Visit our Popular Forums

AirEPotter · 01-10-2011, 04:43 PM

This will go down in rookie hall of shame. I was preparing to blow out water lines and I hooked the air hose to the sewer flush (2 inches above fresh water inlet) instead of fresh water. I ran air for probably thirty seconds before I realized mistake. What have I damaged!!?? Ugh.

ts8501 · 01-10-2011, 04:51 PM

You might have damaged nothing. I used to blow that line out all the time on my SOB. It leaves traces of water in it that needs to be drained too. Unless I am missing something, I don't think you did any harm. In fact, that line needs to be blown out as well.

nvestysly · 01-10-2011, 04:54 PM

I am not familiar with your unit but there's bound to be a large volume of space in the line you connected to. And the line is then connected to the black tank and that's certainly a large volume of space.

So I'm guessing you did not damage anything. In the 30 seconds you were attached you probably did not build up much pressure. Think of airing up a completely flat tire - it takes a while to actually start building up pressure.

No guarantee... but you may be okay.

Lucius

Inland RV Center, In · 01-10-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AirEPotter

This will go down in rookie hall of shame. I was preparing to blow out water lines and I hooked the air hose to the sewer flush (2 inches above fresh water inlet) instead of fresh water. I ran air for probably thirty seconds before I realized mistake. What have I damaged!!?? Ugh.

Fill the black tank with plain water adding a little food color to it, so that you could trace a leak, if necessary.

Red works well.

That will positiviely answer your question, not a guess.

Andy

masseyfarm · 01-10-2011, 05:07 PM

I would think it went straight out the roof vent.
Dave

DougZ · 01-10-2011, 05:24 PM

That's what I was thinking too. If that is plugged it would come out the - oh my gosh, have you checked in the head yet?

AirEPotter · 01-10-2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougZ

That's what I was thinking too. If that is plugged it would come out the - oh my gosh, have you checked in the head yet?

Nothing inside! Thank goodness. No visible signs of any problems at all. I'm just not sure where damage could have occurred-- if at all.

2airishuman · 01-10-2011, 05:46 PM

IF anything was damaged,

the most likely bit would be the back flow/check valve which is IN that line.

it's usually at a HI point U bend behind the lav sink

and before the line connects to the sprayer head IN the tank.

this valve is prone 2 leaking and spontaneous failures anyway,

but it's unlikely the actual btf head has split from the tank/hole.
_______

2 ways to check for damage...

1. hook up water to the btf, turn it on and go inside looking/listening for flow or leaks near the lav sink.

2. sniff around under the sink or in the lav area over the next few weeks for black tank odors...
_________

while i don't recall ne1 reporting THIS specific flub (kudos 2 U!)

there are dozens of threads on the btf and the problems with the check valve...

many pics of it, where it is and so on...

cheers
2air'

AirEPotter · 01-10-2011, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

IF anything was damaged,

the most likely bit would be the back flow/check valve which is IN that line.

it's usually at a HI point U bend behind the lav sink

and before the line connects to the sprayer head IN the tank.

this valve is prone 2 leaking and spontaneous failures anyway,

but it's unlikely the actual btf head has split from the tank/hole.
_______

2 ways to check for damage...

1. hook up water to the btf, turn it on and go inside looking/listening for flow or leaks near the lav sink.

2. sniff around under the sink or in the lav area over the next few weeks for black tank odors...

cheers
2air'

"btf"? Remember, I'm a rookie! Thanks.

2airishuman · 01-10-2011, 05:51 PM

Black
Tank
Flush

cheers
2air'

AirEPotter · 01-10-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

Black
Tank
Flush

cheers
2air'

Thanks

**azflycaster** · 01-10-2011, 05:56 PM

The air should have gone right out of the tank vent and caused no damage. I would think that blowing out that line would be part of the winterizing procedure.

My trailer does not have that option and i don't winterize either...

masseyfarm · 01-10-2011, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AirEPotter

This will go down in rookie hall of shame. I was preparing to blow out water lines and I hooked the air hose to the sewer flush (2 inches above fresh water inlet) instead of fresh water. I ran air for probably thirty seconds before I realized mistake. What have I damaged!!?? Ugh.

When you blow out with air, just use the air blow gun and a rag with light pressure to seal the opening. You don't want to put full air pressure on the water line or you will have more problems. It only takes a few pounds of air to move the water thru to the open valves.
Dave

pmclemore · 01-10-2011, 06:36 PM

I'm kinda with Azflycaster on this. But - Jeez - please don't let us just do things randomly. If you don't know what you are plugging into, let's don't plug into it.

Give us a chance to help before trouble begins to cost.

Pat

AirEPotter · 01-10-2011, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmclemore

I'm kinda with Azflycaster on this. But - Jeez - please don't let us just do things randomly. If you don't know what you are plugging into, let's don't plug into it.

Give us a chance to help before trouble begins to cost.

Pat

It's called a mistake. Fresh water intake and sewer flush are two inches apart. I was distracted and hooked into wrong one. My fault obviously.

2airishuman · 01-10-2011, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmclemore

I'm kinda with...

there is NO reason to run pressurized air into the btf...

the line goes UP and then DOWN to tank level.

so water drains OUT of the line naturally if the head isn't obstructed,

or the check valve plugged.

the line is butyl not pex and not rated to the same pressure as the normal plumbing.

it's also buried in the trailer wall behind cabinetry and not easy to access if it starts leaking.

in fact NOTHING on the black tank side is rated for 'pressure'

so if the vent is obstructed (wasps/turds/paper) ANY pressure is bad.

there are several places that leaks or blown seals could happen with pressure.
_________

while the op probably did no harm since it is new,

the tank heads tend to PLUG up over time.

that means AIR in the line would never reach the tank or tank vent.

so pressurized air (or water) would escape at the check valve or a joint.

neither are good things.

gravity drains the btf lines.
______

the owners manual is reasonably specific,

about HOW and where to blow out lines with compressed air...

the btf line isn't part of that process for good reasons.

cheers
2air'

RichHog · 01-10-2011, 07:05 PM

I recently made the mistake of hooking the city water line into the Black Tank Flush line. No I didn't open the dump drain. Went into the kitchen to test water pressure at the sink and something seemed different as I heard water swirling around as I was filling up the black tank. Fortunately I went back outside and caught the mistake before I had water coming out of the toilet. Didn't have these things in the 72 Tradewind to flush out the tank like the 06 Safari.

BillTex · 01-10-2011, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichHog

I recently made the mistake of hooking the city water line into the Black Tank Flush line. No I didn't open the dump drain. Went into the kitchen to test water pressure at the sink and something seemed different as I heard water swirling around as I was filling up the black tank. Fortunately I went back outside and caught the mistake before I had water coming out of the toilet. Didn't have these things in the 72 Tradewind to flush out the tank like the 06 Safari.

I hope you tossed that hose after...

I also hope the OP did not use that adapter on the H20 line and blow into the system...yuck!

Nothing like a stomach bug to ruin a good trip.

2airishuman · 01-10-2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichHog

I recently made the mistake of hooking the city water line into the Black Tank Flush line. No I didn't open the dump drain. ...

good goof! thanks 4 sharing.

there used 2b a thread here, the theme being...

"the monthly dumbA, bonehead screw up award"

and folks would post their goofs, the goofier the better.

eventually some1 would claim the monthly award,

and keep it till a better boneheader was posted.

(sorta like the monthly photo contest, but funnier and more useful)

almost every mistake was a learning point,

from a class we've all taken.

and seldom was ne1 preached 2 about their screw ups.

the solution almost EVERY time was...

"hey don't do that"

the thread vanished in a server upgrade or under protest from a few jack wagons...

it should be REvisited and restarted...

cheers
2air'

AirEPotter · 01-10-2011, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

good goof! thanks 4 sharing.

there used 2b a thread here, the theme being...

"the monthly dumbA, bonehead screw up award"

and folks would post their goofs, the goofier the better.

eventually some1 would claim the monthly award,

and keep it till a better boneheader was posted.

(sorta like the monthly photo contest, but funnier and more useful)

almost every mistake was a learning point

and seldom was ne1 preached 2 about their screw ups.

the solution almost EVERY time was...

"hey don't do that"

the thread vanished in a server upgrade or under protest from a few jack wagons...

it should be REvisited and restarted...

cheers
2air'

This does not make me feel any better!