Black water line break

[Ron and Marsha]

I have a real problem. The discharge outlet broke away from the sewer pipe, dumping the holding tank contents.
Does the vanity sink empty into the black tank? This problem erupted on a night when I was dripping water at the vanity to avoid a water line freez-up and the discharge outlet remained in the closed position. Although I had emptied the black tank a day before, I am puzzled as to how it could fill unless it had failed to drain completely and the dripping sink emptied into the tank--pure speculation on my part.
During the night I used the toilet and when I pushed the flush peddle water gushed up into the toilet basin. I went out to drain the black tank and when I started to open the discharge valve, the entire valve assembly separated from the pipe. The entire process seemed as if water was flowing into the black tank, but what outside source could be responsible? Vanity sink/dripping water? Other source?

On the black water tank, how do I gain access to do an inspection. Any and all advice will be helpful from those who have had similar problems. Reattaching of the sewer pipe to the discharge valve should be manageable but until I find the reason for the break, I am spinning my wheels. Thanks in advance.

[Ron and Marsha]

I have a real problem. The discharge outlet broke away from the sewer pipe, dumping the holding tank contents.
Does the vanity sink empty into the black tank? This problem erupted on a night when I was dripping water at the vanity to avoid a water line freez-up and the discharge outlet remained in the closed position. Although I had emptied the black tank a day before, I am puzzled as to how it could fill unless it had failed to drain completely and the dripping sink emptied into the tank--pure speculation on my part.
During the night I used the toilet and when I pushed the flush peddle water gushed up into the toilet basin. I went out to drain the black tank and when I started to open the discharge valve, the entire valve assembly separated from the pipe. The entire process seemed as if water was flowing into the black tank, but what outside source could be responsible? Vanity sink/dripping water? Other source?

On the black water tank, how do I gain access to do an inspection. Any and all advice will be helpful from those who have had similar problems. Reattaching of the sewer pipe to the discharge valve should be manageable but until I find the reason for the break, I am spinning my wheels. Thanks in advance.

[cwg]

One of my previous motorhomes was a Suncruiser 37G and I am pretty sure all the sinks only emptied into the gray water holding tank. I am wondering if the lines were inadvertenly misplumbed?

In any event, best wishes and maybe someone else can help to come up with a plausible answer and solution.

["007"]

I have a bath &1/2 coach the hand sink empties into the black tank. Some class C's would have the same setup also. The toilet in this same bathroom had the 3" pipe into black holding tank fall into tank from vibration it was suppose to be glued into the floor flange.
A full 50 gal black tank will have alot of pressure built up near fittings, if it was a poor glue job stuff happens.
I can follow the sink pipe to tank thru cabinets and see the pipe enter the tank near the vent pipe of same size.
When you put back together make sure you clean pipes real good with fine sand paper than use the pipe joint cleaner and ample amount of glue or pipe cement for plumbing pipes.

[RV Wizard]

Our bathroom vanity drains into the black holding tank.

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Ron and Marsha:
I have a real problem. The discharge outlet broke away from the sewer pipe, dumping the holding tank contents.
Does the vanity sink empty into the black tank? This problem erupted on a night when I was dripping water at the vanity to avoid a water line freez-up and the discharge outlet remained in the closed position. Although I had emptied the black tank a day before, I am puzzled as to how it could fill unless it had failed to drain completely and the dripping sink emptied into the tank--pure speculation on my part.
During the night I used the toilet and when I pushed the flush peddle water gushed up into the toilet basin. I went out to drain the black tank and when I started to open the discharge valve, the entire valve assembly separated from the pipe. The entire process seemed as if water was flowing into the black tank, but what outside source could be responsible? Vanity sink/dripping water? Other source?

On the black water tank, how do I gain access to do an inspection. Any and all advice will be helpful from those who have had similar problems. Reattaching of the sewer pipe to the discharge valve should be manageable but until I find the reason for the break, I am spinning my wheels. Thanks in advance. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ron,

According to page 231 of the parts manual for your coach the vanity sink drains into the black tank.

You can find your part manual at the link posted below:
http://www.winnebagoind.com/service/...CA/2ifg37g.pdf

[full-timer]

Yes,on a previous motorhome I had the same thing happen. I replumbed it. They say reason they plumb them this way is that people empty the black tank without enough water in the black tank to flush the solids out.

Joe

[Jackm]

I'm assuming that the water that came out during the accident was relatively clear. It sounds like you have a model that drains gray water into the black tank. Hence, the dripping probably filled the tank over night. The fact that the valve assembly ddetached from the sewer pipe might have been a coincidence.

I'd reattach the valve assembly and do a quick experiment. Using a clear sewer fitting (to see what's coming out), run the water in your vanity with your black tank valve open and your gray tank valve closed. Make sure that the black tank is empty before you start. If water starts to flow out of the black tank discharge pipe, you'll know that your vanity drains into your black tank. If no water comes out, you're back to square one. Good luck.

Jack
2004 Brave 34D

[MaverickBBD]

My 36G Journey vanity sink empties into the black tank. I use this to put some water in the black tank after I empty it.

[Ron and Marsha]

It is feedback time on my problem. To solve the black water holding tank problem I took our Itasca to a local service center in central Missouri. The "fix" was one that took hours and hours of disassembly to solve a 15 minute problem. The problem causing the discharge from the holding tank was a separation of the black pipe from the holding tank. Turns out that the "boot" used at the factory was improperly attached, the bottom section of the boot showed clear "turned under" signs and the boot was just itching for an excuse to pull away. A new boot, attached correctly solved that problem.

When the tank was filled to test the seal, water started spilling out on the shop floor, opposite side of the coach. Turns out that a hole had been drilled through the tank during service work at another dealership. The dealership refuses to admit liability for the damage. Silver lining is that the central MO service center has my problem now corrected but the Southwest MO Itasca dealership lost future business.