Black Water explosion from BR sink...

[Nancyc7]

We had a black water explosion out of the bathroom sink after the black tank flusher was turned on without my husband or I being aware of it.

Of course we had company, having a nice dinner.

A visitor with RV experience says the toilet and and bathroom sink share a vent pipe, the black tank got full and the bathroom sink was the easiest way out. Does this sound logical?

It’s been 2 nervous weeks and nothing weird has happened since.

There was quite the comedy of errors and I want to know if the vent story sounds true.

BTW, yes, I did a search. I only found a story about Dawn suds coming out of a vent pipe from a black tank. I only wish. And a lot of other random stories and hounds unrelated to this.

Thanks for any information.

[A32Deuce]

Some units, from reading on the forum, have the bath sink dump into the black tank. Yours may be this way because if there is only one vent in the roof, then both black and gray share the same vent. That type you would have water coming out of the roof vent.

[nomad297]

Your lavatory drain doesn’t necessarily have to drain to the black tank for this to happen. If your gray tank vent (or the lavatory vent) connects to the black tank vent before it goes through the roof, and if your gray tank dump valve is closed, the water from the flush system will first fill your black tank, then rise up the black tank vent to where the gray vent connects. The water will then drain down your gray vent and drain and into your gray tank, filling the gray tank. Then that water will rise up into your gray drain and vent and overflow at the lowest drain connected to your gray system — usually the shower — but if you have a waterless trap on your shower, it will act like a check valve and prevent the water from overflowing at the shower, so it will continue filling until it gets to the first drain with a normal trap — usually the lavatory.

Bruce

[cavie]

Black tank flush cause more problems than the good they do.

[Nancyc7]

Originally Posted by cavie

Black tank flush cause more problems than the good they do.

Really? Seems like a great idea. Maybe the kind you stick in the toilet is better but seems like a hassle.

Nothing came out of shower which is what I thought should happen. Barf.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by cavie

Black tank flush cause more problems than the good they do.

Only in the hands of "untrained Professionals "! Youroo! !

[fonzie]

First, never leave a hose hooked up to it unless you intend to use it right away. Disconnect after use.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by Nancyc7

Nothing came out of shower which is what I thought should happen. Barf.

You probably have a waterless trap on your shower. If not, your lavatory drains into your black tank and your shower does not.

Bruce

[A32Deuce]

I don't think they use the waterless traps on the lower end units. I could be wrong, but at shows, I haven't seen them!

[youroo]

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

I don't think they use the waterless traps on the lower end units. I could be wrong, but at shows, I haven't seen them!

I hope you don't see them, unless you carry a screwdriver to remove panels so you can look under the shower! Youroo! !

[CedarCreekWoody]

Originally Posted by fonzie

First, never leave a hose hooked up to it unless you intend to use it right away. Disconnect after use.

This⬆️, plus never leave it unattended. Too easy to get distracted and over fill.

[A32Deuce]

Anything like that they would advertise big time. New/Improved, they always made a big deal of. Other then high end units, they are the only ones that list in features.

[BandJCarm]

Originally Posted by cavie

Black tank flush cause more problems than the good they do.

They do cause a lot of problems for those that use them incorrectly, but I'd have to strongly disagree with that blanket statement. I could never get my black tank flushed as often as I do it, without that flush system. It's awesome.

[BandJCarm]

Originally Posted by fonzie

First, never leave a hose hooked up to it unless you intend to use it right away. Disconnect after use.

I also disagree with this as a blanket statement. I have a curly hose that I leave connected from outside shower connection to the black tank flush. It's the only use of the outside shower connection and it's always there. I just turn on the hot and cold water faucet there, and I'm automatically using the flush system........AS I STAND THERE! I never leave while dumping.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

I don't think they use the waterless traps on the lower end units. I could be wrong, but at shows, I haven't seen them!

I wouldn’t look at a waterless trap as a feature worthy of hype or as an upgrade to a standard trap. They are only used out of necessity due to lack of space or for convenience in installation. They are problematic and begin to fail as hair and other debris accumulate. Good luck when you try to run a snake cable through one.

Bruce

[fonzie]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

I also disagree with this as a blanket statement. I have a curly hose that I leave connected from outside shower connection to the black tank flush. It's the only use of the outside shower connection and it's always there. I just turn on the hot and cold water faucet there, and I'm automatically using the flush system........AS I STAND THERE! I never leave while dumping.

I make this statement, as if connected then it is easy for someone (child or adult knowingly or not) to just turn on the water and fill black tank and voila, a disaster. I guess I don't take the chance.

For your situation I believe you have a water bay so that all shower connections and black tank flush are enclosed and not at view of people. The large majority of RV'ers have exposed connections which makes it easy for people to access.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Originally Posted by fonzie

I make this statement, as if connected then it is easy for someone (child or adult knowingly or not) to just turn on the water and fill black tank and voila, a disaster. I guess I don't take the chance.

That us exactly what happened to the OP, who described the results quite well?

[youroo]

Originally Posted by fonzie

First, never leave a hose hooked up to it unless you intend to use it right away. Disconnect after use.

I agree with disconnect, case in point is the OPS reference in post#1 first sentence! NO water supply, No problem! Youroo! !

[Nancyc7]

Yes, it was hooked up when we arrived to camp to wash the black tank out because at last dump or 2 I wasn’t able to use it. And I left it hooked up, never thought about as I have a two way hookup for water hoses.
My nephew used the faucet to wash a pot after boiling crabs. So he turned that hose on afterwards not knowing. He felt Terrible about it.

So don’t leave that hose hooked up! No reason for it. Learn from me. Please. You’re welcome!

[formerFR]

Originally Posted by Nancyc7

... after the black tank flusher was turned on without my husband or I being aware of it...

yep, this is what threw most of us, as a 'black tank flusher' is not something you 'turn ON', it is simply a connection from a water hose - so what was 'turned on' was something else... the water!