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04-08-2012, 09:51 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 4
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How Do I Unclog My Black Tank Drain?
how to unclog black water drain. Thanks
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04-08-2012, 10:36 AM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 10,530
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Hi and welcome to the forum!
I have moved your post from the thread you posted it in so you'll get answers specific to your question and to avoid "hijacking" the other thread.
I'm sure you'll get some expert advice soon and it will probably include the use of some hot water and a digesting product designed for septic tank use.
Best of luck.
Rick
__________________
Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.
2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
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04-08-2012, 10:37 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Somewhere....
Posts: 4,054
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Do you know how it got clogged? Did you leave the valve open and you have a pyramid on the bottom of the tank? Or is it just a localized clog at the outlet?
joe
__________________
2008 King Aire 4562, Spartan K3(GT) w/ Cummins ISX 600
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7L V8 Hemi w/ Blue Ox Aventa LX Tow Bar and baseplate, SMI Air Force One brake
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04-08-2012, 10:44 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 527
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Hire the local RV repair person.
It the tank over flowing? If not get a cap which has a water hose nipple and back flush if you have room in the tank for addition liquid. Then shut off the valve, remove the cap, and reattach the drain hose and open the valve. Yes, you will have a small mess, hence hire the repair person.
I am not sure what you do if the toilet is already over flowing without a much larger mess. This is a good case for not ever letting it get too full.
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04-08-2012, 12:21 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,193
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Had a campground neighbor with a clogged tank - he had a honey wagon pump his tank. Suction was strong enough to clear up whatever the clog was.
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04-08-2012, 12:27 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Somewhere....
Posts: 4,054
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jzick
Had a campground neighbor with a clogged tank - he had a honey wagon pump his tank. Suction was strong enough to clear up whatever the clog was.
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That sounds really dangerous to me. I wouldn't think the black tank would have enough venting to deal with the suction from a honey wagon. The only time I ever had a honey wagon pump our tank, they used a short hose that went into a bucket-like device, and their suction hose pulled from it.
joe
__________________
2008 King Aire 4562, Spartan K3(GT) w/ Cummins ISX 600
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7L V8 Hemi w/ Blue Ox Aventa LX Tow Bar and baseplate, SMI Air Force One brake
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04-08-2012, 01:10 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,193
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Quote:
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That sounds really dangerous to me. I wouldn't think the black tank would have enough venting to deal with the suction from a honey wagon.
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Maybe it is and I just do not know any better. We go to several places annually (racetracks, etc) that are dry camping with a honey wagon/water delivery service that you wave down as needed. They just attach their big hose to to tank outlet, open the black and grey drains and do what they are designed for. I do think, however, that the suction is adjustable and that they do not use full power. We have probably used a honey wagon service a dozen or so times on our current motorhome.
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04-08-2012, 01:19 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Somewhere....
Posts: 4,054
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Maybe the ones that specialize in RV service have special adjustable pumps. The one I used was primarily a rural septic tank service, and did a sideline in RVs as needed. So they might not have had the right (low power) pump to connect directly to an RV.
joe
__________________
2008 King Aire 4562, Spartan K3(GT) w/ Cummins ISX 600
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7L V8 Hemi w/ Blue Ox Aventa LX Tow Bar and baseplate, SMI Air Force One brake
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04-08-2012, 01:21 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 161
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 Ask the people that used it what they put down that blocked the drain, and when you find out who caused the blockage make them reach in and clear it.
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04-08-2012, 02:04 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Smyrna
Posts: 323
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How long is your Arm !!
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"Life is a Journey. Enjoy the Ride" 
2004 Winnebago Journey 39K w/ 330 Cummins on a Workhorse Chasis (rare but no problems yet).
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04-08-2012, 05:08 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Mid Atlantic Campers Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 412
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Check out Robin Williams in the movie RV where he has 2 yahoos help him drain his tank!
Just figure out what was put in the toilet or where you hooked up at the campground with the drain valve open, that will give you the pyrimyd .
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Rick & Robin with ( Schaffer & Bella in memory)(springers) from S/E PA
1996 Adventurer, f53
WE ARE...
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04-08-2012, 07:17 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NW AZ and Kenai Peninsula
Posts: 207
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Have done this, it is not fun. We got a long stiff wire (about 4' long to reach at least a foot into the tank and it was 8 or 10 guage) and a bucket, took the cap off, opened the valve, stuck the wire in and probed aggressively, yanked the wire and slammed the valve shut at the first sign or returns, then hooked up the hose and let it drain. The bucket is to catch any returns. Required 3 applications. Followed that with a prolonged session with a hose-end tank spray attachment to clean out more. Much easier with two people or 3 hands.
You may want to exhaust the other options first.
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04-08-2012, 07:30 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: B.C.
Posts: 4,638
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lloydc1234
how to unclog black water drain. Thanks
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Verrrwwwwyy carfully. I think the suggestion above with the cap with a hose connection would be my choice. 
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Dennis & Marcie & Captain Hook The Jack Russell,aka PUP, 2006 Itasca 29R 2017 Equinox toad. RVM59
We came, we went, nothing broken, nothing bent!
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04-08-2012, 07:50 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 735
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lloydc1234
how to unclog black water drain. Thanks
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When you ask a question like that, try to supply as much information as possible,
like where exactly you think it's plugged, what may have caused the plug,
what you have already done to get it open.
The more information you give will reduce what the folks here have to guess at. 
Good luck.
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