Toilet Backing Up

[LaMont13]

I have a 2013 Keystone Montana 3402RL and my toilet is backing up so I pulled the blank tank lever open so it would drain and I heard water running in the pipe. I am hard piped into a septic clean out so I couldn't see the water. I went inside to see how the toilet was and it was still backed up with water???? Any ideas? Thanks for the help!!!!

[Richard Blackwell]

When pressing the flush pedal on the toilet, are you seeing the ball open up and able to then see down the pipe going into the black tank? If that ball is not opening, you have a busted flush valve assembly...maybe time to replace with the Dometic 320 which is what we had to put into our 2013 3402RL year before last...the old toilet pedal valve stopped opening up on ours...

[Carl n Susan]

I don't know the routing of the toilet line in a 3400. Is it a straight drop to the tank or does it have two 45 degree elbows?

If you have elbows, there could be a blockage in the down pipe they can be cleared with a short piece of hose.

No elbow, then the most likely cause is a pyramid of poo at the end of the down pipe. A flex hose down the toilet can sometimes break it up enough to let the toilet drain. The solution is to use something like Tank Rx along with a tank of water, let it sit for a day or two, then drain. The enzymes should be able to eat away the pyramid and let it flow out.

In the future be sure to use lots of water when you flush and leave the blank tank valve closed until you have a 3/4 or more full tank. The high volume and hydraulic pressure makes for a clean dump of the contents.

[rohrmann]

This last fall, a guy across from us had been leaving the black tank drain valve open and finally developed the pyramid. Cost him about $400 to have it fixed by a mobile poop tech. He now keeps the valve closed and uses TankTechsRX https://www.tanktechsrx.com/
I've been using this for quite a few years and have great results with it.

[Montana Man]

If you pulled a lever and heard water running, are you sure it was the black tank lever?

[Kyle and Lisa]

I ran across a guy with a brand-new rig, first time out and he had issues with his black tank not draining, after trial and error we realized the valve had been labeled wrong.

[LaMont13]

Not sure if it is straight or with angles. I never looked until now and it is full of water. The ball in the toilet opens so it can flush or are you talking about a different ball. I'm not familiar with RV toilets. We had an issue where the toilet water would not stop running but I thought it was because the foot lever to flush it was not coming all the way up after flushing. The running water issue only happened a few times and I have not had that issue ever since I started pulling the lever up with my foot to make sure it came all the way back up.

I did not leave the black tank open. I only open it once a week to drain it. We are currently living in the RV now and have been for the last 7 months. We have been pooping in the house where we have the RV parked. Wife uses a little toilet paper in the RV but not from pooping.

I feel pretty sure I have the right valve since we have been using it for the last 7 months but I drain all tanks each time a do a drain.

I put some Happy Camper powder in there last night and the water has gone down just a little. Maybe it needs more time.

I amgoing to get one of those wonds that clean it to see if that helps?

[rames14]

LaMont, take a stick or rod (one you can get rid of when done). Turn your water off. Push down on the flush pedal and stick the rod down until it hits something. If you have an angle, you’ll hit that. If it’s an angle, use a hose as Carl suggested. If not and the toilet hasn’t been draining, you may need to change the valve. But the easiest first step is seeing if you have an angle. Our first Montana was a 3400, but I purged those files from my brain a long time ago. Best of luck. They make clear sections to connect on the sewer hose. Might be a good future investment.

[LaMont13]

I sucked out the water and the pipe does have an angle. Going to get one of those hoses with the water jet spinning and hope that cleans it. I was able to get about 3 feet of my wet vac hose down the drain but when I turned the water back on and held down the flush lever, it filled back up to the toilet. Starting to think it might be the valve even though when I pulled it the last time I heard water running.

[Daryles]

The
Camco RV Flexible Swivel Stik with Shutoff Valve - Creates Powerful Cleaning Action that Dislodges and Flushes Stubborn Waste Deposits and Combats Odors (40074), 55-1/2 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006IX7YC...Y9J4R35V5YCEMF

Is too short to reach all the way down into your tank. You have two 45⁰ turns between the toilet and the tank.
If you add about 3' more (6' altogether) vinyl hose to it, it will reach the tank and have some effect IF you have the dreaded "poo Pyramid".

[rames14]

LaMont, if it turns out that you have a bad dump valve, replace with the Valterra solid wire valve. Here is the Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1
Best of luck.

[phillyg]

If you can get a short, clear pipe with a valve, you can watch the stuff exit. I've recently had to use a Camco Swivelstick because my black tank valve is partially clogged. I've had success working it around and I can tell its going partially past the valve.

[RBGALL]

If your RV is sitting in one spot the black tank is not getting mixed or stirred up to drain the solids. Tank flush each time you drain. I used a garden hose and spray nozzle right down toilet to breakup solids.

[pyoung47]

Likely a big wad of paper clogging the pipe into the tank. In most cases there is a 45 into the tank. Happened several times to me. Get a simple plunger and go to work.

[Bob and Jeannette]

Originally Posted by pyoung47

Likely a big wad of paper clogging the pipe into the tank. In most cases there is a 45 into the tank. Happened several times to me. Get a simple plunger and go to work.

Had the same problem and the plunger is the solution. After that let it fill before dumping and use an enzyme product.

If the toilet is full shut off the water, put your foot on the pedal to open the valve in the toilet and plunge.