Sewer flush

Does any one know it the sewer flush cuts out when the tank is full or would it keep flowing until it over flows.
Sean

I'm pretty sure it would keep going. Had a clog in mine once and it looked like it would keep going. I keep a plunger on board since that happened.

If the toilet is sealed correctly the water should come out the vent and wash your roof if the flush is left on and the black tank valve closed.

That would be a mess!

I believe that your toilet would overflow either over the top of the bowl (or at floor level if not completely sealed). There is no shut off other than yourself so you best monitor it!

True story…short version.

The following occurred this past spring when we were in Gulf Shores, AL. A couple who were snowbirding at the RV park we were staying at had their adult son come and stay with them a few days. The snowbirds had recently traded in their old Class C motor home on a brand new fifth wheel (Montana I as I recall). On this particular day the snowbirds and the son had different schedules. Snowbirds left first, son decided to wash his truck before leaving so he disconnected the water hose from the fifth wheel. When he finished washing his truck he reconnected the water hose to the trailer, turned the water back on, and then left for the day. Unfortunately, he had connected the water hose to the Black tank flush.

It was later in the day when the snowbirds camped next to that fifth wheel discovered water coming from the sides and top of the trailer and turned off the water. When the owners came back home they had an absolutely unbelievable mess inside the trailer. Their son of course felt terrible, but at this point nothing could be done.

The closest place for such a repair was the Camping World in Robertsdale, AL. Repair estimate on the fifth wheel was $20,000. Camping World let the couple stay in one of their display models until repairs were finished.

When we left Gulf Shores to come back home the repairs were still ongoing and the couple was still living at Camping World.

MORAL OF THE STORY. When using the black tank flusher, always have the drain open.

And always turn your water off before leaving for the day.

oldelmer1 wrote:And always turn your water off before leaving for the day.

Interesting. Never have done that. Interesting.

It could turn out then to be, water water every where but not a drop to drink.
Sean

Richard,
Thanks for sharing this story. Horrible experience for those folks. I wonder if insurance covered any of it.

Tom,
We don't turn off our water, but we're going to start. A pipe could burst inside the trailer while we're gone. Even if it was clean water from a broken faucet or something, it would still be a bad mess.

With a pressure reg, 200 psi pipe, and fittings rated at about 60 lbs

Do same. Do not trust pump system.

We do remember to turn off the pump when we leave, so should be able to train ourselves to shut the water spigot. Hope so anyway.

Extremely nice of Camping World to let them stay in one of their units. I'd never thought about turning the water off, but will definately do that now. DW has a label machine (label "thingie" for Tater ) She is making identification, instruction, warning labels for the dump handles and black tank flush for when we have guests that want to help out.

Just a thought, if you are going to turn off the water spigot and water pump, then you will need to turn off your water heater as there will be no water replacement if you are gone for an extended time, just my .02 worth.

Wouldn't be a problem for us - we seldom use the water heater. About an hour in the evening to wash dishes and shower.

Labels would be a good idea. We occasionally have dinner guests who don't know the slightest thing about camping - except that's nice to enjoy it now and then.

Tater

A long time ago, when my brother had a camper, they went for a few hours and left their dog in the camper. When they came back, water was running out the bottom of the camper. When they went inside, the dog had jumped up at the bathroom sink and hit the faucet open. Since he always closed his tanks( as you should), the tank filled up and overflowed.

So, we have always turned our water off, never turn the HWH off. I do have one of these

on the water supply, so turning it off is very easy(I use the other side for the black tank flush hose)

Been doing this since 06 and still do it with the Montana, no problems with the HWH, but probably wouldn't hurt to turn it off, if I remember...

Scruffy and Tater wrote:Richard,
Thanks for sharing this story. Horrible experience for those folks. I wonder if insurance covered any of it.

Yes, as I recall the insurance was going to cover it, less deductible of course.

Well then, they were very lucky.

Trust me, always turn your water off when leaving. Many, many years ago, I was living in a 24' trailer during the winter. It was cold. I left town for a few days and, you guessed it, I did not turn the water off. Did I mention it was cold? I pipe broke. When I came back, there was about 2" of ice on the entire floor of the trailer. I was throwing chunks of ice out the door for hours. Of course, it ruined the floor.


Always turn the city water off if connected.
Always turn your water pump off.
Always turn your water heater off. (it will still be hot)

Last year with my old tag-a-long, me and my buddies was dry camping on a trout lake, we went out fishing that morning and when we returned we found the bathroom floor flooded and the pump was running, A fitting to my outside shower had come apart and empied the tank, lucky for me it was low on water so it wasent much of a mess but now I do remember to turn off the pump, even at night I still turn it off, I was lucky it didnt do any damage, but a lesson well learned

Never thought of turning the water off when we leave, but I think that it is a great idea and will now do it. We only turn our water pump on when we need it and then off again just in case.

Water Pump is the same for us.

Must be a little different on the East coast. Warmer climate or something. Turning off is something that seems to be never done here in the West Coast.

Sewer flush:
Turn water on, open blackwater valve. When exiting liquid is "clear", close blackwater valve and note time. Dump both graywater tanks. After 6 minutes, or so, of sewer flushing, open blackwater valve and when exiting liquid is "clear" turn off water. Close valve. Down in Arizona I disconnect the hose leading to the flush.

Potable water:
Up here we park the unit for the summer and it never moves until fall. But when leaving, we generally go down for 4 to 7 days and then come back to the house for the same amount of time, I turn off the electric hotwater heater and the water to the 5thwheel. We're using well water and don't control the supply, meaning that I've arrived and found the pump turned off so I kill the hotwater as a precaution.

Cardinal_Bill wrote:Sewer flush:
Turn water on, open blackwater valve. When exiting liquid is "clear", close blackwater valve and note time. Dump both graywater tanks. After 6 minutes, or so, of sewer flushing, open blackwater valve and when exiting liquid is "clear" turn off water. Close valve. Down in Arizona I disconnect the hose leading to the flush.

Potable water:
Up here we park the unit for the summer and it never moves until fall. But when leaving, we generally go down for 4 to 7 days and then come back to the house for the same amount of time, I turn off the electric hotwater heater and the water to the 5thwheel. We're using well water and don't control the supply, meaning that I've arrived and found the pump turned off so I kill the hotwater as a precaution.

That is a different way to flush the tank. Always try to run gray water through last to cut down the possible of making a mess or having a stinky hose.

Dan,

Dump some milk that's past it's use by date down the kitchen sink. Wait 3 or 5 days in 70-90 degree temps. I'll take the blackwater tank as the last dump, if the liquids are "clear" and that's a biggie. If not let the unit rinse and spit until it is.

Bill, even though we flush in this order - black, galley, shower, we can understand your reasoning for the way you flush. I guess if water was at a premium, the black/galley/shower method is definitely best, but if there is an ample supply of water, your way does make sense.