Black Water backing up in shower when driving.

[BKLaw]

We do a lot of camping where there are not any dump stations. We usually dump when we get back home, but this last time sewer had backed up into shower and bathroom sink. It was a rather smelly cleanup. Any ideas on why or how to prevent this from happening again?

[Terrick_down_Un]

Hey, we had a similar problem just after we had bought our TC. When I opened up the lower space next to the shower I found a non return valve just around the corner, about 8 inches from the shower drain and not easy to get at. When I finally got it out I found all sorts of junk stopping the valve from shutting off. Put it back all clean and have not had a problem since.
Hope this helps.

[BKLaw]

I had to fish out a tank spray nozzle out of waste tank, so i know it is very clean. I don't remember seeing the vent tube, so will have to wait till I clean it out this weekend. Found roof vent this afternoon!.

[pjay9]

Easy stuff first: cleanse tank and make sure vent is open! Thx for the added info. Cleanse = Dump a bag of ice from the store in toilet to tank then drive around corners for 10 minutes come home and drain after ice melts some.

[BKLaw]

It is a 2005 Six-Pac D850. Sorry no pics of the drain, but assure you it only has one tank, and one drain valve.

I added the Make and Model to my signature, but profile has info and pictures in there, unless I have to select something in preference for others to see it?????

This has just happened this one time, the last time we used it. Probably been on 4 or 5 trips total and never happened before. I have only camped once where there was a dump station, so I know I have traveled home at least 3 times from this lake with waste water in tank. Thanks.

[pjay9]

How do you know it is only one tank? Show us pics of the tank valve set-up. Run a hose down the vent and wash it out..usually on top of roof...may need to be creative to get a hose past the vent top depending on type and if it can come off. Show us a pic of that too for better suggestions. Has this just started or has it happened all the time since you got it?

Have you done a tank cleansing? BTW, year make and model would help too...just saying! The more info you can supply gives folks a better chance at solving your issue. Fill in your profile always is good! Help is just around the corner.:?

[BKLaw]

HMS Beagle wrote:
There is something wrong with your plumbing. Water (or effluent) will find its own level in the entire system. To back up in the sink - which is no doubt at least 2 feet higher than the shower - would require the shower to be 2 feet deep in effluent. This would be more than inconvenient.

Both shower and sink should have traps, and the tank should be vented. If the backup you got was a small amount, it is possible that the vent is plugged (birds, wasps, bad construction) and the tank pressurized by a warming day, this could force the material in the traps up into the bowl and shower pan. To see the actual level of the black tank, hold the toilet flush open, on most RV's you will be able to see directly to the surface of the effluent.

I think this was caused by the waste water moving back and forth in the tank while driving. It was probably less than 1/2 full. There aren't any baffles in the tank.
I agree it is a plumbing issue, just not sure how to fix. I have traveled with the tank FULL and this hasn't happened. Maybe I just need to make sure it is full before leaving????

[HMS_Beagle]

There is something wrong with your plumbing. Water (or effluent) will find its own level in the entire system. To back up in the sink - which is no doubt at least 2 feet higher than the shower - would require the shower to be 2 feet deep in effluent. This would be more than inconvenient.

Both shower and sink should have traps, and the tank should be vented. If the backup you got was a small amount, it is possible that the vent is plugged (birds, wasps, bad construction) and the tank pressurized by a warming day, this could force the material in the traps up into the bowl and shower pan. To see the actual level of the black tank, hold the toilet flush open, on most RV's you will be able to see directly to the surface of the effluent.

[naturist]

Next time, don't turn it over and shake.

Sorry, devil made me say it.

If you are going that route, maybe a couple soft rubber balls just big enough to insert into the drain, with fender washers top and bottom and a bolt through it you can tighten to squash the ball so that it doesn't dislodge. Stick one in each drain, tighten the bolt a bit, and you have a sealing stopper.

[Bumpyroad]

I can't imagine the sink overflowing. to do so the shower must have been under 1 1/2 ft of water.???
bumpy

[DWeikert]

If you can get to the shower drain plumbing, a long term solution may be to put a ball valve on the shower drain. That'll prevent backwash when on the road. Just remember to open it when you shower.

If you can't easily get to the shower drain plumbing... never mind.

[nomad297]

If you can remove the drain cover, you can install a mechanical plug made by Cherne. Whether your drain is 2" or 1-1/2", I don't know. Either way, just buy the right sized plug -- probably $4.00 or so.

Bruce

[BKLaw]

Kayteg1 wrote:
I bet your tank vent pipe is inserted several inches into the tank, therefore not allowing you use full tank capacity.
Common fix is known as harpooning. If you can see vent pipe via drain pipe, you can attach saw blade to a pole and cut the long pipe short.

I'll check when we get back this weekend. Thanks.

For now I have the "cork" type for the sink, and the flat type for the shower floor drain. Toilet, bathroom sink, and shower, sit right over the main drain line. I was really surprised it made it all the the bathroom sink. Shower I could kind of understand. It may have had just the wrong amount of fluid in it to cause this problem, because we have used it several times without this issue, and drove with waste water in tank.

[RedRocket204]

Peg Leg wrote:
Flat rubber stopper over drain with a weight on top?

I would go the route of pulling out the plastic water stops that don't really seal well during a "back-up" situation and use black rubber "corks" that are inserted into the top of the drain and forced in. Should hold until you can figure out why it is backing up. I believe the big box hardware stores should have those stoppers in the plumbing section.

[Kayteg1]

I bet your tank vent pipe is inserted several inches into the tank, therefore not allowing you use full tank capacity.
Common fix is known as harpooning. If you can see vent pipe via drain pipe, you can attach saw blade to a pole and cut the long pipe short.

[BKLaw]

Peg Leg wrote:
Flat rubber stopper over drain with a weight on top?

I bought some at Home Depot yesterday:). I really would like a little better fix though.