Black Water Tank Rinse

[montiem]

I have had my coach for 2 years and have used the black water tank rinse, it always seemed to not use enough water, just trickle came out when I washed it out. Finally I thought it must be stopped up and how it is stopped, I have tried to put some heavy detergent down the hose fitting but so far no good, I have left the water on for several hours. Can any of you guys tell me how to unstop the thing without taking it apart, that is a real complicated problem.

[jbushon]

You may have a calcium build up in the line. Try vinegar in the line. Let it set in the line, if possible.

[Steve N Sal]

Are you talking about the amount of water that comes out when you're just running the black tank rinse? When you drain the tank do you get a full force of waste when the tank is emptying?
What I normally do after the waste is emptied, I hook up the black water rinse, close the trap at the tank and let the water run for about 1-2 minutes. Then I open the trap and let it drain again leaving the water on so it can continue to rinse. You can repeat that step a couple of times just DON'T walk away and forget about the trap being closed. I normally will do this until I see no more solids coming out of the clear elbow attached to the drain outlet. Hope this helps.

[RVNeophytes2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve N Sal Then I open the trap and let it drain again leaving the water on so it can continue to rinse. You can repeat that step a couple of times just DON'T walk away...

Haw... My greatest fear is that I'll start the water running, some buddy will come roaring down the driveway with a cold unopened beer held aloft; fifteen minutes later, he'll ask why water is cascading down the entry steps



Great technique, however, to do like Steve says. I'd suggest using the buddy method; not that both of you could never forget; it's just that, if an accident happens, you can share the blame

[ottffss]

Another option is to use the black rinse maybe just a couple times a year, if even that. That's all I do and I do it only when I'm really, really bored using the Steve-n-Sal method. Yes, I full time too.

Here's the logic. Since stuff (solids and otherwise) winds up being in the black tank basically all the time I never understood the fervent need of so many folks to flush the living daylights out of it when in just a few more hours more stuff is going to be added to the tank. What's the value of a pristine, totally solids free tank for just a few hours? I also use no chemicals and use fancy regular TP and NEVER have had a septic problem or smell of any type.

When dumping, of course, black then grey and even the dump hose is already clean. No need for further flushing of anything.

Maybe, just maybe, all those excessive flushing/purging/cleaning contortions are for naught? YMMV

[Pairajays]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottffss Another option is to use the black rinse maybe just a couple times a year, if even that. That's all I do and I do it only when I'm really, really bored using the Steve-n-Sal method. Yes, I full time too. Here's the logic. Since stuff (solids and otherwise) winds up being in the black tank basically all the time I never understood the fervent need of so many folks to flush the living daylights out of it when in just a few more hours more stuff is going to be added to the tank. What's the value of a pristine, totally solids free tank for just a few hours? I also use no chemicals and use fancy regular TP and NEVER have had a septic problem or smell of any type. When dumping, of course, black then grey and even the dump hose is already clean. No need for further flushing of anything. Maybe, just maybe, all those excessive flushing/purging/cleaning contortions are for naught? YMMV

Exactly.

[djhinds]

My 2004 Signature did the same thing. I traced the rinse water line back to the tank, it went into a fitting on the tank. The fitting had 3 screws holding it in place on the tank. I removed the screws and pryed the fitting up and off of the tank, it had caulking under it. I removed the water line and looked inside the fitting. It was clogged with what looked like some papertowel. There are about 8 holes aimed in various directions, I could not see light thru it. I used a dental pick and forced air to clean out the holes. I reinstalled it and WOW does it work great now. I bet it never worked right from the beginning.

Then I got an idea, my MH has a faucet where I hook up the tank rinser. I got the fitting to hookup a hose to the faucet and found a washing machine filler hose and a male/male hose fitting to hookup to the tank rinse connection. Then I can use the MH pump to rinse my tank, also could use hot or warm water. Some dump stations do not have good threads or any threads on their rinse hose. This works so well.

Dave

[Diplomat Don]

montiem......Your coach should be similar to others and its an easy repair. If you drive the coach when the tank is more than half full, paper and other debris splashes up into the holes in the sprayer, dries and plugs the sprayer.

The sprayer is located on the passenger side of the coach. If you go to the passenger side, opposite your utillity bay, there should be a panel that has no door latch. At the base of the panel, under the coach, are two scews that hold this panel closed. Remove the screws and lift the panel up, it's hinged at the top and you'll need a pole to hold it open. You should be able to see the fresh water tank laying atop the two drain tanks. At the end of the most rearward drain tank is a small sprayer with three screws holding it onto the tank. If you take it off and clean it, it will only plug again. Instead of removing mine, I removed the hose from the sprayer and had enough room to take an 1/8" drill and drill down ito the sprayer several times, making several larger holes in the sprayer.

The sprayer may not spray in multiple directions as well, but it will certainly dump a lot more water in at the end of the tank. Since I drilled mine, it has been clog free and works well for rinsing the tank.

[montiem]

I am not sure my tank is like yours, in my water bay I have a water valve and an water hook up, I have a short length of grey hose that hooks from the hose bib to the sprayer inlet, I have even hooked it to the park water but still no pressure. to open it would be a nightmare, I can feel behind the cover to the and find the hose for the sprayer but to get to it would be a hard job

[Diplomat Don]

If you can get your hand back there and loosen the hose clamp and then remove the hose, you can take a small drill bit, insert it into the sprayer and probably clean out the holes by twisting the bit with your fingers.

[nodine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by montiem I am not sure my tank is like yours, in my water bay I have a water valve and an water hook up, I have a short length of grey hose that hooks from the hose bib to the sprayer inlet, I have even hooked it to the park water but still no pressure. to open it would be a nightmare, I can feel behind the cover to the and find the hose for the sprayer but to get to it would be a hard job

Check again on what Don said about getting to the tank on the curb side of your coach. If you look at the photo I have attached you will see our tank access door opened and propped up. Look to the left of the small heater sitting on top of the black tank and notice the blue PEX line. That is the black tank flush. Just unscrew that line with your hand and then remove the screws holding the flush nozzle in the top of the tank. Remove it and clean.

Good luck,

Bob

[djhinds]

That is the exact same fitting as in my Sig. It is on the passanger side behind a door that has no handle. Just latches on the bottom and has to be held up with a stick. The flusher fitting has to be at the other side from the drain valves to wash out the tank. I can really hear the water jets hitting the inside of the tank. My Aquajet water pump has plenty of pressure and volume to run the tank flusher if shore water is not available. Very easy to remove and clean. But be sure to use caulking on install, you do not want a LEAK there.

Dave

[DC Cruiser]

Just a thought and my opinion but I don't think it is a very good idea to hook up your fresh water system to your black tank flush hose. Could cause you to be sitting on the toilet filling that black tank more than you would like!!!!LOL
Seriously not a good idea guys. Those little bugs we can't see might like to swim upstream to spawn just like fish. IMHO

CHEERS

[Diplomat Don]

DC Cruiser......The system has a backflow valve on it. As a matter of fact, the valve is very annoying. Once you disconnect the hose, the connection pukes water out for about 5-10 seconds soaking everything.