Pressure on the throne!

[TakingThe5th]

Our water closet/commode/throne/toilet seems to develop a bit of pressure a day or so after the start of a trip. When that happens, a giant bubble will appear immediately as I flush, follows by a "wonderful" smell. This doesn't happen on day 1, it might be day 2 or 3, and when it begins it usually persists until we dump and rinse the tank.

Also-the first day the throne begins leaking at the base, but that may stop the next day, or not.

I ran a stream of water down the vent and it's open. It didn't seem to be clogged as well as I could tell. As I ran the hose down the vent I also pulled the black dump valve and was surprised at how clean it appeared, hardly anything-no paper, a little bit of "other".

I've been going really heavy with the toilet treatment just to cover that base. Just two people in the camper, myself and DW.

This is our first year with our Cougar 333MKS and I'm thinking that the vent stack may be installed too deep into the tank. That is my best guess and I'm thinking I should take it in under warranty.

Any thoughts or ideas???

[TakingThe5th]

Me Again wrote:
Do this. Empty the tank leaving the valve open. Fill the bowl to within 1" of the rim and flush. If it burps then you have a blockage in the pipe between the toilet and the tank or a mound.

If it does burp keep doing these super flushes until you clear it.

Report back. I have the same offset in my down pipe and the pipe joints could be causing "things" to hang up in the pipe. Two or three gallons of water dropping in a 3" pipe is a good force to clean out things. Might wear your rain gear when doing this the first time!

Chris

I dumped the tank and hooked up the rinse. Went inside and did two super flushes while rinsing. No burps but not surprised since that had stopped already. Right now I'm thinking like you, it might be that offset pipe getting a "hang up".

My new procedure for now is Double flushes for #2 until the tank is half full.

We are home now. Will add a little fresh water to the tank and some chemical.

[Me_Again]

Do this. Empty the tank leaving the valve open. Fill the bowl to within 1" of the rim and flush. If it burps then you have a blockage in the pipe between the toilet and the tank or a mound.

If it does burp keep doing these super flushes until you clear it.

Report back. I have the same offset in my down pipe and the pipe joints could be causing "things" to hang up in the pipe. Two or three gallons of water dropping in a 3" pipe is a good force to clean out things. Might wear your rain gear when doing this the first time!

Chris

[TakingThe5th]

Looks like Beaker might "win the prize". This morning the problem went away. Recap - we started this trip five days ago with clean empty tanks, but suspecting trouble ahead. Each morning I would dump 4 oz of RV toilet treatment into my 38 gal black tank. Around day 2 1/2 the burping began. Last night the burping stopped and hasn't come back. The tank is two-thirds to 3/4 full.

This rules out my too-long vent pipe theory. But if things are backing up in the elbows, as I now suspect, that might also partially explain the leaky toilet base, although I probably still need a new seal.

I do have a clear collar so I will be watching close for more clues when we dump and leave this afternoon - I'm not in there every minute - but I think the problem has been found. Thanks again everyone and know that I will be rinsing well.

[joebedford]

Isn't this just what one of those inspection cameras is for?

[Beaker]

I don't have an awning rod anymore (electric awning) and if I had one it wouldn't get past the two elbows.

I'm not thinking that I have a pyramid.

No, I don't believe that you have a pyramid either.

I had something very similar to yours and the "it wouldn't get past the two elbows" is what I think is the problem.

When you flush the water flows but the "heavier stuff" goes to the bottom. There are no currents or movement of liquids to move stuff around. Soon the heavier stuff and paper start up the pipe creating the almost perfect damn. This takes a day or two to start. The burp when you flush is air caught between the water starting down and the "dam" below. Take a "snake" or whatever is handy and move it around a bit and see if the burp disappears for a day or two. Usually, the more the toilet it used, the more the burp tends to disappear, from the higher fluid level in the tank.

I've read many times on these forums to test toiler paper, drop a sheet in a quart of water and see what happens. Doesn't matter, no one uses it like that. Wrap ten sheets around your hand, drop it in, and see what happens. That is how it is used.

I won't mention what one of my former jobs was but think Mike Rowe.

[TakingThe5th]

Beaker wrote:

I say it is a pyramid.

For OP:

Next time it burps, shove the awning rod down and see if the burp stops.

If this pyramid has mounded up past the awning I'm not hanging around for the next burp :E I don't have an awning rod anymore (electric awning) and if I had one it wouldn't get past the two elbows.

I'm not thinking that I have a pyramid. The 5er was pretty new when this began. I also practice good housekeeping and never had a pyramid in the old 5er. And I haven't been on a full hookup where the pyramids are usually made.

[Beaker]

I say it is a pyramid.

Measure it and let us know.


For OP:

Next time it burps, shove the awning rod down and see if the burp stops.

[rhagfo]

redsb3 wrote:

Dtaylor wrote:
Is this a new problem or one that recently started?
Check the roof vent and make sure it is open.

I think this is your problem. Clogged vent, tank slowly builds slight pressure, flush toilet, pressure released.

Did either of you read the entire post? OP stated that he cleared the vent.

I will add did be clear the correct vent, but that seems to also answered in the posting as the water was putting in was coming out clean. His thought about the vent extending too far into the tank has some credence.
Not sure how the poo pyramid would cause the toilet to burp, but have not had that experance.

[Cuffs054]

Wow, I thought everybody knew what the Calgon (...take me away...) is for. It makes poop smell like poop mixed with "clean linen"...

[Me_Again]

Dave H M wrote:
New terminology here? :h

pyramid now equals mound.

I say it is a pyramid. :W

I say bomb the pile with a couple full bowl flushes while dumping the tank!!!

This is our weekly snowbird routine!!! Chris

1. Get a clear sight adapter and put it between the trailer and the sewer hose.
2. I leave the black tank closed for a week at a time. Grey tanks open.
3. I form a pee trap in the sewer hose with a couple boards, one 2x and a 4x4.
4. To dump and flush, I remove the pee trap boards.
5. Close the grey water tanks.
6. Open the black water tank and turn on the hose to the built in flush system.
7. Watch the sight tube until I am down to just hose water coming out.
8. Go inside and do two full bowl super flushes. "Bomb the Pile!"
9. Go back outside and view discharge.
10. Close the black water tank and run the flush water in for four minutes. Do not let anyone distract you at this point.
11. Open and drain and repeat step 10 again.
12. Flush a bit and verify that you have nice clear water coming out of the tank. If not go back to step 8 and start again.
13. When you have nice clear discharge, put the pee trap boards back the sewer line and fill the pee trap.
14. Close the black water tank and add about a minute worth of water to the tank with the flush hose.
15. Secure the flush hose. I have a little inline valve adapter at the side of the trailer and the other end gets turned off also.
16. Open the grey water tanks and go add your chemical to the tank.

I was having burping problems once in a while until I added the full bowl flushes to my weekly routine!

[Dave_H_M]

New terminology here? :h

pyramid now equals mound.

I say it is a pyramid. :W

[rodknocker]

352 wrote:
Reach your arm down the hole as far as you can. When down to the max feel around for anything chunky.

Before I would do this, I would burn the trailer to the ground, haul the rest to the dump, lie to the DW and tell her aliens stole the RV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You, sir, are a better man than I am............

[Me_Again]

I would also note that these tanks are only 8 to 10 inches in height in most trailers. So mounds form easily, and lack of water in the tank only makes it worse!

Chris

[Me_Again]

I have had burping a could times. Each time I thought maybe the vent was plugged. Both times it was mounds. Borrowed a wand and flushed a lot with the installed flash system at the same time. I now do two full bowl flushes during my tank dumping. Bomb the pile! Chris