Please, I really could use any and all ideas since my "RV Dream" is rapidly turning into an RV nightmare. On Christmas Eve our toilet clogged. While we braved the crowds at Walmart to purchase a snake, the problem resolved itself. A few days later, it recurred. We called an RV mobile service and he was able to get the toilet to drain. Since then, the toilet has been clogging on a regular basis - about every three days. So far, my husband has been able to use the snake to get the toilet functioning again. But this is a very unpleasant chore every few days. The tank seems to drain okay, so the obstruction is . . . where? Draining the black water tank does not help. I have read all related posts and can't seem to find anything that addresses this particular problem. We switched to RV toilet tissue (even tho the consensus seems to be that any septic-safe tissue works), we have tried several different enzyme treatments but neither have helped. We have traveled extensively in this 2003 Excel Limited 5th wheel and never had this problem before. I would be happy to call the repairman again but at $250 per visit, I can't afford to have him very often! Any ideas?
bjoyce said
11:06 AM Jan 4, 2014
It sounds to me like build up inside the tank, so you need to break it up. The best way is to get everything ready to travel, then put a large bag or two of ice cubes down the tank and drive around. Take some curvy roads with hills, give it 20 to 30 miles. Then come back and dump. If you can't do that or it does not solve the problem, get one of those tank sprayers from an RV store, hook it through a garden hose through the bathroom window and stick it down through the toilet to spray out the black tank with the black valve open, hooked to sewer. A clear elbow on your sewer outlet will let you see what comes out.
The repairman did not solve the problem, he just cut a path through the build up.
Dog Folks said
11:48 AM Jan 4, 2014
when you are hooked up to a sewer have you been leaving your black tank valve open?
If so, you may have the "pyramid of poop" causing you trouble.
arkypam said
12:00 PM Jan 4, 2014
Thanks for the response. We are parked for the winter, so am hoping to not have to pack up and take the RV on the road. We will if necessary. We have a tank wand and have been using that to no avail. I appreciate your thoughts!
bjoyce said
12:06 PM Jan 4, 2014
I would run that tank wand at least a half hour and make sure it is actually spraying inside the tank. If it is spraying in the pipe going down it won't do any good, you need to install a sprayer into the side of the tank in that case.
arkypam said
12:19 PM Jan 4, 2014
We always keep the tank closed until we are ready to dump. So I don't think that's the problem.
Millie said
12:39 PM Jan 4, 2014
I put an 'L' fitting on the end of a garden hose.
...turn the water on 'full-blast' while turning the water hose 'L' around in the tank.
Hope this helps.
I have a funny story for you!
...it was freezing cold outside one time, and the poo poo was frozen in the pipe.
...my hand was too big to get in the pipe ...but, my 7 year old's hand fit!
rv-vagabond said
02:12 PM Jan 4, 2014
May I suggest that you back flush your tank. You can get an attachment like RV Hydro Flush which will allow you to back flush your tank at some RV store. One of the better known RV stores even has a video online on the Hydro Flush.
SnowGypsy said
02:14 PM Jan 4, 2014
The tank is draining off the liquids while the "mound" continues to grow. Are you in freezing temps?
arkypam said
05:26 PM Jan 4, 2014
Thanks, folks! We have gone out and bought another wand - a 360 degree type. I think this will perform the same function as the "L" fitting, Millie? One question - did you have to get counseling for the 7-year-old? I'm afraid that might give me nightmares for years!!! I will look into the Hydro Flush. My husband has something different to back flush. Cathy, we are in possibly the only part of the country that is not freezing at this time - sunny, Tucson. The temperatures have been in the balmy 70's, so I can't blame it on that.
We have also purchased the detergent and Calgon water softener that many folks recommend to keep the tank clean.
Thanks for the ideas. We'll try anything. I know my husband is tired of me coming into the bedroom and saying "Wake up, honey. The toilet is full again."
SnowGypsy said
05:45 PM Jan 4, 2014
When sitting in one spot, it is important to get extra water in your black tank. I used to put some dishsoap and buckets of hot water in it after it was emptied and then my husband back flushed it about monthly I think. After emptying it, you should be putting some water in before using it, less "sticky" on the bottom of the tank. We once were set up in one spot for 2 years and never had an issue.
I was hoping that Millie was joking since I cannot imagine anyone would have their child do something like that. I certainly wouldn't put my hand/arm up there. Imagine if you had a small cut or abrasion and introduced that bacteria!
GENECOP said
06:44 PM Jan 4, 2014
How is your black tank Vent? Check for obstructions .....keep us posted......
Millie said
07:06 AM Jan 5, 2014
arkypam wrote:
Thanks, folks! We have gone out and bought another wand - a 360 degree type. I think this will perform the same function as the "L" fitting, Millie? One question - did you have to get counseling for the 7-year-old? .....
'Absolutely' a 360 degree type, Pam! - You never know where those sneaky poopies may be hiding!
...as long as the wand gives a good strong spray of water!
On the 'incident' point in time, we were living 'stationary' on a newly bought piece of land.
The frozen blockage was only 3" thick, a short way in the mouth of the pipe outlet.
That is when we learned to always leave the drain slider thing 'open'. - Therefore, it only happened 'once'.
The 7 year old boy was not 'ordered' to help. - He understood he had the only small enough implement available to do the job, and knew he wouldn't have wanted to go outside in the cold, in the middle of the night, trudging through the snow to do his duty behind a tree.
...so he scraped at the frozen offender with a butter knife until that tenacious scoundrel came popping out of the hole 'amazed' under the pressure and gush of the back water release!
There were cheers from all!
Just another day in the life of homesteading.
Millie said
07:20 AM Jan 5, 2014
SnowGypsy wrote:
....Imagine if you had a small cut or abrasion and introduced that bacteria!
Well! There's always 'iodine' for an abrasion, Gypsy!
53 Merc said
07:36 AM Jan 5, 2014
Since this is a 2003 model, my thought might be moot. However, often when the people cut the holes in the tank, the coupon falls into the tank and remains. Lazy people don't retreive the coupon due to production quotas. Is it possible the coupon has moved to the outlet, and when the valve is opened, it swings up and blocks the outlet? Then when flushing from outside, it is moved and a successful dump occurs. Next time to dump, repeat?
Lucky Mike said
08:16 AM Jan 5, 2014
this is a guessing game with a simple solution....
Call a plumber or RV Tech that owns an inspection camera....he will be able to look in the tank , see the problem and come up with the answer
if you dont see the problem you can only guess to the solution....
Find it....inspect it.....correct it...........Being a Service Tech I was taught ....Never guess , if you do you will be back to do it all over again at your own expense!!!
in this case.....how much money are you willing to throw down the toilet ?
Millie said
07:35 PM Jan 5, 2014
53 Merc wrote:
Since this is a 2003 model, my thought might be moot. However, often when the people cut the holes in the tank, the coupon falls into the tank and remains. Lazy people don't retreive the coupon due to production quotas. Is it possible the coupon has moved to the outlet, and when the valve is opened, it swings up and blocks the outlet? Then when flushing from outside, it is moved and a successful dump occurs. Next time to dump, repeat?
That is some grasping at straws, Merc
...but 'valid'.
-- Edited by Millie on Sunday 5th of January 2014 07:35:50 PM
53 Merc said
10:04 PM Jan 5, 2014
When you have dealt with as many of the "techs" as I have, you grab any straw you can think of. They have fought this problem a long time, time to figger it out, no matter how many comments come. The problem I presented has happened, and will happen again. Ken
-- Edited by 53 Merc on Monday 6th of January 2014 09:36:22 AM
Dog Folks said
10:56 AM Jan 6, 2014
arkypam: I can sense your frustration and hope you get results soon.
Until then try to remember this: "Attitude makes the difference between an ordeal and an adventure."
Workinrvers said
07:06 PM Jan 6, 2014
not sure if you have this resolved or not but there is a company that will inspect with a camera and clean your tank(s) with high pressure. I have never used their service but they might be the answer especially if your are neck deep in ........ well, you know.
You say the toilet clogs, but the tank drains. Can you clarify that? For a while we had to empty our 40 (45?) gallon tank every three days because the toilet seemed to be filling up (burping) that fast and then smelling really bad. Our's too drained well and we use a Flush King on a regular basis. We also use LOTS of water in the black. Someone suggested our vent might be clogged so I ran a hose up to the roof and ran water down the vent. Sure enough, only a trickle of water came out of the tank. I ran a snake down the vent until I heard it hit bottom and then gently tapped and probed with the snake. When I pulled it back up there was nothing on it and it wasn't wet except for the very tip. After a lot of looking, calls to the mfgr, and crawling around into places I didn't fit into, I learned that our vent pipe comes down vertically from the roof, then makes a 90 degree turn and runs 6 or so inches horizontally and then enters the tank's side wall, near, but not at, the top. I guessed that some tissue might have flowed into the horizontal pipe and then dried there.
Lucky guess. I went back on the roof and poured some toilet chemicals and a little Dawn down the vent pipe, then added a little water. Later in the day I went back on the roof with the hose and by then the clog had softened enough to come loose. I let the hose run full force and ran it down as far as it would go and let it run until I saw nothing but lots of clear liquid running out of the tank. Since then, no worries.
Let us know what happens.
WestWardHo said
07:16 PM Jan 8, 2014
Penny and Paul,
Just hoping that wasn't your water hose! Just teasing. A very creative solution!
Please, I really could use any and all ideas since my "RV Dream" is rapidly turning into an RV nightmare. On Christmas Eve our toilet clogged. While we braved the crowds at Walmart to purchase a snake, the problem resolved itself. A few days later, it recurred. We called an RV mobile service and he was able to get the toilet to drain. Since then, the toilet has been clogging on a regular basis - about every three days. So far, my husband has been able to use the snake to get the toilet functioning again. But this is a very unpleasant chore every few days. The tank seems to drain okay, so the obstruction is . . . where? Draining the black water tank does not help. I have read all related posts and can't seem to find anything that addresses this particular problem. We switched to RV toilet tissue (even tho the consensus seems to be that any septic-safe tissue works), we have tried several different enzyme treatments but neither have helped. We have traveled extensively in this 2003 Excel Limited 5th wheel and never had this problem before. I would be happy to call the repairman again but at $250 per visit, I can't afford to have him very often! Any ideas?
The repairman did not solve the problem, he just cut a path through the build up.
If so, you may have the "pyramid of poop" causing you trouble.
Thanks for the response. We are parked for the winter, so am hoping to not have to pack up and take the RV on the road. We will if necessary. We have a tank wand and have been using that to no avail. I appreciate your thoughts!
We always keep the tank closed until we are ready to dump. So I don't think that's the problem.
I put an 'L' fitting on the end of a garden hose.
...turn the water on 'full-blast' while turning the water hose 'L' around in the tank.
Hope this helps.
I have a funny story for you!
...it was freezing cold outside one time, and the poo poo was frozen in the pipe.
...my hand was too big to get in the pipe ...but, my 7 year old's hand fit!
We have also purchased the detergent and Calgon water softener that many folks recommend to keep the tank clean.
Thanks for the ideas. We'll try anything. I know my husband is tired of me coming into the bedroom and saying "Wake up, honey. The toilet is full again."
I was hoping that Millie was joking since I cannot imagine anyone would have their child do something like that. I certainly wouldn't put my hand/arm up there. Imagine if you had a small cut or abrasion and introduced that bacteria!
'Absolutely' a 360 degree type, Pam! - You never know where those sneaky poopies may be hiding!
...as long as the wand gives a good strong spray of water!
On the 'incident' point in time, we were living 'stationary' on a newly bought piece of land.
The frozen blockage was only 3" thick, a short way in the mouth of the pipe outlet.
That is when we learned to always leave the drain slider thing 'open'. - Therefore, it only happened 'once'.
The 7 year old boy was not 'ordered' to help. - He understood he had the only small enough implement available to do the job, and knew he wouldn't have wanted to go outside in the cold, in the middle of the night, trudging through the snow to do his duty behind a tree.
...so he scraped at the frozen offender with a butter knife until that tenacious scoundrel came popping out of the hole 'amazed' under the pressure and gush of the back water release!
There were cheers from all!
Just another day in the life of homesteading.
Well! There's always 'iodine' for an abrasion, Gypsy!
Call a plumber or RV Tech that owns an inspection camera....he will be able to look in the tank , see the problem and come up with the answer
if you dont see the problem you can only guess to the solution....
Find it....inspect it.....correct it...........Being a Service Tech I was taught ....Never guess , if you do you will be back to do it all over again at your own expense!!!
in this case.....how much money are you willing to throw down the toilet ?
That is some grasping at straws, Merc
...but 'valid'.
-- Edited by Millie on Sunday 5th of January 2014 07:35:50 PM
When you have dealt with as many of the "techs" as I have, you grab any straw you can think of. They have fought this problem a long time, time to figger it out, no matter how many comments come. The problem I presented has happened, and will happen again.
Ken
-- Edited by 53 Merc on Monday 6th of January 2014 09:36:22 AM
Until then try to remember this: "Attitude makes the difference between an ordeal and an adventure."
not sure if you have this resolved or not but there is a company that will inspect with a camera and clean your tank(s) with high pressure. I have never used their service but they might be the answer especially if your are neck deep in ........ well, you know.
All Pro Water Flow
Phil
You say the toilet clogs, but the tank drains. Can you clarify that? For a while we had to empty our 40 (45?) gallon tank every three days because the toilet seemed to be filling up (burping) that fast and then smelling really bad. Our's too drained well and we use a Flush King on a regular basis. We also use LOTS of water in the black. Someone suggested our vent might be clogged so I ran a hose up to the roof and ran water down the vent. Sure enough, only a trickle of water came out of the tank. I ran a snake down the vent until I heard it hit bottom and then gently tapped and probed with the snake. When I pulled it back up there was nothing on it and it wasn't wet except for the very tip. After a lot of looking, calls to the mfgr, and crawling around into places I didn't fit into, I learned that our vent pipe comes down vertically from the roof, then makes a 90 degree turn and runs 6 or so inches horizontally and then enters the tank's side wall, near, but not at, the top. I guessed that some tissue might have flowed into the horizontal pipe and then dried there.
Lucky guess. I went back on the roof and poured some toilet chemicals and a little Dawn down the vent pipe, then added a little water. Later in the day I went back on the roof with the hose and by then the clog had softened enough to come loose. I let the hose run full force and ran it down as far as it would go and let it run until I saw nothing but lots of clear liquid running out of the tank. Since then, no worries.
Let us know what happens.
Just hoping that wasn't your water hose! Just teasing. A very creative solution!
Arkypam, please let us know your final solution.
Sherry