Forum Discussion

rvgrammady's avatar
rvgrammady
Explorer
Aug 22, 2014

Tub girgling when filling grey tank

When I dump say on a short weekend. My black an grey tanks are barely full. So I have to add water.

I am hooked up to the campsite water and I have a plastic thing that holds my toilet valve open so the water runs and I can fill the black tank to 1/2 or more full.

I then run the kitchen sink to fill the grey water tank to 1/2 or 3/4 full. The last time I was running the kitchen sink, I passed the bathroom and the shower drain was spitting and girgling. then it quit
and then a few minutes later it did it again. My grey water was probably getting between 1/4 and 1/2 full.

Someone said my vent was probably plugged up (bee/wasp etc. nest) and as the water was going into the grey tank the air had to be evacuated and so it came up thru the shower.

Any suggestions.? I'll have to take it to a RV place as I can't do any of these repairs myself.

Tks,

Dy
Northern Calif.

8 Replies

  • Canadian_Rainbi's avatar
    Canadian_Rainbi
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    rockhillmanor wrote:
    I am hooked up to the campsite water and I have a plastic thing that holds my toilet valve open so the water runs and I can fill the black tank to 1/2 or more full.


    You do NOT need to do this.

    In 99% of all MH's the sink in your bathroom dumps into your black tank.
    Simply open the faucet in the sink to fill your black tank. Takes a whole lot less time and fuss.


    99%? I don't think so. In our last three, only one (a Triple E) did. Our Horizon does not.

    However, they all should be plumbed this way. Who needs 40 or 50 gallons of Black Tank! :E
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 24, 2014
    Op's method of adding water to back tank works......why change?

    Shower burping/gurgling when dumping grey tank is due to in adequate venting.
    As water drains out of grey tank air must reenter tank otherwise a vacuum would be created and implode tank.

    Vent line to roof is obstructed......

    Ask/Hire a neighbor......up on roof, remove vent cap and run hose down thru vent line, turn on hose and blast obstruction out.
  • Bobbo's avatar
    Bobbo
    Explorer III
    Aug 24, 2014
    RJsfishin wrote:
    2 out of the 4 MHs I've had, including the Rexall (at bottom) have the toilet ONLY into the black tank.

    rockhillmanor wrote:
    I am hooked up to the campsite water and I have a plastic thing that holds my toilet valve open so the water runs and I can fill the black tank to 1/2 or more full.


    You do NOT need to do this.

    In 99% of all MH's the sink in your bathroom dumps into your black tank.
    Simply open the faucet in the sink to fill your black tank. Takes a whole lot less time and fuss.

    I agree, 99% is an exaggeration. However, a significant number do have the bathroom sink plumbed into the black tank. The next time you dump, after the black tank is empty, turn on the bathroom sink and see if more water trickles out of the black tank.
  • RJsfishin's avatar
    RJsfishin
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    2 out of the 4 MHs I've had, including the Rexall (at bottom) have the toilet ONLY into the black tank.

    rockhillmanor wrote:
    I am hooked up to the campsite water and I have a plastic thing that holds my toilet valve open so the water runs and I can fill the black tank to 1/2 or more full.


    You do NOT need to do this.

    In 99% of all MH's the sink in your bathroom dumps into your black tank.
    Simply open the faucet in the sink to fill your black tank. Takes a whole lot less time and fuss.
  • DougE's avatar
    DougE
    Explorer
    Aug 23, 2014
    If you haven't used the tub the trap may be dry. BTW quit wasting water by adding to the tank before dumping. If you want to clean the tank, after dumping, put in a couple of gallons of water and a bag of ice then drive a while.
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer II
    Aug 23, 2014
    I am hooked up to the campsite water and I have a plastic thing that holds my toilet valve open so the water runs and I can fill the black tank to 1/2 or more full.


    You do NOT need to do this.

    In 99% of all MH's the sink in your bathroom dumps into your black tank.
    Simply open the faucet in the sink to fill your black tank. Takes a whole lot less time and fuss.
  • RJsfishin's avatar
    RJsfishin
    Explorer
    Aug 23, 2014
    Yeah, probably lacking vent, but a gurgle never hurt anybody. If that the only problem, don't fix it !
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Aug 22, 2014
    Yes, it's a venting thing. Could be nests or the like but it could also be that the vent cap was installed wrong. I would remove the cap for the vent on the roof and make sure the black pipe isn't pulled right up against the bottom of the cap.
    I've bought two trailers that had this problem with their vents. I just used a hack saw to trim a bit of the black pipe away from the vent cap and all was good after that.

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,363 PostsLatest Activity: Mar 04, 2026