Posted 2011-03-15 4:13 PM (#131682) Subject: black tank issue
Elite Veteran
Posts: 662 Location: Vanzant, Missouri
Ok I'm having an issue with the black tank on my LQ. I have been living it it since last Aug. When winter temps hit the tank contents froze up and I couldn't get it pumped out.So after it warmed up enough I got it pumped out. Now the tank is full and I had the pumper come in to pump it out and when I got home there was only a tad bit that was pumped out. I opened the toilet to make sure they pumped it and it was still pretty full. I called them back and told them that it wasn't empty but still full. So they came out again this morning and the guy had them call me and I had the message that he pumped it out but only got about a gallon out of it.Now I know it has more than that in it. I put a heat tape on the neck of the tank to keep it from freezing up. The temps are warm enough now that nothing should freeze. So what could be causing the tank not to let it all go.Especailly when the commercial pumper is hooked to it and he's not emptying it.Only 3 things in it P,P & TP and of course the tank treatment stuff. So anyone have any ideas.
Posted 2011-03-15 4:24 PM (#131685 - in reply to #131682) Subject: RE: black tank issue
Elite Veteran
Posts: 662 Location: Vanzant, Missouri
Well the temps have been 50-60 days and low 40 at night. I was thinking of getting a stick and putting it down the toilet and see if something was holding it. But you do have a point. That possibly could be the problem. I would have thought it would have been warm enough to be unthawed...Is there anything I could pour into the tank to unthaw it? Maybe antifreeze?
Posted 2011-03-15 5:09 PM (#131687 - in reply to #131682) Subject: RE: black tank issue
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430 Location: TN
I wouldn't be surprised if it were still frozen. I moved mulch today that had been sitting on the north side of my barn since last fall and it had big frozen balls in the middle of the pile.
Posted 2011-03-15 7:34 PM (#131690 - in reply to #131682) Subject: RE: black tank issue
Member
Posts: 5
Location: Comanche County Texas
I would take a ceramic heater and set it under the tank and let it warm the black tank...heat rises and hopefully enough warmth will melt what is froze up to loosen your tank remains---I'd take hot water and try to flush it thru and hope you unclog your clog. JMO.
Posted 2011-03-16 8:03 PM (#131733 - in reply to #131682) Subject: RE: black tank issue
Regular
Posts: 69 Location: Washington DC
Just a side note, I wouldn't put antifreeze in there. Im not usually one of the Tree huggin hippie types that is always concerned about the environment, but I am a conservationist and I know that when you flush your black tank or have it flushed it will eventually go through a treatment plant. They are not equipped to break down the petroleum based antifreeze. Not to mention that it will kill off the good bacteria that you have in the tank that helps "digest" your P,P and TP. A ceramic heater is probably your best bet and try and put some almost boiling water down the crapper, that should help.
Posted 2011-03-17 4:59 AM (#131751 - in reply to #131682) Subject: RE: black tank issue
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
First of all, I don't own a LQ trailer and probably never will BUT...... I bet you have "solids" blocking the drain, don't mean ice, I mean P and TP that has settled on the bottom of the tank partially blocking the drain. You'll probably need something to blast it out of there.... How long had the trailer been sitting with the toilet in use between having the tank flushed and dumped? Good luck....
black tank issue
