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On a couple of recent trips we have had an interesting time dumping the grey water. Last month on returning from a trip we went to dump the tanks and all seemed to go fine.We even put the levelers down so that we could get everything out. We thought that all had dumped out well as there seemed to be nothing more coming out of the dump valve so we stopped and then check the idiot light to see that the black tank was empty but the grey still showed 2/3's full. My thoughts that maybe it was a sensor error as nothing was coming out of the hose when we finished. Moving onto last weeks trip we came home and the grey tank showed full before we dumped. Again we did all of the normal rituals black tank first, flush it out and then the grey tank. The grey tank flowed heavy and when it stopped I lifted lifted the hose to drain out what lays in the ringlets of the hose. When doing this it was like opening up the gate valve all over again and a big rush of water came out the grey tank again. I sent my wife in and sure enough the gauge showed 2/3 full agin. I stood out there and kept lifting the hose over and over with the same results until it finally drained no more. The gauge now showed empty. At first I though it was suction as I had been having my wife keep her foot on top of the neck where it goes into the ground. I had her loosen up that connection so to let air through but that didn't change anything. What am I doing wrong and has anyone else had this happen?
It sounds like the vent for the grey water tank is plugged. On top of the trailer there should be a couple of round plastic vent pipes sticking through the roof. They may be close together or spread apart. The one closest to the bathroom stool is more likely for the black tank. The one furthest away should be for the grey tank. There should be a cover on top that should come off. Look to see if there is any obstruction. You may have to stick something down the vent to free it up. But be careful and not pressure to much pressure to really get things bound in there.
fpr the grey tank vent, check under the sink for a bulbous black device on top of a plastic line. If it is like mine, it is a vent that only allows air to enter the tank for draining. The device is commonly used in RVs and in apartments for venting
Ken the mechanical vents under the sinks are in place to keep the trap water in place on a long run using a wet vent process.......most likely his main vent has been birded or bee'd or a high diving mouse made his way in
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Well I used a drain snake and got down a length that I figured was to the tank. We are planning on taking it up the coast to Astoria next month for 5 nights so we'll see then if that fixed the problem. I didn't feel any resistance other than where it went around corners. Again thank you for the ideas. Rick
Ken the mechanical vents under the sinks are in place to keep the trap water in place on a long run using a wet vent process.......most likely his main vent has been birded or bee'd or a high diving mouse made his way in
Well that might be, however with only one roof penetration for a vent and two grey water and one black tank, the mechanical vents are all I have to work with. They work well and I have never had an issue with either of the two grey tank vents.
These vents under the sink (PRO VENTS) can be the only vent for a sink, they can also stop working. These PV are easy to change, threaded, and should be replaced with a better quality one....
If you still watching this thread I have a suggestion as to how to more or less “prove” you have a vent blockage of some type.
It should be pretty easy for you to disconnect the trap under the bathroom sink such that there is an open pipe (open to air that is) to the gray water tank.If this is the case, fill the gray tank in whatever way is most convenient. Then disconnect the trap as indicated above.Open the dump value.If the tank dumps properly, or at least a lot better, then it pretty well proves you have some obstruction in the vent line (or perhaps the gray tank valve isn’t opening all the way.)
That’s what I would do if I were having the issue to better verify or isolate the problem before I took the rig to a repair shop. Might save a few dollars worth of trouble shooting.
Thanks again everyone. I will test it again this or next weekend before we take the next trip. Hopefully we will see improvement and it will drain normal. I cleaned out the vent pipe or should say made sure that it is clear and I will use the support for the drain hose and see if that is the cure. I am sure it is something simple. Thank you all, Rick
