Carpet question - RV-Dreams Community Forum

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Carpet question

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

Easy fix- I would get a fan and keep it blowing on the carpet until it is dry. Also use the air conditioner or dehumidifier to help remove moisture. The under pad is wet as well so you may want to walk on the carpet to bring the moisture up and use the wet vac several times.

Another fix- A packet of disposable diapers and weights like bricks or cement blocks will wick away the water. Cut the diapers so they can be placed all over the carpet and then place a piece of plywood the size of the area with as many bricks or cement blocks on it as needed to compress the carpet and pad. Leave it over night and remove everything then wet vac and repeat with new diapers if water comes up when you press down firmly with your hand on the carpet.

Proper fix- is to remove the carpet and padding to dry it and then reinstall. The carpet will need to be stretched and reattached to the tack strips. The pad may need to be replaced if it begins to fall apart.

-- Edited by The Bear II on Tuesday 31st of May 2016 10:20:29 AM

-- Edited by The Bear II on Tuesday 31st of May 2016 10:21:35 AM

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

On 3 toilets had the water valve fail (open) overfilling the bowl and flooding the place. It was at night so we caught it early....that's why now we always turn the outside water off when we leave the rv. What we did was suck up/ blot up what we could and then run a portable fan ($10 at Walmart) pointed at the wet area for a few days.

Cummins12V98 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would be getting the carpet professionally cleaned since you now have FECAL all thru it, YUK.

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Actually, we were pretty lucky here, because since he was back flushing, it was fresh water that leaked all over.

Cummins12V98 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I am trying to figure out how there would not be "SOME" stuff in the water?

I set a timer set for 8 minutes every time I have my tank valves closed and I have the flush running. Worse case 40 gallons, most likely much less.

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I am trying to figure out how there would not be "SOME" stuff in the water?

Not really sure; I would expect that, too. But I didn't see anything on the beige (almost white) carpet, nor was there an odor. Just very wet.

Running fans as everyone suggested, as well as towels down. Still a bit wet but it'll probably take several days.

Lucky Larry · RV-Dreams Community Member

Pour rubbing alcohol on it - that will speed up evaporation and kill any googoo.

If the subfloor has gotten wet you need to dry it even if it means pulling up the carpet - if it's strandboard it doesn't need much to rot out.

On the other hand if it's vinyl over the subfloor like mine no problem.

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks everyone!

Team Murc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Am I missing something here? It was my understanding that you should never back flush your black tank with the gate closed and for this very reason. When rinsing my black tank my gate is in the open position.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

Team Murc ... you're right in that the instructions on my water panel clearly state that you should never flush the black tank with the gate valve closed. HOWEVER, that is because it is possible to do what started this thread in the first place. That said, if the black tank gate valve is open, the "stuff" clinging to the walls of the tank usually doesn't get released and will build up over time. Like Cummins12V98 said, I use a timer (10 mins for me). I repeatedly (usually 3 times) fill the black tank and drain it. You'd be surprised at how much clearer the 3rd drain is compared to the 2nd. However ... don't EVER forget, or bad things will happen. If you leave the valve open at all times when using the black tank flush, you'll never have the flooding issue, but you likely will have build up on the sides, which could cause the tank sensors to stop working.

dream reachers · RV-Dreams Family Member

I do close the black valve and time flush for 3-4 minutes. Never leave the area while this is happening. It is easy to be distracted. This flushing helps clean tank.

dream reachers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Black tank sensors have never worked on any rv I have owned. I just mark dump times in my calendar usually 7-8 days. I have been fulltiming for almost 9 years.

Kiawah · RV-Dreams Community Member

While on a long trip, when it's time to dump I'll hook up the backflush and turn it on. Then open black and dump, and allow the backflush to run for a couple minutes. I then close that gate, open the grey gate to drain and flush out the hose. I set a timer as the backflush is still putting water in the black tank and my phone timer usually gets me to just a quarter tank in the black. On with the trip and to the next time I dump.

When I eventually get home however, after dumping again I'll twice go thru the process of filling the black tank up 1/2 way, and dumping again. Then I'll let the backflush run with an empty gate for a couple minutes, before closing the gate and putting a quarter tank back in it so I'm ready for the next trip whenever that is.