Black tank is burping?????????

[57106jmparker]

First the slide and now the Black Tank is burping when we flush. We checked the valve and it seems o be opening OK and assume it is draining. It happened once befor and woke up the next morning and it was OK. My wife thinks mthere is a plug somewhere in the system, could it be????????

Anyone have a similar problem???

We have also had our black tank valve stick closed and had to un-screw the under cover and jiggle the valve until it opened.

By the way the burp doesn't feel good when you are sitting and flush, big old bubble

[BB_TX]

The only time mine has ever burped is when the black tank is full. Are you sure the tank is drained? By checking the valve do you mean you pulled the T handle? Could be the valve did not actually open if the cable has broke or come loose or there is a problem with the valve or if the outlet is plugged.
I have a clear 6" extension on my sewer connection so I can see when tanks are draining and when the draining has completed.

[DQDick]

I hope I'm wrong, but the way you wrote the question leads me to wonder if you are sitting parked with the black tank valve open. If so, you have the dreaded pyramid of poop. You can leave the grey tanks open, but the black tank must stay shut until you are ready to leave or it is full. If you leave the black tank open the liquids drain out and the solids and paper stay and begin to pile up and harden. If that's what's happened you'll have to clean and flush your tank out. Again, if that's what is wrong, I've never dealt with it but some others here have and will be along with advise on where to go from here.

[steelpony5555]

Hmmmmm I read it the same as Dick,,,how long have you been leaving the valve open and using it that way?? You may have to call a septic service, they have the tools to handle the poop mountain. Good thing is it sounds like you are parked and have sewer hook ups there. Let's hope it's a case of the valve not opening. Welllllll even that could get messy too....Break out the haz mat suits....good luck

[Art-n-Marge]

After you figure this out, the best way to ensure the black tank is actually dumping is to invest in a clear section for the drain. Then you can monitor the amount of flow and when it starts coming out clear, the tank is clean. The clear sections come in an elbow form, a straight form, short or long. Just use something clear to know what's going on rather than guess.

It does sound like a full or blocked (pyramid) tank issue. And if the pyramid has turned into concrete, the tank is gonna need some professional care. One of the biggest causes of this problem is not using enough water at every flush. Just cuz the effluent has cleared the bowl, doesn't mean you should stop the flush. You gotta let some water down there. It's the water that keeps things flowing out of the tank and eliminates the pyramid.

[dieselguy]

Just throwing this out as well ... maybe your tank vent has gotten plugged some how.

[Desert RVer]

Also is it possible the Black Tank vent is not operating properly?

[1retired06]

The only time we have experienced that was when we had blockage at the dump valve.

[ols1932]

Agree with DQDick!

[57106jmparker]

The valve was stuck open, just a hair, enough for the liquid to drain and the solids stay, causing a dam at the valve. I got the valve closed and then opened it all the was, several times and then got a Flexable Black Tank cleaner from WalMart ($18) forced it down the drain and hit it with little spurs of water (this devioce has a rotating-spinning brass end that sprays and spins, all of this with the valve opened. After about 5 minutes I saw a trickle of water through my new clear 45 degree bend and knew I was going the right direction.

Lesson is make sure your valve is closed ALL THE WAY and use plenty of water, we are also not going to throw our kleenax in the john any more, they were coming out as pulp.

Thank you all for your suggestions, got a message that one guy uses RIDEX in his tank, I have used this in my septic at home, anyone else use it???

Working at Amazon 50 hours a week, please I don't need anymore problems.

John

[richfaa]

Ridex is for home systems. Rv's need a faster acting product.

[steelpony5555]

Maybe if you keep on spraying and filling and flushing, just maybe you can break it up and get er flushed out....

[DQDick]

We use Happy Camper, as it happens we get it from Amazon. Good luck.

[drknapp]

Happy Camper now sells a product called "Extreme Cleaner" that's supposed to really clean out your tank. I've never used it, but based upon how their treatment product works, I'd bet it works pretty good.

[clarkandsheila]

I installed one of the blade valves at the hose connection with a new 4 pin connector after cutting off the old 4 pin connector. I glued mine on rather than use the twist on type.

I leave that valve closed except when draining the tanks. I too use a clear elbow so if I see a big gush before I open one of the tank valves I know there is a problem.
I did it because I was getting some water settling there and dropping on the ground when I removed the cap which I didn't like.

Of course I realize it won't help if one of the tank mounted valves loses its connection to the handle but one must leave something to chance.