrgreetis
Explorer
Mar 07, 2015
For those of us following this thread, and looking for potential solutions, what did you finally do to drain the tank??
ckwjl
Explorer
Feb 24, 2015
SDcampowneroperator wrote:
ckwjl wrote:
SDcampowneroperator wrote:
1" hole, plug it after with a boat transom drain plug. A rechargeable drill does not have enough voltage to electrocute anyone, an electricians 'step bit' will make a clean hole through thin material.
A pump out service with a vacumn honey wagon makes a lot more sense, if you can get one, if they can get a suction hose into the tank

How did you come up with the notion one would believe someone could be electrocuted from using a rechargeable drill?
A previous poster suggested electrocution from a drilll as a concern. Read the whole thread

I don’t need to look for the post because I’m the one who wrote it. I was prodding you to recognize the potential electrocution hazard some drills pose when used as described by the OP.
Fubeca
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
I've repaired a tank with an epoxy like JB weld and a small patch (I used a quarter).
RayJayco
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
smkettner wrote:
ABS I recommend Plasti-Mend.

Polyethylene I would try the screw and sealant.

Maybe this but no experience:
http://www.plentypupule.com/weldkit.htm

I repaired my ABS tank by putting some scrap pieces of ABS in a mason jar and pouring acetone in,(you can probably use any of the -tones) closing jar and let it set for a day or 3. It becomes like a putty that you can fill hole, rip, etc. and dries to become as strong as original...
You don't need much, just enough to fill the area...
DaHose
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
Have you thought about just popping off the valve and vacuuming out the water with a wet/dry vac? You can buy pool/washing machine waste hose pretty cheaply from Home Depot and you would be able to use it for other stuff too.

Jose
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
I still fail to see why you don't do the simplest solution, get a large chunk of plywood and use a small bottle jack to raise the tank up?
bumpy
TomG2
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
I would have to raise one side of the trailer almost two feet to dump the tank. Seems like a lot more work than plugging a quarter inch hole in the tank with a rubber plug.
mrgreetis
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
I agree with John Wayne above. The tools and materials you have available will really determine what you can do. I know it is not advisable, but you could also use your stabilizing jacks to raise the whole side with the sagging portion of the tank, allowing most or some of it to drain. Then use a lever or jack to continue to raise it.
John_Wayne
Explorer II
Feb 23, 2015
Run the low side of the tank up on leveling blocks so it is above drain valve level drain and fix tank hanging straps. Even if you can only get 10 gal out it should be enough to put a board and jack under tank to fix it. You don't need a rolling floor jack an jack should be able to do it.