Black Tank Vent Plugged?

[garymunson]

Waste buildup is usually from people hooking up their sewer line and leaving the blackwater valve open. You should always keep it closed and only open it to actually drain the tank. The problem is, unlike your home sewer system that is built with the time tested 1/4" per foot slope that assures (most of the time) the liquid waste flows at the proper speed to carry the solid waste with it, The slope in a motorhome system probably has little engineering behind it AND being off level would negate that effort anyway, hence the 'poop pyramid' effect. Just keep the valve closed and after a couple days open it to drain. This way the velocity and quantity of the accumulated liquid waste is sufficient to carry the solid with it. With the valve always open, solid waste builds up and the liquid immediately flows out, not taking the solid with it. Running some extra water when flushing also helps make sure there is enough liquid the facilitate the dumping process.

[novi2some]

I only open the black tank valve when the tank is full.

[aboatguy]

Totally agree with the folks telling you to keep the dump valve closed. The rig we have has been in the family since it was new back in January 1997 and there's never been a POOP Pyramid using the following methodology.

1. A couple of gallons of water in the tank before using it.
2. Only TP and human waste get flushed. (toilet chemicals are allowed)
3. Empty tank when almost full (if its time to leave campground we will fill tank via the tank flush system)
4. fully Open flush valve (leave flushing system running)
5. close flush valve (if there's time we will let flushing system 1/2 the tank and then open dump again)
6. If its warm season leave flush system run a couple of minute IOT leave a little layer of water on the bottom of tank.
7. Pull grey water dump valve to flush the hose.


Right now the rig is winterized when the toilet valve is held open I can clearly see the bottom of a CLEAN BlACK tank.

Mike

[edsperfect]

What a lovely way to spend an morning, mixing poop.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by novi2some

Mobile Service came and had to flush the tank from the drain valve side. He also found the gravity toilet plugged and cleaned it out. It wasn't cheap, but we have our flushing toilets back. The Mobile Service guy said to use only RV type of toilet paper. It is sold at Walmart. He said the septic safe paper has nylon in it and doesn't break down. This is the first time in 10 years where using septic safe paper caused a problem.

Nylon in toilet paper? Sounds like crap to me. The whole purpose of septic-safe paper it so it will break down/decompose and not stop up the system.
Apparently that mobile service guy hasn't read The great toilet paper debate is solved, Well, unless you dump your black tank more often than once every 5 minutes.
What truly is the problem, is not using enough flushing water to keep all solids covered at all times. Then only dumping when the tank is at least 3/4 full.

[aboatguy]

Totally agree with the folks telling you to keep the dump valve closed. The rig we have has been in the family since it was new back in January 1997 and there's never been a POOP Pyramid using the following methodology.

1. A couple of gallons of water in the tank before using it.
2. Only TP and human waste get flushed. (toilet chemicals are allowed)
3. Empty tank when almost full (if its time to leave campground we will fill tank via the tank flush system)
4. fully Open flush valve (leave flushing system running)
5. close flush valve (if there's time we will let flushing system 1/2 the tank and then open dump again)
6. If its warm season leave flush system run a couple of minute IOT leave a little layer of water on the bottom of tank.
7. Pull grey water dump valve to flush the hose.


Right now the rig is winterized when the toilet valve is held open I can clearly see the bottom of a CLEAN BlACK tank.

Mike