Black water all over me

[christo1963]

I figure the title would get your attention. Thank you for being here. I went to dump even though I only had one days worth of camping and when i took off the cap I got it all down my left leg and footwear while wearing shorts. I looked at the black valve and usually it protrudes a couple inches out from the full closed position but, it was all the way to the back plate.
I know it isn't paper stuck in the valve as we have a bidet so very seldom paper goes in.
We always end with emptying our grey water to rinse our slinky.
I ended up attaching a gate valve similar to "valterra t58 twist-on waste valve" to ensure I can attach the slinky without it happening again.
Any feedback in how to diagnose/fix it I would appreciate it as we are in Southern Arizona and have to head all the way back up to British Columbia before arriving home. Any input will be appreciated. Okay maybe wait a day before you throw poop jokes at me. Just saying

 

[18CrewDually]

To start, if we only have a day of toilet use I always add water to the black tank to ensure it gets the best possible flush.
But if your valve is acting as if it's open even though the cable is pushed in, then I would check at the valve to see if the cable pulled out from the valve and confirm the cable is actually moving the valve. The cable may be disconnected and valve left open.

This is assuming you have cables, but I have no way of knowing since I don't see your model listed in your post or you signature.

 

[christo1963]

To start, if we only have a day of toilet use I always add water to the black tank to ensure it gets the best possible flush.
But if your valve is acting as if it's open even though the cable is pushed in, then I would check at the valve to see if the cable pulled out from the valve and confirm the cable is actually moving the valve. The cable may be disconnected and valve left open.

This is assuming you have cables, but I have no way of knowing since I don't see your model listed in your post or you signature.

Thank you for your reply.
I always add water after I do a dump so it would have had water from the previous dump.
We have a 2020 22RBE model and it isn't obvious if the cable moves when you pull the handle. I will have to look closer even though i am a little poop shy.

 

[traveldawg]

I figure the title would get your attention. Thank you for being here. I went to dump even though I only had one days worth of camping and when i took off the cap I got it all down my left leg and footwear while wearing shorts. I looked at the black valve and usually it protrudes a couple inches out from the full closed position but, it was all the way to the back plate.
I know it isn't paper stuck in the valve as we have a bidet so very seldom paper goes in.
We always end with emptying our grey water to rinse our slinky.
I ended up attaching a gate valve similar to "valterra t58 twist-on waste valve" to ensure I can attach the slinky without it happening again.
Any feedback in how to diagnose/fix it I would appreciate it as we are in Southern Arizona and have to head all the way back up to British Columbia before arriving home. Any input will be appreciated. Okay maybe wait a day before you throw poop jokes at me. Just saying

The problem is that there is still water (or whatever) left in drain pipes even after you close your dump valves. It's been problem with GD (and maybe other brands) for a long time. That remaining water left in the pipes is because there is little to no angle in many of the pipes and when you travel that water goes to the outlet from all the shaking going down the road.

I have to raise the front of my camper to get the most drainage and still always have water left in the pipes.

 

[ajg617]

I also have to raise the front of the RV to fully drain or at least drain at more than a trickle. Luckily it seems to be the kitchen gray tank that is the major culprit rather than the black tank but I almost always have residual 'stuff' in the pipe when I open the Valterra.

 

[18CrewDually]

The problem is that there is still water (or whatever) left in drain pipes even after you close your dump valves. It's been problem with GD (and maybe other brands) for a long time. That remaining water left in the pipes is because there is little to no angle in many of the pipes and when you travel that water goes to the outlet from all the shaking going down the road.

I have to raise the front of my camper to get the most drainage and still always have water left in the pipes.

He has a 22RBE (Imagine) not a Solitude.

 

[traveldawg]

He has a 22RBE (Imagine) not a Solitude.

Thanks. Saw that. Still - the pipes hold water after dumping. Hence the discharge after traveling even with the valves closed.

But your post made me go back and re-read the OP's post. I think he is looking for a solution to a possible black tank valve not closing properly. I originally thought his beef was with water coming out even tho he rinsed the tanks well.

So - fwiw - whether an Imagine or Solitude or whatever - my suggestion to him is to:

• Drain the tanks as best as he can;
• Close the valves;
• Put in different colored water in the black and gray tanks;
• Put in enough water in the tanks such that the outlets are well covered (probably 1/3 to 1/3 tank full);
• Shut the external valve that was added;
• Wait;
• After a few days see what color water, if any, has drained into the drain pipes;
• If any water is there the color should help ID a failing valve and which one.

After all that I had to cut into the underbelly (does and Imagine have that coroplast on the bottom?) and replace my black tank valve; even tho it looked perfectly clean.

Hoping something here helps......

 

[christo1963]

The problem is that there is still water (or whatever) left in drain pipes even after you close your dump valves. It's been problem with GD (and maybe other brands) for a long time. That remaining water left in the pipes is because there is little to no angle in many of the pipes and when you travel that water goes to the outlet from all the shaking going down the road.

I have to raise the front of my camper to get the most drainage and still always have water left in the pipes.

Thanks everyone.
I will experiment as I travel around North America. I will drive up on 2*6 on the right side and see how fast the grey drains and then I will raise the front on another dump and see how that works.

 

[christo1963]

Thanks. Saw that. Still - the pipes hold water after dumping. Hence the discharge after traveling even with the valves closed.

But your post made me go back and re-read the OP's post. I think he is looking for a solution to a possible black tank valve not closing properly. I originally thought his beef was with water coming out even tho he rinsed the tanks well.

So - fwiw - whether an Imagine or Solitude or whatever - my suggestion to him is to:

• Drain the tanks as best as he can;
• Close the valves;
• Put in different colored water in the black and gray tanks;
• Put in enough water in the tanks such that the outlets are well covered (probably 1/3 to 1/3 tank full);
• Shut the external valve that was added;
• Wait;
• After a few days see what color water, if any, has drained into the drain pipes;
• If any water is there the color should help ID a failing valve and which one.

After all that I had to cut into the underbelly (does and Imagine have that coroplast on the bottom?) and replace my black tank valve; even tho it looked perfectly clean.

Hoping something here helps......

Thanks for the suggestion. It has been a day since I made the original post and have not moved locations. Tomorrow I am tempted to open the added valve to see what color if any comes out. Perhaps I didn't wait long enough after my last dump before closing all the valves and driving away. I trust I can tell the difference between grey and black.

 

[The Cisne RV]

I figure the title would get your attention. Thank you for being here. I went to dump even though I only had one days worth of camping and when i took off the cap I got it all down my left leg and footwear while wearing shorts. I looked at the black valve and usually it protrudes a couple inches out from the full closed position but, it was all the way to the back plate.
I know it isn't paper stuck in the valve as we have a bidet so very seldom paper goes in.
We always end with emptying our grey water to rinse our slinky.
I ended up attaching a gate valve similar to "valterra t58 twist-on waste valve" to ensure I can attach the slinky without it happening again.
Any feedback in how to diagnose/fix it I would appreciate it as we are in Southern Arizona and have to head all the way back up to British Columbia before arriving home. Any input will be appreciated. Okay maybe wait a day before you throw poop jokes at me. Just saying

I had a similar incident on one of our first long trip. I left our hometown in northwest Illinois on the Mississippi River and went west. When we arrive in the Black Hills and going up 2500' of elevation change I took the cap off the sewage pipe and it exploded with nasty sewage all over me. The tank had built pressure due to the elevation change and pushed it through the closed valve. Lesson learned, use an external valve. I don't think my black tank is vented, this would eliminate this problem.
If I stay on flat ground and not much elevation change all is OK. Go up 2000' of elevation change I will have a pressurized piece of drain pipe. Not sure if this is your case but want to let you know that I know what you experienced.

 

[christo1963]

I had a similar incident on one of our first long trip. I left our hometown in northwest Illinois on the Mississippi River and went west. When we arrive in the Black Hills and going up 2500' of elevation change I took the cap off the sewage pipe and it exploded with nasty sewage all over me. The tank had built pressure due to the elevation change and pushed it through the closed valve. Lesson learned, use an external valve. I don't think my black tank is vented, this would eliminate this problem.
If I stay on flat ground and not much elevation change all is OK. Go up 2000' of elevation change I will have a pressurized piece of drain pipe. Not sure if this is your case but want to let you know that I know what you experienced.

Thank you for sharing

 

[MtnGuy]

I had a similar incident on one of our first long trip. I left our hometown in northwest Illinois on the Mississippi River and went west. When we arrive in the Black Hills and going up 2500' of elevation change I took the cap off the sewage pipe and it exploded with nasty sewage all over me. The tank had built pressure due to the elevation change and pushed it through the closed valve. Lesson learned, use an external valve. I don't think my black tank is vented, this would eliminate this problem.
If I stay on flat ground and not much elevation change all is OK. Go up 2000' of elevation change I will have a pressurized piece of drain pipe. Not sure if this is your case but want to let you know that I know what you experienced.

Your black tank should be vented. Sounds like the vent is stopped up.