Rookie mistake with septic

[Hbelle]

I recently acquired a 24 ft 1967 Tradewind. It was hooked up to septic system and is now backed up and not draining. I didn’t even know there was a specific way to use a camper toilet and protocol for how to flush it all or if holding tank. It seems clogged. Can you plunge a camper toilet just as you would one in house?

Thanks for any guidance,
The rookie

[Dan and Liz]

Do you mean it was hooked up for a long time before you got it, or that you hooked it up and it won’t drain? Are you sure the tank is full? Gate valve fully opened?

[Adventure.AS]

The best procedure is to let the black tank fill before draining. If you leave the waste valve open all the time the liquid will drain away leaving the solids behind building the dreaded ‘poo’ pyramid.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Hbelle

I recently acquired a 24 ft 1967 Tradewind. It was hooked up to septic system and is now backed up and not draining. I didn’t even know there was a specific way to use a camper toilet and protocol for how to flush it all or if holding tank. It seems clogged. Can you plunge a camper toilet just as you would one in house?

Thanks for any guidance,
The rookie

Welcome to the forum!

Please post more details about how this toilet has been used, and whether the trailer has been towed recently to shake up the tank's contents. What does the previous owner advise?

RV toilets are totally different than household systems. You cannot plunge them, assuming yours is a typical RV setup. Photos would help to let everyone know what your toilet is, and the discharge valve situation.

Too many variables at this point, so you may get a bewildering assortment of comments IMO.

Good luck,

Peter

PS -- This article may help you get your feet on the ground terlit-wise:

https://blog.campingworld.com/rv-bas...-holding-tank/

[palerider]

Add 2 cups of water softener powder and 2 cups of laundry powder. Fill with warm water as much as you can. Let set as long as you can and drain. If really as bad as it sounds you may have to repeat. I pulled the same stupid stunt and it took me a week to get mine clean. If and when you get it clean fill with water and a gallon of bleach. Let stand a few days and rinse. Add the powders after draining each time. It keeps the solids from sticking to the tank

[perryg114]

Sometimes you need a garden hose through the toilet to get stuff moving.



Perry