Black tank won't drain...

[belsy88]

Our black tank will not drain... When we open the drain for the black tank only a little water comes out at a time. I looked around online a little and found a few suggestions...use the awning rid to clear the clog...leave the toilet flusher open while draining...apperently they make a blank tank de clogged...? Any other suggestions/tips...?

[short_kid]

When we bought our used 2010 Four Wind I was checking things out and found after the first dump some paper looking material at the end of the pipe. I just washed it off with the hose but I noticed some glue build up like a spike. I guess an excessive amount of glue on assembly, with the pipe up side down formed this spike. Our black tank is on the passenger side of the MH and the grey is on the dump side so there is several fittings and couplers before the dump valve. I was able to break the spike off and will have to watch at each dump for additional problems. After dumping we add water and treatment so it sloshes around as I drive. I just wonder about the connections I can't see, I tried shining a flashlight up the pipe but can only see to the first elbow. It seems to drain ok so I hope that was the only road block!!!!!!!!
Go safely.

[jvander]

lanerd wrote:

John&Joey wrote:
So where are all those out there that say TP doesn't matter?

I think the issue with this subject is not the brand or type or layers of TP.....it's the quantity! With any, if you put a lot of it down the toilet you're gonna have problems....period. Doesn't matter if it's Charmin or Kirkland......single ply or 4-ply.

Ron

TP? We don't use TP. That's what the sprayer hanging on the wall is for.....isn't it? 🙂

[MrDoneIt65]

I'm beginning to think you worry to much about it. When you haul the rig down the road the liquid in the tanks moves. When you use the toilet you add water to it. When you leave a campsite you dump it. If you flush the tank and shine a flashlight into the tank you should be able to see if there is any liquid in it. Like one post said, maybe you don't have anything in the tank.

[SRT]

bobphoenix wrote:
Dang!!! After reading all the replys here and knowing what I want an answer to... I almost saw what I was looking for when Mister_D said

The key to the whole thing is to have the right amount of liquid in the tank....

So, here's my question... How much water is enough...?
After I dump the black tank, I usually fill and empty the toilet bowl four times to "charge" the tank then toss in a packet of tank fresh...

I figure the bowl holds about two gallons, so that's about eight gallons in the bottom... the trouble is I don't know how many gallons my tank is...

After dumping I also put in 4 toilet bowls of water.

[mister_d]

bobphoenix wrote:
Dang!!! After reading all the replys here and knowing what I want an answer to... I almost saw what I was looking for when Mister_D said

The key to the whole thing is to have the right amount of liquid in the tank....

So, here's my question... How much water is enough...?
After I dump the black tank, I usually fill and empty the toilet bowl four times to "charge" the tank then toss in a packet of tank fresh...

I figure the bowl holds about two gallons, so that's about eight gallons in the bottom... the trouble is I don't know how many gallons my tank is...

People here love a Google challenge.. post your unit and I bet someone will find your tank size(: I would say 8 gallons is fine and will likely cover the bottom of any tank. IMO, this combined with people continuing to put some water in the bowl before a bowel movement, you'd be good.

[MrDoneIt65]

Go to the website for your brand of motorhome and see if you can get the information. If not then do a Google. Mine has a 50 gal black water, 50 gallon gray water, and 100 gallon fresh water.

I would think the amount of water to mix with the deodorant would be on the packet. If you drop it in the water and then flush wouldn't that make it dissolve? I use the small bottles. Never really worried about it.

[bobphoenix]

Dang!!! After reading all the replys here and knowing what I want an answer to... I almost saw what I was looking for when Mister_D said

The key to the whole thing is to have the right amount of liquid in the tank....

So, here's my question... How much water is enough...?
After I dump the black tank, I usually fill and empty the toilet bowl four times to "charge" the tank then toss in a packet of tank fresh...

I figure the bowl holds about two gallons, so that's about eight gallons in the bottom... the trouble is I don't know how many gallons my tank is...

[bobphoenix]

mister_d wrote:

BigRabbitMan wrote:

belsy88 wrote:
We used the awning rod to unclog the clog. I think it was before the tank 🙂

The original poster did come back and anounce the result about 15 posts ago! But the advise just keeps pouring out!

The OP is not the only one reading this thread. :R I'm sure people using the search feature will find additional opinions useful.

Well, thank goodness most of the advise given here is running up hill... 😉

[MrDoneIt65]

Oh, and another little trick I learned. I got a piece of half inch copper tubing about 3' long, put an elbow on one end with a hose connection on which I placed a high pressure nozzle. Then on the other end I put another elbow to give me better control, a brass shut off valve because their stronger, and a hose connection to fasten it to a garden hose. I hold the valve down to open the toilet drain and put the nozzle down into the black water tank and my wife turns on the water. I put a clear plastic connector on the end of the drain so I can see what is coming out and you would be surprised how much stuff comes out, even though the tank shows empty. I think the tissue must get stuck in the corners or around where the pipes are connected and it builds up. The high pressure water breaks it loose. Simple little device, carry it with us in a storage compartment, use it a couple times a year.

"If I ain't DoneIt it probably ain't worth talking about".

[MrDoneIt65]

Never had this happen on a black water tank but I did have a gray water valve that the handle pulled out of it when I went to dump it. Only way to fix it was to take it apart. Sometimes you have to do what you got to do. It was a mess. Then I let someone use my travel trailer once when they had an older family member visiting. They shoved Depends in the toilet. I pulled up next to the dump and ran a rod up the valve. I pulled out a few old Depends and then the tank let go and******went everywhere. Took a while to hose that mess into the drain. Happy Trails! If I ain't DoneIT it ain't worth talking about.

[NorCal_Dan]

belsy88 wrote:
We used the awning rod to unclog the clog. I think it was before the tank 🙂

Go the the hardware stare and pick up a closet auger. They come in different lengths, just be sure to get one long enough to reach from the dump valve to the black tank. Mine is a 3ft version and cost less than $20. If your toilet does not dump straight into your black tank and has a bend in the pipe you can use the closet auger from that end as well.

Save your awning rod for awnings.

[mister_d]

BigRabbitMan wrote:

belsy88 wrote:
We used the awning rod to unclog the clog. I think it was before the tank 🙂

The original poster did come back and anounce the result about 15 posts ago! But the advise just keeps pouring out!

The OP is not the only one reading this thread. :R I'm sure people using the search feature will find additional opinions useful.

[BigRabbitMan]

belsy88 wrote:
We used the awning rod to unclog the clog. I think it was before the tank 🙂

The original poster did come back and anounce the result about 15 posts ago! But the advise just keeps pouring out!

[ReneeG]

Ok now, to the OP - you've gotta come back and let us all know what the outcome to this is - no pun intended.