Camper black water tank fluid heats up

[tictacball]

We do a lot of winter camping and always thought the furnace was keeping the holding tanks nice and warm. This past trip we noticed that the black water tank was especially hot and the furnace was not used. The only heat source was possibly the water heater. It had been left on over night by accident. The pump was off, but the black water was steaming! Any ideas before we climb in underneath to have a look at what could possibly be the problem?

[dougrainer]

Arcamper wrote:
Did someone put some bleach down the tank? Bleach and urine make a bad gas. DW did that once and the next time I flushed there was a fog coming up from the bowl.

He stated that it was HOT and steaming his private parts. Doug

[2_many_2]

mchero wrote:

2 many 2 wrote:
If the OP is hooked up to city water and the water hose is in the sun, that sun heated water could be getting to the toilet.

OP would have to pump allot of water into that black tank to get it up to "steaming".

All of the reply's that are picking on me are correct, I was just throwing out another idea that had not been mentioned, just in case the OP was confused with warmer water in the bowl instead of the tank.
I have heard of people that thought their faucet water was hooked up to hot water instead of cold, just to find out that it was hot or warmer water coming from the fresh water hose in the sun. :E

I am still anxiously awaiting the final outcome. Very interesting

Best of luck to everyone :B

[Arcamper]

Did someone put some bleach down the tank? Bleach and urine make a bad gas. DW did that once and the next time I flushed there was a fog coming up from the bowl.

[kellem]

mich800 wrote:

safeman wrote:
I found this about septic tanks.

"Bacteria do generate heat when they digest organic material, as is most easily seen in compost piles. Those piles can get really hot – 130 degrees Fahrenheit is not unusual."

Not sure if it applies to an RV Black Tank. Maybe it depends on how long stuff has been in there?

I will also add, I have never done that experiment the OP is talking about, opening the valve when actually using the toilet. Is this common? Not something I would even think to do.

No...this is not common.

[mich800]

safeman wrote:
I found this about septic tanks.

"Bacteria do generate heat when they digest organic material, as is most easily seen in compost piles. Those piles can get really hot – 130 degrees Fahrenheit is not unusual."

Not sure if it applies to an RV Black Tank. Maybe it depends on how long stuff has been in there?

I agree, and depending on the composition of what is in the tank, level of the tank and how long it has been there. And have we established the definition of this steam? Warmer air pushing into a cooler space is not uncommon. If actual steam (visible) that would definitely be a sight.

I will also add, I have never done that experiment the OP is talking about, opening the valve when actually using the toilet. Is this common? Not something I would even think to do.

[dedmiston]

Correction:

After a little mathing, it looks like the volume of a 3/4" ID hose is more than I thought.

For 25 feet, the volume would be .574 gallons and for 50 feet, it's 1.147 gallons.

I still doubt the water gets hot enough to heat up the tank, especially if it's less than a gallon and a half.

[dedmiston]

The solar effect of a black hose doesn't make sense to me either. Even if it's a 50' hose, how much volume could the hose contain? I wouldn't expect it to be more than half a gallon.

[dougrainer]

kellem wrote:

2 many 2 wrote:
If the OP is hooked up to city water and the water hose is in the sun, that sun heated water could be getting to the toilet.

Hmmm now there's a thought......perhaps rescuing the danglies.

Lets say it is 100 degrees. The water hose hook up, HOW can it get hotter than that 100 degrees? If so, then how come the Sink Faucets do not bellow steam and be hot? Doug

[safeman]

I found this about septic tanks.

"Bacteria do generate heat when they digest organic material, as is most easily seen in compost piles. Those piles can get really hot – 130 degrees Fahrenheit is not unusual."

Not sure if it applies to an RV Black Tank. Maybe it depends on how long stuff has been in there?

[GordonThree]

Probably an orbital power station misaligned, pumping microwaves into your tank.

If it's 65 outside why would the furnace need to run?

This does not make sense, suspect leg-pulling going on here.

[2_many_2]

tictacball wrote:
No city water, out in the bush. Not tank heaters, 65 degrees outside, no furnace on inside. Will go underneath soon, just need time to do it

Wow, This is a good one. I can't wait to hear the outcome. Best of luck............

[tictacball]

No city water, out in the bush. Not tank heaters, 65 degrees outside, no furnace on inside. Will go underneath soon, just need time to do it

[Mfan]

How often do you drain the tank? If it was a fresh water issue, wouldn't the bowl water be hot too?

[mchero]

2 many 2 wrote:
If the OP is hooked up to city water and the water hose is in the sun, that sun heated water could be getting to the toilet.

OP would have to pump allot of water into that black tank to get it up to "steaming".