Rain Water in Black Water Tank???

[Chuckles248TB]

Mods please feel free to move this to a more appropriate location if need be.

I recently purchased a 1995 Coachmen 248TB from a coworker. Prior to the purchase he explained that there was a roof leak some time back and that the bathroom floor was soft because of it. I figured no big deal, replace some flooring, relay the vinyl and be done...boy was I wrong.

On Sunday 12/21/14 I began removing the vinyl and pressboard flooring from the camper. In the process I unbolted the toilet and removed it from the bathroom area leaving the wax ring/toilet mount exposed. At that time there was nothing in the black water tank.

Yesterday 12/28/14 I returned to remove the tub and sink cabinet and to my surprise when I looked down in the black water tank with a flash light it appears to be almost full. I looked from the ground and it looks like the cap on top of the vent pipe is intact. Does anyone have any idea where this water could have come from. I tried searching the forums and didn't find anything on this topic. Any help/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[budwich]

You actually might be "sort of lucky".... if the water is coming from "a high" and finding its way into the black tank.... just think what might have been if it was some how finding its way inside the cabin. It doesn't sound good either way... as others, my guess is the vent pipe has pooling in and around it allowing it to drain into the tank.... and possibly "back flowing" into your floors in and around the toilet... hence the soft flooring there and also possibly flowing down the outside wall of the vent pipe to some degree and causing issues in those areas.

[Baja937]

As said...OPEN the black tank valve and leave it open until you fix this to prevent tank overflow inside the trailer since the toilet has been removed.

[FrankShore]

Photobucket direct link is ok afaik. Just embed the photos using the little icon to the right of the envelope and make the width no more than 640

[Chuckles248TB]

We've had a lot of rain here in Tidewater, VA over the last week or so and it continues to pour today. I'm going to go by this afternoon when I get off. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it hasn't overflowed. I agree with everyone though that if the vent cap is compromised for a tank that large to fill from rain water through a 1 1/2 inch pipe is kind of far fetched. The scenario about it being sunken down and pooling seems more reasonable. I'll post again tonight after I go take a look at it. The previous owner assured me that all tanks were drained and winterized prior to him parking it about 6 months ago. I'll snap some pics while I'm at it. What sites does this forum accept pics from...photobucket?

[Old-Biscuit]

Halmfamily wrote:
I would start at the roof. Make sure the roof vent in not sunk down and water pooling around it and then draining down the vent. In the mean time I'd keep the black tank valve open to prevent possible flooding. Good luck, let us know what you found.

THIS^^^^^^^

Even with a vent line cap in place IF roof area allows rain to pool around vent opening and vent line is down below roof lie rain water could flow into vent line.

[ksg5000]

The black water tank only has holes for the vent, toilet, sink, and a exit. I can't think of any reasonable scenario where a roof leak is going to impact the content of a black water tank - especially filling it overnight.

[Halmfamily]

I would start at the roof. Make sure the roof vent in not sunk down and water pooling around it and then draining down the vent. In the mean time I'd keep the black tank valve open to prevent possible flooding. Good luck, let us know what you found.

[Chuckles248TB]

I should have probably included the fact that the camper isn't connected to anything right now. No water, no power, no drain...nothing is connected. Just spoke to previous owner, there is not flush system installed on the black water tank either.

[Chuckles248TB]

That's exactly what I was thinking but it's the only possible explanation I've come up with thus far. I guess I'm just confused. Underneath the toilet there was a plastic mounting ring that closely resembles a wax ring in a normal home. I have cut the flooring around that mount out completely so the mount sticks up above floor level. If water was leaking down a wall and running across the floor it would drain down onto the varmint barrier rather than running down the hole where waste would enter the black water tank.

[downtheroad]

Of course, water runs down hill....so it sounds like you still have a huge leak somewhere. Water is running down inside the walls and draining into the black tank.

Best to climb up top and start checking seams, the roof itself, or caulking around the pipes, A/C, vents, antennas, etc. I doubt a leaking running light would fill up your tank that fast.

This is an unusual issue and doesn't sound good to me.
Leaks aren't unusual, but leaking that much into a holding tank....yikes.

[RVcircus]

That's an interesting problem. Is there by any chance a tank flush system installed in the black tank...and connected? If the water was coming from a roof leak you would surely notice that amount of water coming from somewhere.

[mhardin]

I don't know where your water came from, but it would take an epic rain like Noah's to fill a black tank through the vent. Especially with the vent cover in place.