Water coming out of roof vent!

[plh869]

Ok...My husband was back-flushing the black tank when he noticed water coming off the roof from the roof vent. We also noticed more water come up into the toilet bowl. Not sure if it was water from the black or grey tank. It wasn’t much as he caught it when it happened. Should we have any concerns? Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!

[Flybob]

You need to have the black tank dump valve open when you run the tank flush or you will fill the tank and force black water out of the roof vent. Shut off flush and connect to dump station and open black tank dump valve.

[Platokidd]

Know a guy who totaled his camper flushing the black tank with the valve closed.

[kenandterry]

If you weren’t sure if the water was from your grey or black tank, the contents must have pretty clean. Back flushing the black tank is the tank that’s full of the yucky stuff.....from the toilet.

Make sure the valve is open when back flushing.

[Mr. Dan]

... also if it's coming up in the toilet bowl, it ain't from the gray tank!

[Roberte52]

My Freedom Express has a decal above the tank flush connection that warns to keep black tank valve OPEN when tank flushing!

[plh869]

Originally Posted by Platokidd

Know a guy who totaled his camper flushing the black tank with the valve closed.

How did it total his camper? Please share. We’re definitely concerned.

[plh869]

Is there anything we need to check on the roof or at the roof vent? Anything we need to do to clean the roof vent? Thanks!!!

[TheWolfPaq82]

When I use the tank flush, I'll close the valve...time about 1 minute and reopen valve. I'll do this a couple times, but I NEVER !!! leave. I won't walk away from that valve till I'm done.

[hinkle_e]

I flush the black tank with the valve closed but always use a flow gauge/totalizer. If you know the tank size, you know how much water you can put in before it'll ever become an issue. If you know how much you are putting in...no issue. $15...never flush without it.

[plh869]

Originally Posted by hinkle_e

I flush the black tank with the valve closed but always use a flow gauge/totalizer. If you know the tank size, you know how much water you can put in before it'll ever become an issue. If you know how much you are putting in...no issue. $15...never flush without it.

Where can we find one of these? Camping World??

[hinkle_e]

Amazon...many varieties. Most, if not all, are plastic so limit any lateral strain or youll break the threads. Just search for "garden hose totalizer" or 'garden hose flow meter"

[llr]

As long as there are no pluming issues, such as a hole on the vent pipe I can't see how there would be any issues.

Even if you use a flow meter, don't walk away.

I do like another poster mentioned and close it for a minute or 2, generally while the gray tank dumps then open it up, repeat if needed. Unless you have a very small black tank it will take awhile to fill. Also it is a sprayer and the goal is not to fill the tank, just get more water to carry stuff out better

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by plh869

Where can we find one of these? Camping World??

I bought mine for $16 bucks from Walmart.com

[gbaldwin]

I have heard of this happening before.... Question,.... if overfilling, black tank would the sewage not back up at the toilet before it backs up thru vent pipe./

[TheWolfPaq82]

Depending on the toilet...the seal will prevent sewage from filling the toilet and the next easiest route ?.....UP the vent pipe.

[llr]

If the toilet valve seal is good it shouldn't backup in the toilet. If you try to flush the toilet when the vent water level is almost to the roof expect a flood.

[plh869]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

Depending on the toilet...the seal will prevent sewage from filling the toilet and the next easiest route ?.....UP the vent pipe.

Some water did come up into the bowl but not a lot.

[plh869]

Originally Posted by llr

As long as there are no pluming issues, such as a hole on the vent pipe I can't see how there would be any issues.

Even if you use a flow meter, don't walk away.

I do like another poster mentioned and close it for a minute or 2, generally while the gray tank dumps then open it up, repeat if needed. Unless you have a very small black tank it will take awhile to fill. Also it is a sprayer and the goal is not to fill the tank, just get more water to carry stuff out better

Is the flow meter a sprayer? Sorry for my confusion.

[kamper00]

I left mine closed for too long one time, the blank tank expanded and bent the holding straps, I don't do that anymore...not sure how it built pressure other than maybe they have a valve in the vent that will allow air but not water/solids.