Black tank won't drain - R-pod Owners Forum

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Sharon68

Newbie

Joined: 03 Aug 2021
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4

Topic: Black tank won't drain
Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 3:51pm

Ieft the black tank sewer connection open the hose got full so I emptied that now the tank still is 3/4 full and won't drain out

Ssmith

jato

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3255

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 4:30pm

How do you know the tank is 3/4 full? If you are depending on the idiot lights on the panel . . . don't as they are notoriously inaccurate. When my black tank is empty it sometimes reads 1/3 full and at other times 2/3 full - not dependable.

If you can look down the toilet and see liquid than chances are pretty good that you have a plug at the tank exit - open the drain and insert a stout stick or similar to break the plug loose. If you cannot see anything down the toilet, for peace of mind, open your drain and then take a garden hose and insert it inside the toilet past the lid cover, turn water on and flush tank out that way. If you are confident that the black tank flush works use that but make sure your drain is OPEN while doing this procedure.

God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

offgrid

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 7:29pm

+1. If nothing is coming out the big hole the the idiot lights aren't working.

You can rinse through with the garden hose to confirm but don't drink out of that hose afterwards

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Colt

Senior Member

Joined: 16 Nov 2019
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 383

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 7:49pm

Wear a rain suit! 😎

John
'16 R-Pod 180

DavMar

Senior Member

Joined: 04 Aug 2017
Location: Lexington, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 592

Posted: 22 Aug 2021 at 2:41pm

Listen to Jato advice.

One thing every camper owner should consider owning and having with them at all times is what is called a "sewer or toilet wand". This is simply a 4 foot section of 1/2 PVC that you connect to an on/off water valve that you connect to a water spigot hose. I carry mine inside my extra sewer pipe carrier inside the pipe. If you run into the problem of a clogged black water drain you can open the toilet drain flap and insert it into the tank and blast the clog free. Plus its great for flushing out the tank after a long trip or the end of the season winterizing clean up. I've never had to use it to blast a clogged up drain free but I did let my buddy borrow it for the same problem in his motor home rv.

Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the
wonder dog.
2017 Rpod 180
2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4
Lexington, NC

SC for Huskers View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 22 Feb 2017
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 144

Posted: 22 Aug 2021 at 3:15pm

Hey Gang, Why can't Sharon68 use the Reverse Flush Valve? You can probably barrow one from another campsite, or purchase one at the local camper equipment store. Don't you think it would sort of juice up the stuff from the bottom up?

Happy Traveling,
Tom
2017 172pod
2011 F150 STX

1nana2many View Drop Down

Groupie

Joined: 05 Apr 2018
Location: NE Kansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 62

Posted: 23 Aug 2021 at 8:28am

Camco makes a great black tank clean out called the Camco RV Flexible Swivel Stik that I highly recommend. It really does a great job cleaning out those stubborn areas after we have had our grandkids in our larger camper for a week. We threw out the plain pipe that just had a few holes drilled in it after getting this. It really was a game changer. We wipe ours down with Clorox wipes after use and keep it in a canvas bag I made for the purpose.

The mountains are calling and we must go...O.D., Keith & Jody
2016 RP179= O.D. (Olive Drab)
2008 Coachman Captiva
1993 Jayco 1206 popup
2016 F150 Supercrew

StephenH

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6326

Posted: 23 Aug 2021 at 8:51am

You might also go to the TankTechs web site to view the videos they have there. I think you will find them helpful and informative.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

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Sharon68 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2021 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Topic: Black tank won't drain Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 3:51pm
	Ieft the black tank sewer connection open the hose got full so I emptied that now the tank still is 3/4 full and won't drain out
	Ssmith

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3255	Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 4:30pm
	How do you know the tank is 3/4 full? If you are depending on the idiot lights on the panel . . . don't as they are notoriously inaccurate. When my black tank is empty it sometimes reads 1/3 full and at other times 2/3 full - not dependable. If you can look down the toilet and see liquid than chances are pretty good that you have a plug at the tank exit - open the drain and insert a stout stick or similar to break the plug loose. If you cannot see anything down the toilet, for peace of mind, open your drain and then take a garden hose and insert it inside the toilet past the lid cover, turn water on and flush tank out that way. If you are confident that the black tank flush works use that but make sure your drain is OPEN while doing this procedure.
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 7:29pm
	+1. If nothing is coming out the big hole the the idiot lights aren't working. You can rinse through with the garden hose to confirm but don't drink out of that hose afterwards
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Colt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2019 Online Status: Offline Posts: 383	Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 7:49pm
	Wear a rain suit! 😎
	John '16 R-Pod 180

DavMar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04 Aug 2017 Location: Lexington, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 592	Posted: 22 Aug 2021 at 2:41pm
	Listen to Jato advice. One thing every camper owner should consider owning and having with them at all times is what is called a "sewer or toilet wand". This is simply a 4 foot section of 1/2 PVC that you connect to an on/off water valve that you connect to a water spigot hose. I carry mine inside my extra sewer pipe carrier inside the pipe. If you run into the problem of a clogged black water drain you can open the toilet drain flap and insert it into the tank and blast the clog free. Plus its great for flushing out the tank after a long trip or the end of the season winterizing clean up. I've never had to use it to blast a clogged up drain free but I did let my buddy borrow it for the same problem in his motor home rv.
	Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC

SC for Huskers Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Feb 2017 Location: Goose Creek, SC Online Status: Offline Posts: 144	Posted: 22 Aug 2021 at 3:15pm
	Hey Gang, Why can't Sharon68 use the Reverse Flush Valve? You can probably barrow one from another campsite, or purchase one at the local camper equipment store. Don't you think it would sort of juice up the stuff from the bottom up?
	Happy Traveling, Tom 2017 172pod 2011 F150 STX

1nana2many Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 05 Apr 2018 Location: NE Kansas Online Status: Offline Posts: 62	Posted: 23 Aug 2021 at 8:28am
	Camco makes a great black tank clean out called the Camco RV Flexible Swivel Stik that I highly recommend. It really does a great job cleaning out those stubborn areas after we have had our grandkids in our larger camper for a week. We threw out the plain pipe that just had a few holes drilled in it after getting this. It really was a game changer. We wipe ours down with Clorox wipes after use and keep it in a canvas bag I made for the purpose.
	The mountains are calling and we must go...O.D., Keith & Jody 2016 RP179= O.D. (Olive Drab) 2008 Coachman Captiva 1993 Jayco 1206 popup 2016 F150 Supercrew

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326	Posted: 23 Aug 2021 at 8:51am
	You might also go to the TankTechs web site to view the videos they have there. I think you will find them helpful and informative.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS