I blew up my black water tank today!

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by bikemechanic53

Luckily ( or not) I'm in Yuma AZ. So it's reasonable temps and dry here. I'll need to do a lot of clean up. I wanted to insulate the underbelly area anyway, so this will be the time I do that.

Are you in a campground? Make sure wherever you are that they are ok with you washing wastewater all over the ground.

[sourdough]

Depending on what's in there that could very well run afoul of city, county, state or federal laws as well.

[bikemechanic53]

I have removed the coroplast and bubble wrap. The tanks were dropped into the frame from the top. Two lengthwise steel C channels support each tank ( 2 tanks, 1 black, 1 gray). The inner C channels are screwed into the crosswise welded frame members. Outer ones welded in. So if the inner support is removed, it may be possible to wiggle the tank out of it's other support. The 2 drains ( toilet and vent) would need to be cut off at the base, somehow.

But, I can find no cracks, leaks or broken drains in this black tank. The only part of the tank that is not visible is the top. It is tight against the frame supports with fiberglass insulation between it and the floor's bottom. So I can't see what the top looks like, or if there is a hole/leak/crack in it.

Is it possible there is a pressure relief valve on the top of the tank? Or is that just wishful thinking?

[jasin1]

Wonder if you could remove the toilet and see down on top of the tank

[bikemechanic53]

Originally Posted by jasin1

Wonder if you could remove the toilet and see down on top of the tank

Good idea. On this model, the toilet is 2 1/2 feet above the tank. But I may be able to find a fiber optic set that is long enough to get me a view of the top.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by bikemechanic53

Good idea. On this model, the toilet is 2 1/2 feet above the tank. But I may be able to find a fiber optic set that is long enough to get me a view of the top.

Be nice if it just blew a fitting or plug out of the tank. Maybe the tank sensor mount?

[chuckster57]

The tanks are placed up to the floor and then the angle brackets are screwed into the frame on the sides.....not trying to be a 'know it all" but I have taken more tanks out of RV's than I want to admit to. It WILL drop out the bottom

[notanlines]

"The tanks were dropped into the frame from the top." What Chuckster^^^^said. We've been through a number of plants and they are like chuckster said.

[Hblick48]

If it's split where the top is glued to the tank, the only way you'll know is to fill up the tank. Since you have the bottom off, it will be easy to find the leak when filled. Don't ask me how I know.

[Scttw]

Hmmmmmmm, dejavu

If I "Overfill" my Alpine, it leaks into the bed from the top. It's likely a faulty seal from the build. It does not come out the toilet. This happened way back in the beginning when I was running the water in the spring to clear out the antifreeze, and did NOT realize that my bathroom sink drains to the black instead of the grey (which was open of course).

I ended up cutting in an access door through the coroplast, and replaced the wet insulation (Arctic package).

My point is that if your black tank is not leaking, yet you did leak into the bed, I bet it did the same thing and overflowed at the top. It's likely cleaner water that leaked as well since that would have been at the top ......

Keep us up to date - watching this thread!

[German Shepherd Guy]

Originally Posted by flybouy

No doubt you'll need to drop the cloroplast and get dirty. I'd suggest you make a label, or use a permenant marker and with a big arrow pointing to that connection atate "open black water drain valve first". May save you from an encore in the future.

Marshal, I am willing to bet he NEVER does that again even without the sign.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by German Shepherd Guy

Marshal, I am willing to bet he NEVER does that again even without the sign.

Probably a safe bet but you never know when someone else thinks " I'll help them out and rinse their bw rank". when we first got our trailer with the outside kitchen my neice was helping my DW cook outside. She cleaned a bunch of veggies in the outddor sink and clogged the drain. I was helping my God son with something at his site so I wasn't there.

When I returned her husband told me about but said "I got my drain cleaner and pulled a big peice of rubber out of the drain." He showed me the the barbed drain tool and told me I should get one. So, after thanking them for the help and teplacing the Hepvo valve all was well.

[bikemechanic53]

Originally Posted by Scttw

Hmmmmmmm, dejavu

If I "Overfill" my Alpine, it leaks into the bed from the top. It's likely a faulty seal from the build. It does not come out the toilet. This happened way back in the beginning when I was running the water in the spring to clear out the antifreeze, and did NOT realize that my bathroom sink drains to the black instead of the grey (which was open of course).

I ended up cutting in an access door through the coroplast, and replaced the wet insulation (Arctic package).

My point is that if your black tank is not leaking, yet you did leak into the bed, I bet it did the same thing and overflowed at the top. It's likely cleaner water that leaked as well since that would have been at the top ......

Keep us up to date - watching this thread!

I think you are correct. A ruptured seal between the tank's top and bottom would make the most sense. If that is the case, I may not replace the tank. Just dump it whenever it gets 3/4 full.

Would that work?

[bikemechanic53]

Originally Posted by German Shepherd Guy

Marshal, I am willing to bet he NEVER does that again even without the sign.

Probably so. But I'll mark the tank flush valve as such, just in case.....

[Hblick48]

If you have a leak at the seam where the tank top is glued to the tank, or if you have leaks where the toilet or vent pipes attach to the top of the tank, you will have a problem leaving almost any amount of liquid in the tank.

When the vehicle is in motion, the liquid sloshes around in the tank. A 1/2 full tank will definitely cause either scenario to leak.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by bikemechanic53

I think you are correct. A ruptured seal between the tank's top and bottom would make the most sense. If that is the case, I may not replace the tank. Just dump it whenever it gets 3/4 full.

Would that work?

I would think that if the tank or any connections are breached then gases (odors) would be released. From your original description it sounded like a major defect if it flodded the underbelly. That came from somewhere and in my thinking that somewhere needs to be repaired. I have yet to see any mechanical fualt heal or fix itself.

Just to run a " theoretical " situation", lets say over pressurising the tank blew the drain line out of the fitting and its no longer securly glued together. After the pressure was relived perhaps the pipe returned to its original position and is not currently leaking. That would most likely end up as a problem in the future. Maybe one day you pull that valve handle ants just enough force to pop that pipe loose again, just as your ready to leave for home and the last thing to do is dump the tank on the way out.

It's your rig you do as you see fit. If it were my trailer I wouldn't be able to sleep not knowing if today is the day for a "repeate performance" of the s__t show.

[bikemechanic53]

Originally Posted by Hblick48

If you have a leak at the seam where the tank top is glued to the tank, or if you have leaks where the toilet or vent pipes attach to the top of the tank, you will have a problem leaving almost any amount of liquid in the tank.

When the vehicle is in motion, the liquid sloshes around in the tank. A 1/2 full tank will definitely cause either scenario to leak.

Ah. Good point.

[bikemechanic53]

Originally Posted by flybouy

I would think that if the tank or any connections are breached then gases (odors) would be released. From your original description it sounded like a major defect if it flodded the underbelly. That came from somewhere and in my thinking that somewhere needs to be repaired. I have yet to see any mechanical fualt heal or fix itself.

Just to run a " theoretical " situation", lets say over pressurising the tank blew the drain line out of the fitting and its no longer securly glued together. After the pressure was relived perhaps the pipe returned to its original position and is not currently leaking. That would most likely end up as a problem in the future. Maybe one day you pull that valve handle ants just enough force to pop that pipe loose again, just as your ready to leave for home and the last thing to do is dump the tank on the way out.

It's your rig you do as you see fit. If it were my trailer I wouldn't be able to sleep not knowing if today is the day for a "repeate performance" of the s__t show.

Yes. Looks like a tank replacement is in my future.

[Hblick48]

Start filling the tank with water. Stop filling when it starts to leak. Find that spot and you'll know for sure what repairs are necessary.

[Scttw]

Originally Posted by flybouy

I would think that if the tank or any connections are breached then gases (odors) would be released. From your original description it sounded like a major defect if it flodded the underbelly. That came from somewhere and in my thinking that somewhere needs to be repaired. I have yet to see any mechanical fualt heal or fix itself.

Just to run a " theoretical " situation", lets say over pressurising the tank blew the drain line out of the fitting and its no longer securly glued together. After the pressure was relived perhaps the pipe returned to its original position and is not currently leaking. That would most likely end up as a problem in the future. Maybe one day you pull that valve handle ants just enough force to pop that pipe loose again, just as your ready to leave for home and the last thing to do is dump the tank on the way out.

It's your rig you do as you see fit. If it were my trailer I wouldn't be able to sleep not knowing if today is the day for a "repeate performance" of the s__t show.

Originally Posted by bikemechanic53

Ah. Good point.

True - My rig is full time so I don't need to worry about that. And to your other question - the "Gurgle" tells me when to pull, and I've never had an issue since. I don't use the gauges as we know how well they work