Trouble w/my Poop Chute

[ForSaleSteve]

2007 Keystone Raptor. Old but well maintained.

Was camping in Flagstaff so my kids could play in the show and as luck would have it we encountered an epic 3-day snow storm. It was cold outside but not the coldest I have had the trailer in (hovered right around 30-32 degrees). My trailer is winterized - although I realize that does not mean much.

I had a hook up but I did not leave the black tank open because I did not have a heating wire for the sewage pipe and figured since we were there just a few days, I would just dump at the end. One of the boy stayed back to “Use the facilities” while the rest of us went out to play in the snow and when we returned the trailer WREAKED of sewage. I mean it was bad. We immediately blamed it on our son who just “used the facilities” and wrote it off, but it was BAD and the smell was lingering.

A few minutes later I began to pack up the trailer to leave and when I did I noticed a big yellow/brown ice-cycle hanging from the trailer to the ground underneath where the black pipe came out of the sheathing that covers the bottom. UGH!!!

This weekend I brought the trailer home, opened it up underneath and I cannot find anything. All of the pipes look good. I filled the black tank until the light came on saying it was full with fresh water and there is NO leak that I can find.

It is entirely possible that the tank filled up while we were in Flagstaff and before I dumped but if something burst or broke I should see a leak now with a full tank and there is nothing. There is no overflow on a black tank that I am aware of.

I am completely perplexed. What could have happened? I am afraid to seal everything back up because SOMETHING clearly happened to created that poop/peecicle.

Looking forward to your thoughts and expertise.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

2007 Keystone Raptor. Old but well maintained.

Was camping in Flagstaff so my kids could play in the show and as luck would have it we encountered an epic 3-day snow storm. It was cold outside but not the coldest I have had the trailer in (hovered right around 30-32 degrees). My trailer is winterized - although I realize that does not mean much.

I had a hook up but I did not leave the black tank open because I did not have a heating wire for the sewage pipe and figured since we were there just a few days, I would just dump at the end. One of the boy stayed back to “Use the facilities” while the rest of us went out to play in the snow and when we returned the trailer WREAKED of sewage. I mean it was bad. We immediately blamed it on our son who just “used the facilities” and wrote it off, but it was BAD and the smell was lingering.

A few minutes later I began to pack up the trailer to leave and when I did I noticed a big yellow/brown ice-cycle hanging from the trailer to the ground underneath where the black pipe came out of the sheathing that covers the bottom. UGH!!!

This weekend I brought the trailer home, opened it up underneath and I cannot find anything. All of the pipes look good. I filled the black tank until the light came on saying it was full with fresh water and there is NO leak that I can find.

It is entirely possible that the tank filled up while we were in Flagstaff and before I dumped but if something burst or broke I should see a leak now with a full tank and there is nothing. There is no overflow on a black tank that I am aware of.

I am completely perplexed. What could have happened? I am afraid to seal everything back up because SOMETHING clearly happened to created that poop/peecicle.

Looking forward to your thoughts and expertise.

It could be that your vent(s) were plugged. On your roof, you should have two vents. One for the grey and one for the black tank. Once you flush, the air in the tank must be able to escape as per the volume of the material exiting the toilet. If it cannot escape from the vents, it will come inside the unit. I winter camp a bit so I have replaced my vents with ones that will not get covered with snow.

Darrell

 

[ForSaleSteve]

So I found my problem. I very carefully filled the tank and monitored it for leaks. I suspected that the leak was coming from the seam around the top of the tank or from a crack in the top so I wanted to get the tank really full. I used a camera that I could stick down the pipe to monitor (that was fun). Sure enough when I got it full and to the top of the tank where the seam is, a small leak developed on one side. I am going fill it a little bit more tomorrow and monitor it again to see if there are any other places in the seam it is leaking.

The next question is: Do I bother to replace the tank or just monitor it such that it never gets that full and leaks? I could try some JB Weld or some other stuff to seal the seam and just never let it get that full again. There is an argument that I should replace the tank as it could leak a bit while sloshing around while driving but if I don't let it get that full I am not sure the seam will have enough pressure with sloshing to leak that much. The reality is that most of the time I have a place to dump, but not always so there are times where I will drive around with some in the tank. Decisions, decisions. Replacing that tank is going to be a huge pain in the A$$ cause I know if I get it done it will cost close to $1000 or more based on research.

 

[Jim]

I could try some JB Weld or some other stuff to seal the seam and just never let it get that full again

Can't tell you how to fix your problem, but I'll toss in the fact that cracks/breaks in plastic are notoriously hard to glue together. Even the adhesives that are advertised for use on plastic work poorly. So if you want a permeant fix, you're probably going to have to bite the bullitt . . . .

 

[AbdRahim]

Is it a seem in the tank or where the vent pipe enters the tank? Somettimes it is not sealed well here and it will leak when the tank is full. This was the case on my Forester, so I just dumped at 3/4.

 

[ForSaleSteve]

Can't tell you how to fix your problem, but I'll toss in the fact that cracks/breaks in plastic are notoriously hard to glue together. Even the adhesives that are advertised for use on plastic work poorly. So if you want a permeant fix, you're probably going to have to bite the bullitt . . . .

I hear you but this is not really a crack impacting the integrity of the tank as much as it is the seam of the top cover of the tank is leaking where the top flat cover is welded/melted together with the rest of the bottom of the tank. I am hopeful that I can use some JB Weld or Plasti-mend to just seam the seam but IDK if it will really last long term. I think I will try it for this season though and if it does not hold I can make plans to replace next spring.

 

[ForSaleSteve]

Is it a seem in the tank or where the vent pipe enters the tank? Somettimes it is not sealed well here and it will leak when the tank is full. This was the case on my Forester, so I just dumped at 3/4.

No it is not that. If you look at the tank it is really two pieces. There is basically a sink or basin and married to the top of that is a flat cover that is welded/melted together with the bottom basin to form the full tank. That seam is leaking. Looks like the tank itself is fine, it is just that seam at the top cover portion on one side.

 

[Knobs]

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Nice to know it is a Crack.
I must assume it is not HDPE, as would be the case it where fresh water tank. I would also think it is ABS.

To keep the Crack from spreading a hole (small) should be drilled at both ends of the Crack.

Step two, cut a piece of ??? Larger than the Crack by an inch both sides.
Drill holes along the edges of this piece for screw clearance.

Smother that piece with GE silicone sealer and screw in place.

I would estimate life of the repair at twice the useful life of the RV.