Black tank not emptying

[JerseyJerry]

I have 2014 Georgetown 335ds. We're in Colorado heading for New Mexico and my black tank doesn't seem to empty out completely. My info board says it's 3/4 full right after I dump it's contents. Could someone advise how to rectify this situation?

[Iggy]

Jerry
In the past month you have had more problems than anyone else here.
I have helped answer many of your questions but you keep finding more problems.
What is your experience with trailers or motorhomes would help answer your questions better.


Don't know what your style is but do you fill the blank tank full before you dump?
Do you leave the blank tank valve open so it drains all the time or wait until it fills up all the way before dumping?


I would fill it up with the flush hose a few times and see what happens.
If your gauge says 3/4 it may be just paper on that end of the tanks making wet contact will the probes.

Have you looked down the toilet hole to see where the water level is?
If its 3/4 full it should be a few inches above the pipe end in the tank.
With all water off take a flashlight and look down the hole.



Watch this video on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/I6sv4d3PsTo



That is all I can suggest at the moment.

See you in Goshen at my Georgetown seminar.

[Krazymace]

I really don't pay any attention to black tank gauges. They are totally inaccurate. I always try to flush my tank after emptying. That usually flushes out anything interfering with gauges.


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[JerseyJerry]

Thanks Iggy you always come through. I am a novice. I leave a black tank valve open at campsites.

[raspivey]

Don't do that. You need the extra "push" to get most of the junk out, so let it get at least half full before you drop it. Otherwise, you'll get build up in the tank.

[rkulbok]

The black tank valve should always be closed unless you are dumping. Water is your friend in the black tank.

Try putting a pot of boiling water into the tank to see if that does not breakup the blockage. Worse comes to worse you may need a septic company to pump the tank for you. I had to have mine pumped in Florida.

You can also buy a spray wand to clean the tank, but this is only useful if the tank is empty.

Good luck.

[RSchleder]

Originally Posted by raspivey

Don't do that. You need the extra "push" to get most of the junk out, so let it get at least half full before you drop it. Otherwise, you'll get build up in the tank.

X2 You must leave the black valve CLOSED until the tank is at least 2/3rd to 3/4 full. By keeping the valve CLOSED, you allow the solids to be flushed out with the liquid as it exits the tank. With the valve OPEN, the solids will form a "mound" on the bottom of the tank that can become almost impossible to flush out.
Most of us also leave our gray water valve CLOSED too. After the black is dumped, the gray water becomes an excellent cleaning flush for your dump hose.

[JerseyJerry]

Thank you everybody. I will keep you black tank closed.

[buddyu]

Great You Tube video. Sure wish this had been posted when we were at the RV park in Florida the past four weeks. I dump the black tank and the gauge stays on 2/3 full. The biggest frustration when camping.


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[jm812]

Every now and then when my sensors get gunked up in the black water tank I put a bag of ice down the toilet with enough water to cover the bottom of the tank before I pull out of the camp ground on the way to the next. The ice sloshing around in the tank going down the road helps break up any left over solids and clean the sensors.

[Handydc]

Iggy, that was a little harsh my friend.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by Handydc

Iggy, that was a little harsh my friend.

Please explain what you are meaning?
Jerry is very new to RVing and needs someone to help him.
Maybe you are just reading between the lines and if you are you are wrong.

[raspivey]

Originally Posted by Iggy

Jerry
In the past month you have had more problems than anyone else here.
I have helped answer many of your questions but you keep finding more problems.

I got that impression as well even though I don't think it was meant negatively. At first read it SOUNDS like you're tired of helping him. Like I said, I don't think it was meant that way.

[wrapperman]

Relax, Iggy didn't mean any harm. Anybody that reads this forum know Iggy has a lot of advice. Beside we are all guilty of writing with the intent on helping and it not coming out the way it was meant to.
Thanks for all of you comments Iggy. This is what makes these type of forum great

[kenandterry]

Most people on this forum (including myself) know Iggy is a wealth of information.... in words and photos.

Heck.... He's forgotten more than most of us will learn. ;-)

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by JerseyJerry

Thanks Iggy you always come through. I am a novice. I leave a black tank valve open at campsites.

Looks like Jerry accepted the advice better than some of the onlookers.

[ramair]

Iggy has always been a wealth of knowledge when it comes to our MH. I net he has helped 2/3rds of the individuals on here. He has an arsenal of information at his fingertips. Has helped me more than one occasion.

[ralphwilliams62]

A good tank wash has always fixed any problems with tank sensor malfunction for me. My previous Holiday Rambler had a built in Tank Flush/Wash and I would use it before hitting the road and let it run for about fifteen minutes or until the black water drain ran clear water.

[ETCTA]

One other "tip" would be to dump the contents of your ice maker into the toilet and drive around. The motion of the ice cubes and the increased water typically solve any issues with stuff covering the sensors.

[buddyu]

Originally Posted by ramair

Iggy has always been a wealth of knowledge when it comes to our MH. I net he has helped 2/3rds of the individuals on here. He has an arsenal of information at his fingertips. Has helped me more than one occasion.

I agree 100%.