Community Forums

chirohand · 10-19-2008, 04:03 PM

Has anyone had their sani-con system block up while dumping their black tank? The motor still runs but there is no flow out the discharge line. How is the best way to unblock it? I continued to dump using the 3" hose. That was no fun. I emptied the 3" supply line to the sani-con and yes there was a lot of paper in it. I am using RV paper and do use the solvents in the tank. I looked in the owners manual which was no help. Can anyone out there help. Thanks
Scott R

chirohand · 10-19-2008, 04:03 PM

Has anyone had their sani-con system block up while dumping their black tank? The motor still runs but there is no flow out the discharge line. How is the best way to unblock it? I continued to dump using the 3" hose. That was no fun. I emptied the 3" supply line to the sani-con and yes there was a lot of paper in it. I am using RV paper and do use the solvents in the tank. I looked in the owners manual which was no help. Can anyone out there help. Thanks
Scott R

Lukeaa · 10-19-2008, 06:46 PM

Check with the Thetford service line and see if they are any help. Sounds like you may have a loose impeller on the shaft.

Sixpack98 · 10-19-2008, 06:58 PM

Sorry to hear about the dreaded Sanicon gotcha, has probably happend to most, if not all, of us. I agree with Luke, a loose impeller is the likely culprit. You might also look for a toilet paper plug that is clogging the discharge line. This sometimes happens if the black tank is less than half full and there is lots of paper. I will sometimes open both valves before turning on the SaniCom to transfer gray water into the black tank.

mark

PizzaGuy · 10-20-2008, 09:56 AM

Scott
I am by no means an expert on the sani-con system. I am still learning about it. But, here is what I have found out. The 3 inch hose must be completly full of water for the system to work. My pump is at the same height as the discharge valve so at the end of draining the hose is half full. This allows the pump to suck air and it will stop draining and there is still water in the hose. Being old school, I always wanted to disconnect the black hose and cap off the discharge. I now just leave it connected all the time. I always dump grey water after to clean out the hose. I don't know if this helps or if it is even related to your problem. Good luck

Nonno · 10-20-2008, 11:19 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">at the end of draining the hose is half full </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Keep this in mind when winterizing because it also means there is some water in the macerator/impeller and small discharge hose.

What I did is disconnect the 3" hose from the tanks, pour pink stuff directly into it and then start it. What little is left in sani-con should hopefully protect it.

jacmat · 10-20-2008, 12:20 PM

When I took delivery of my MH at Monaco's plant in Indiana, Monaco's technician told me during the delivery process to start by opening the grey water tank, start the Sanicon system then open the black water and close grey water till black is empty, then empty the grey.

He told me to do that to avoid blocking the macerator with paper if you start with the black tank.

Sixpack98 · 10-20-2008, 12:44 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bob Russo:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">at the end of draining the hose is half full </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Keep this in mind when winterizing because it also means there is some water in the macerator/impeller and small discharge hose.

What I did is disconnect the 3" hose from the tanks, pour pink stuff directly into it and then start it. What little is left in sani-con should hopefully protect it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bob,
That's a great tip to protect the expensive sani-con. Even though there is a heater in the water service compartment we have seen from other posts that it may not be very reliable.

mark

digNbubbs · 10-20-2008, 01:21 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jacmat:
When I took delivery of my MH at Monaco's plant in Indiana, Monaco's technician told me during the delivery process to start by opening the grey water tank, start the Sanicon system then open the black water and close grey water till black is empty, then empty the grey.

He told me to do that to avoid blocking the macerator with paper if you start with the black tank. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

While I disagree with the reason, I agree with the action. I think the reason has more to do with not being stuck with a 3" tube full of people-dirt if the SaniCon decides to not start up. If you throw the switch and there is only grey water in the exit points, you are much better off draining that off to repair the pump than you are starting with black.

In the "few" times I have emptied my tanks, I know that enough water flows out of the black tank first (before paper and other solids). It would have to be a slow moving plug of solids going through the 3" hose to the pump for it to get plugged.

I am interested to hear more about "the dreaded Sanicon gotcha". I am going on two years fulltime with no issues at all with the pump. The only problem I have had was with the switch relay, and that was because it was getting dripped on. I wonder if hair going down the shower drain is a major contributor to the pump problem. We have used a fine mesh screen on all of our drains since the beginning (Angie has BIG hair), and we have not had any pump problems (knocking on wood).

Please tell - what has been the experience with the pump giving out? Any consistency in the failures that we can learn from? Running the pump too long? Not enough water being used in the black tank? Too much paper? Black tank demons living in the tank and being flushed inadvertently?

--kev

Dutch Star Don · 10-20-2008, 01:35 PM

chirohand....mine will occasionally lose it's prime and the pump will run, but nothing comes out. This will sometimes happen if you run the unit when the tank is empty.

Take the discharge hose and lift it higher than the tank drain, open the tank drain (grey side) and stick a garden hose in the end of the discharge hose and turn it on, forcing water back through the SaniCon. Turn the water off, lower the hose into a drain and start the SaniCon. I would try this before I started dismantling the SaniCon pump.

Zbugsii · 10-20-2008, 02:27 PM

I have found that the impeller can get clogged up with hair, paper and other stuff, thus needing occasional cleaning.

I take the hose off and clean out the sanicon system at the impeller, then all is well.

Some things, just do not clear the impeller.

chirohand · 10-27-2008, 03:59 PM

I had called Thetford for some help or at least a diagrame of the unite. They said that they did not sell parts but sold unites. They also said that they did not have a diagrame to help.

Bottom line they where NO HELP

The help on this chat line was a lot of help, Thanks. I have not tried everything yet, but I will. I did get the bypass line to drain but the empeller still did not work. I agree that the empeller is likly loose on the shaft. Thanks for all the help.

Scott

Michael Siemens · 10-28-2008, 05:53 AM

We have been fulltiming for about 2 years now and have used the Sani-Con 98% of the time. I did have our original factory installed (pre-thetford) seize up a year ago. The motor stopped after consistently slowing down over a 2 month period. Was in warranty and Monaco covered the replacement with the latest model.

I started to hear the motor start to slow of late and thought to use the "Thetford Drain Valve Lubricant" Valve Lube to lube all the moving parts on the black side. Before doing so, I contacted Thetford and the help line fella' said that it would not hurt anything and would probably help. So, after the recommended amount (about 1/5th) of the bottle in the black, the impeller is spinning and pumping as fast as it did when new.

IMHO, very small maintenance effort to lessen the large event of having to replace or fix during a duty cycle.

Otherwise, the Sani-Con has been probably one of the most favored improvements to the RV industry in a decade, IMHO..

William Willard · 10-28-2008, 09:34 AM

chirohand -- The Sanicon is like your garbage disposer under you sink at home -- A motor with a maserating blade -- It is easy to take the sanicon out,take the hose off, & you can see the blade -- Hook it to the 12v power & see if it spins -- The motor is about 6x6 inches -- Not a big deal -- Bill Willard