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Old 12-08-2016, 01:11 AM   #1
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Gray water tank

won't drain
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Old 12-08-2016, 01:15 AM   #2
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2013 Georgetown gray water tank

Won't drain.... Help!!!
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Old 12-08-2016, 03:24 AM   #3
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The blade valve won't open? Can you look up inside where the blade valve is and confirm its moving with the pull handle? Sure you got any to drain? Might have a plugged vent creating a vacuum not allowing it to drain.
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Old 12-08-2016, 08:52 AM   #4
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Being from Bangor Maine it just may be frozen
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Old 12-08-2016, 10:00 AM   #5
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I think the blade valve is OK. Where is/are the vents to which you referred? How does one unplug them? Thanks for your reply.
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Old 12-08-2016, 10:08 AM   #6
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I am presently in Tucson so it seems unlikely it's frozen. Thanks for your thoughts!
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Old 12-08-2016, 10:09 AM   #7
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A common occurrence is when they drill the top of the tank to install a bulkhead fitting for the connection, they let the 1-1/2" plastic slug fall into the tank and say oh well its lunchtime. Eventually that slug works its way to the outlet of the tank or somewhere and then you have a clog. I don't see how one of those could entirely plug up the outlet but stranger things have happened. Do you get any drainage at all when you pull the valve open? Have you tried to back flush it using something like this?
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Old 12-08-2016, 10:16 AM   #8
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I'll give back flushing a try... Thanks!
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Old 12-08-2016, 10:24 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HallmanL View Post
I think the blade valve is OK. Where is/are the vents to which you referred? How does one unplug them? Thanks for your reply.

The 'vents' that Davidjeff refers to are tank vents that run from the tank(s) to the roof. They vent off gasses from the tank and allow air to go in when emptying the tanks.
You can access them from the roof, sometimes they can get plugged with debris or nests.

Try pouring a jug of water down the vent(s) to see if it helps.

Are you sure there is water in the gray tank(s) ? If there is only a small amount of water in the tank it may not totally drain out.

Seldom gray tanks get plugged at the drain port...unless something has been put down the drains that shouldn't have.

If you are sure the blade at the shutoff is open you can try fishing up the pipe with a wire or something you may have, feeling for any type of clog.
*Be ready to retract and close the blade valve*

Hope this helps

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Old 12-08-2016, 10:43 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HallmanL View Post
Won't drain.... Help!!!
There is another thread in this forum on gray water not draining. It has a LOT of good info. You might look over there.
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Old 12-08-2016, 10:43 AM   #11
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HallmanL,

Can you give us a little more information to work with?

Is this the first time you've ever tried draining the grey tank or did it work previously and something that has just happened?

Does your drain valve work with a rod or cable?
Many with a cable 'seem' to work but moving the handle in and out doesn't move the blade.
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Old 12-08-2016, 12:24 PM   #12
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It has worked fine up to now . (I have had the rig about a year and have traveled extensively.) Valve works with a rod. It's a 2013 Forest River Georgetown, 34 feet...
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Old 12-08-2016, 12:51 PM   #13
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If you are sure the blade in the tank valve is opening then something has to be blocking the drain opening or the drain pipe. As mentioned, the cutout for the tank drain can remain inside and can cause problems, even years later. Maybe something was put down the drain unexpectedly? A snake or fish wire might open it from the drain end. I read where folks have had some luck with digestive type tank cleaners.
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Old 12-08-2016, 03:49 PM   #14
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OP, are you on level land when trying to dump the grey tank? If its not all full and you are angled away from the dump side of your rig you won't get anything coming out. Just a thought because at my favorite New York St. park I have to put the curbside jacks down to drain both tanks because the dump site angles away from the dump. I was told they probably do that so the septic doesn't fill as fast.
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Old 12-09-2016, 01:25 AM   #15
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I have had this happen a few times and the plug is still in the tank to solve this I use the back flush and with the valve open this creates pressure upward and dislodges the plug and it drains. sometime when you drain the black when you almost drained just pull the grey and that can do the same thing. Some don't like this way. Hopes this helps.
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Old 12-09-2016, 06:27 PM   #16
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I had this problem last summer.....a guest had put coffee grinds down the sink...I removed the the mechanism and couldn't believe not a drop of gray water came out...took a screwdriver and loosened the grinds and woosh....
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