Diagnosing and Fixing a Non-Working Black Tank Sprayer

[Riverbug]

A lot of stuff here so……….
Our sprayer also stopped (you couldn’t hear it).
I replaced this device (see link below).
It was connected to the sprayer line coming into the bathroom under the vanity sink. Yours may be located somewhere else. In any case, I’m guessing this is the reason you can no longer hear the sprayer. Very common failure.

Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

For my own future reference...what "breaks" in the check valve that causes it to stop allowing water to flow? Does it just get built up with calcium? Just trying to understand how it works. If it only allows water to flow one direction (into the tank), it must get built up to the point it actually restricts flow?

 

[Hoopy Frood]

A lot of stuff here so……….
Our sprayer also stopped (you couldn’t hear it).
I replaced this device (see link below).
It was connected to the sprayer line coming into the bathroom under the vanity sink. Yours may be located somewhere else. In any case, I’m guessing this is the reason you can no longer hear the sprayer. Very common failure.

Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

The plastic ones can break, you're better off with the all metal ones.

 

[Capt Bob]

For my own future reference...what "breaks" in the check valve that causes it to stop allowing water to flow? Does it just get built up with calcium? Just trying to understand how it works. If it only allows water to flow one direction (into the tank), it must get built up to the point it actually restricts flow?

Can’t answer that.
We first noticed the “sound” of the sprayer not “spraying”.
Next, noticed the smell.
Finally noticed water on the floor under the vanity sink.
Since we were on our last stop before making home port, I removed the device and coupled the lines together (GASP!!!!). Surprise surprise. The world as we know it didn’t come to an end. The smell disappeared, the leak stopped and we once again heard that familiar “spray” sound when cleaning the black tank.

PS… for all the folks worried that we may poison ourselves or fellow campers, we replaced the part with a metal one from Amazon.

Point of this is that the OP should try removing the device and coupling the line to see if that solves his problem.

 

[Captcolour]

On the 380FL, the master bath toilet has a left angle to go to the black tank so a wand would not work. I always use the black tank sprayer. Also no pressure regulator on the hose going to the black tank sprayer as that's an open system. I always check for flow at the discharge. Takes about 40 seconds or so. After running for several minutes, I will close the valve and let it fill for 2 minutes, then dump. Do that several times until the water runs reasonably clean. Will use Tide and Calgon water softener on travel days with 10 gallons of water. I've had the black tank valve clog once or twice. Will close the gate valve and open the gray tank for 30 seconds or so to backflush the black tank. Easy peasy.

 

[NB Canada]

On the 380FL, the master bath toilet has a left angle to go to the black tank so a wand would not work. I always use the black tank sprayer. Also no pressure regulator on the hose going to the black tank sprayer as that's an open system. I always check for flow at the discharge. Takes about 40 seconds or so. After running for several minutes, I will close the valve and let it fill for 2 minutes, then dump. Do that several times until the water runs reasonably clean. Will use Tide and Calgon water softener on travel days with 10 gallons of water. I've had the black tank valve clog once or twice. Will close the gate valve and open the gray tank for 30 seconds or so to backflush the black tank. Easy peasy.

Amazon.ca

 

[L&CT]

Since this really is new to me, let’s see if I got this right:
You can buy a wand which you stick down the bowl, connected to a hose supplying fresh water and it “washes” the inside of the black tank
OR
you can run a hose with fresh water into a port from the exterior of the unit and wash the black tank but it probably won’t have the jet heads I see on the wand.

Is that about right?

Correct summary. The wand presumably has a bit more pressure and to some degree can be directed at problems with some obvious visibility constraints. The “Black Tank Flush” from outside the rig is probably better described as a “rinse” and is definitely less targeted at problem spots in the tank.

 

[J_Man]

A lot of stuff here so……….
Our sprayer also stopped (you couldn’t hear it).
I replaced this device (see link below).
It was connected to the sprayer line coming into the bathroom under the vanity sink. Yours may be located somewhere else. In any case, I’m guessing this is the reason you can no longer hear the sprayer. Very common failure.

Our sprayer connection (2025 GD 22MLE) is from an external garden hose connection located on the opposite side (door side) of the camper.

We have to connect a separate garden hose to the far-side of the camper to use the black-tank sprayer.

I don’t know if there is a vacuum-breaker located somewhere between the garden hose connector and the sprayer “bar”. (I assume the sprayer is a section of pipe with multiple spray nozzles attached, but it may not be anything remotely close to my ‘idea’ of how it is designed).

I’m curious about the design so if anyone has details please share.


J_Man

 

[18CrewDually]

The Vacuum break is a valve that closes under inlet water pressure, sealing off the spray port like from the atmosphere. Once the inlet pressure is relieved and hose removed, the valve pops open to allow atmosphere air to enter so the line to the sprayer can drain to the tank. When they fail open, inlet water from the hose can flood the area the valve is mounted, usually in a wall behind a shower wall or some other wall up about waste higher higher in some cases.

The sprayer usually is just a nozzle with multiple holes mounted on the tank. The nozzle is the lower of the 3 items in the pic below. The Vacuum break is the far right item.

 

[GaryMGg]

Our sprayer connection (2025 GD 22MLE) is from an external garden hose connection located on the opposite side (door side) of the camper.

We have to connect a separate garden hose to the far-side of the camper to use the black-tank sprayer.

I don’t know if there is a vacuum-breaker located somewhere between the garden hose connector and the sprayer “bar”. (I assume the sprayer is a section of pipe with multiple spray nozzles attached, but it may not be anything remotely close to my ‘idea’ of how it is designed).

I’m curious about the design so if anyone has details please share.


J_Man

Anyone correct me if I’m wrong because I’m still learning about this.
@NB Canada
@Capt Bob

@J_Man,
If you’re suggesting the 2025 22MLE has a sprayer inside the black tank, I don’t think it does.
There is no part listed on the website for this model and in our PDI, there was no mention of an internal tank sprayer.
When I wanted to wash out our black tank, I removed the screen in the Black Tank Flusher on the rear passenger side and attached a garden hose to which I had attached a backflow preventer, and ran clean water through the tank for about 5-10 minutes.
I ran the water with the dump valve closed for about 120Mississippi to add water to the tank, then opened the valve and let it run through.
We have a fitting with clear plastic at the clean out, so I let it run until clear.
By the time I disconnected and ran clean water through the slinky itself, the water ran out clear.

Based on @NB Canada postings, I expect I’ll be getting a wand after I learn the tank to toilet layout and if I need one which flexes.

 

[RV2600RB]

That is the black tank sprayer that you described. Its location doesn’t matter. If it puts water into the tank when a hose is connected, that’s the tank sprayer. Probably can’t get an rv nowadays without one.

 

[GaryMGg]

That is the black tank sprayer that you described. Its location doesn’t matter. If it puts water into the tank when a hose is connected, that’s the tank sprayer. Probably can’t get an rv nowadays without one.

Ok. I was thinking some units have an internal sprayer which is similar to the wand heads which were being discussed earlier.

 

[RV2600RB]

The black tank sprayer is internal. I don’t know what you are confused about?

 

[toolman.dustin]

Can I put drano down the hose, to clean the blank tank sprayer? I have flushed the tank out and the sprayer still not working.

Take a look at this thread, it solved my sprayer problem.

Black Tank slinger / spinner quit

I searched and didn't find anything related to slinger or spinner. Up until now I could always hear my black tank slinger spinning and spraying. Now I don't. Also, the vacuum breaker/one way valve started buzzing when applying water at the inlet, whereas it didn't do that before. I removed...

www.mygrandrv.com

Dustin

 

[4legs]

I am very particular about cleanliness. Here is what I have found to work great. While draining the black tank I go ahead and introduce water to the flush valve. I let the tank flush and drain for 10 to 15 minutes then shut off the flush. I then pour approximately 3 to 4 gallons of water directly into the toilet while holding the flush down. I do this 3 times with the black tank drain open. Never fails.

 

[4legs]

Anyone correct me if I’m wrong because I’m still learning about this.
@NB Canada
@Capt Bob

@J_Man,
If you’re suggesting the 2025 22MLE has a sprayer inside the black tank, I don’t think it does.
There is no part listed on the website for this model and in our PDI, there was no mention of an internal tank sprayer.
When I wanted to wash out our black tank, I removed the screen in the Black Tank Flusher on the rear passenger side and attached a garden hose to which I had attached a backflow preventer, and ran clean water through the tank for about 5-10 minutes.
I ran the water with the dump valve closed for about 120Mississippi to add water to the tank, then opened the valve and let it run through.
We have a fitting with clear plastic at the clean out, so I let it run until clear.
By the time I disconnected and ran clean water through the slinky itself, the water ran out clear.

Based on @NB Canada postings, I expect I’ll be getting a wand after I learn the tank to toilet layout and if I need one which flexes.

I have the same RV with the same set up. If what you are using isn’t a spray nozzle in the black tank then what in the world would it be. When you introduce water here you can hear it spraying in the black tank. I believe it is.

 

[GaryMGg]

With the water hose connected to the BT Flush, I didn’t hear a sprayer but it’s got to be there. Everyone says it is.

 

[James C]

Yes, both are correct. While dumping this past weekend, a threaded hose wasn't available, leaving an inca mound inside. UGH! I've been busy all day flushing the tank. Little pieces of tp still come out . I use the Rhino blaster currently along with the rinse inlet. I'm ordering the wand now as a helper. BTH it's only tp no coal in the rig.

 

[Capt Bob]

OK, I can’t see where the OP listed his model so I can’t advise where he should look to find the vacuum breaker shown above (and I linked to in an earlier response) but if one exist on a 2025 MLE, I’d bet the farm it is located under the vanity sink in the bathroom. You will also see the input hose from the outside “garden connection” coming through the wall and connecting to the VB.

 

[GaryMGg]

@Capt Bob

The OP has a 2016 Grand Design Imagine 2600RB.
On the mobile version of this site, if they listed their RV, it’s in their profile. So, it’s 2 or 3 steps to get it.

 

[Capt Bob]

@Capt Bob

The OP has a 2016 Grand Design Imagine 2600RB.
On the mobile version of this site, if they listed their RV, it’s in their profile. So, it’s 2 or 3 steps to get it.

Thanks Gary, I’ll remember that.
I rarely look at member profiles but rather rely on the sig or if stated in the post. I have no idea where a vacuum breaker for the black tank flush is located on that model.