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bradleyoder · 01-10-2016, 09:54 PM

We have 4 foot PVC pipe that we use as our plunger for our 85 Excella toilet. It's a Dometic toilet with a foot lever flush. I haven't been home to see it yet, but my wife says it backed up this afternoon, and the stick plunger didn't work. She also popped off the sewer port where it comes out of the airstream and it didn'tappear to be obstructed from there. Are there any recommendations aside from getting a Porta John service to come out and pump it?

SeeMore · 01-10-2016, 10:44 PM

Try this?

bradleyoder · 01-11-2016, 07:08 AM

Sorry, but is this a joke? :-). Or is this a super long one that works from either toilet or outlet?

xrvr · 01-11-2016, 07:43 AM

It takes a brave person to open the sewer on a plugged toilet unless you are hooked to a sewer outlet. Try a plumbers helper.

Rich W · 01-11-2016, 07:48 AM

Our Dometic toilet is just a drop through the bottom into the tank, the step operates a flap in the bottom. How does yours back up, or is it just not emptying at the black valve? If you're hooked up to a sewer, did you leave the valve open all the time? That can cause solids to build up because it dries out, not enough water to keep things going. You may have a blocked discharge valve too. Is there enough room in the tank to try spraying down there with a garden hose to loosen things up?

bradleyoder · 01-11-2016, 04:40 PM

Opened the sewer hose and it's clear. Operated both main and auxiliary holding tank valves, though I had to work at it for a bit. I've let water run for more sufficient flushes for that reason, but there are five others in the house, so maybe piling up has cause some sticking. Thanks for this suggestion. We were starting to think that may be the next step... It's backing up below the flap, and then the flush water builds up above the flap. We have a pvc pipe we stick down in there to loosen up solids at the bottom of the pipe, but we don't feel any solids down there at the moment...I guess that means it may have built up at the outlet of the tank into the sewer outlet pipe?

bradleyoder · 01-11-2016, 04:43 PM

Wait, what about a regular old plunger?

n2916s · 01-11-2016, 05:26 PM

Get as much water down there as you can. With any luck, things will loosen up but it will be a while. There is a mountain of semi-solid material between the small portion of the tank you can see (and reach with your pvc pipe) and the outlet valve. If it is bad enough, you might even need to run a snake up there and try and loosen things up.

For future reference, black tank valve stays closed all the time until tank is full. Then dump it all at once. A nice bacteria/enzyme tank treatment helps as well. After dumping, start the tank off with a couple of gallons of water.

You can leave the grey tank valve open all the time but most of us will close it when we know we will be dumping the black tank in the near future to collect some "rinse water" for the stinky slinky.

Good luck,

Mike

xrvr · 01-12-2016, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradleyoder

Wait, what about a regular old plunger?

Yes, a plumbers helper.

n2916s · 01-12-2016, 09:11 AM

Don't know about a plumbers helper, lots of volume in that tank, don't know that a small displacement of air/water will budge anything but certainly worth a try.

Mike

**DKB_SATX** · 01-12-2016, 10:34 AM

A plunger from the toilet side will just move air (or perhaps air+water if it's REALLY full) in and out of the vent pipe, most likely. One would have to be super adventurous to use the plunger on the outlet side... it might be effective but MESSY. Things like the "Valterra Flush King" (a fitting for the outlet that lets you direct water into the sewer outlet from that end while the dump hose is attached) might help if the problem is an accumulation of solids blocking the valve.

xrvr · 01-12-2016, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

A plunger from the toilet side will just move air (or perhaps air+water if it's REALLY full) in and out of the vent pipe, most likely. One would have to be super adventurous to use the plunger on the outlet side... it might be effective but MESSY. Things like the "Valterra Flush King" (a fitting for the outlet that lets you direct water into the sewer outlet from that end while the dump hose is attached) might help if the problem is an accumulation of solids blocking the valve.

I've used a plumbers helper in an AS and an Avion, it worked to some extent but not as good as in a regular toilet.

bradleyoder · 01-12-2016, 01:44 PM

Tried plunger but it didn't work… Tried sticking a wire fish tape in through the outlet port to try to loosen it up from that end… that didn't work...heading to get a plumber snake, and some tank treatment. Good stuff at Lowe's, or do I need to shoot for RV specific stuff?

Tuco · 01-12-2016, 02:29 PM

This is what you need...

http://www.amazon.com/Valterra-F02-4.../dp/B008O9DV78

Works wonders...

bradleyoder · 01-12-2016, 03:22 PM

10-4

bradleyoder · 01-12-2016, 03:22 PM

Better than a physical snake or rooter?

**DKB_SATX** · 01-12-2016, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradleyoder

Better than a physical snake or rooter?

What Tuco linked is the thing I referred to earlier, the "Flush King." It'll attack the clog from the outlet side, but with the dump hose attached so you avoid the opportunity for an icky mess. Then when you get the clog cleared it'll help you flush the tank and lines too.

Mrjkq · 01-12-2016, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuco

This is what you need...

http://www.amazon.com/Valterra-F02-4.../dp/B008O9DV78

Works wonders...

Does that just shoot water up into the tank with enough pressure to break up a blockage?

n2916s · 01-12-2016, 03:50 PM

Go real easy with a snake! That's either a poly or ABS tank up there and it is 30 years old -- you could poke a hole in it or damage the valve. So easy does it if you go that route.

Any ACE or True Value should have Rid-ex. (Don't know about the big box stores). There is one for septic tanks and one for RV's -- in this instance either should help.

I like the flush valve idea as noted above -- lots harder to break something...

Mike

txtwin · 01-12-2016, 03:59 PM

It sounds like this problem has been building up for a while. You may want to make some phone calls around town and see if there is a company that can come clean out your tanks using high pressure water. There are services for RVs specifically for this, and they use 1500psi water pressure vs. just standard water pressure from a hose (30-50psi). It may also fix issues like sensors not working, and any odors you may have.

Understand that you have to get a fix on this tonight so that you can use your toilet, but the cleaning sounds like it should be a high priority for you.

If you can't find the flush king locally, a Valterra Sewer Solution might be a good item to try as well. Same type of result, just a little different method.

Good luck, and start closing your black tank valve until the tank is full.