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Topic: holding tank pump out (Read 687 times) previous topic - next topic

holding tank pump out

We have not had to use a holding tank pump out service and wonder what advice others with pump out experience can share with us.

Have read about pump out truck suction issues, but wonder if current methods have eliminated problems.

Re: holding tank pump out

Reply #1 –
We have used pump out service a few times over the years- no problems because I was right there " supervising" the pumpers.
One example- the guy pulled 2 handles, pumped, pushed in 2 handles and was disconnecting and I asked him why he only pumped 1 tank.  I have a third valve so he didn't realize, or look, just going on autopilot.  Granted it was a festival we were working and he had a lot of rigs to pump at 6AM , but....................

Good supervision even with good people never hurts            ^.^d
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: holding tank pump out

Reply #2 –
Might consider holding the flush door open .

Re: holding tank pump out

Reply #3 –
We've had to use the services of a "Poo-man" three times. The first two times he came, hooked up, pumped out, and moved on. The third guy insisted that someone be inside the rig holding the toilet valve open. His reasoning was that he didn't want to be responsible for damaging the seal.

A couple of years ago we replaced our toilet, and all was fine with the new one. In the past year, though, we've noticed that sometimes we don't have a good seal on the ball, and the water in the bowl drains out. Is there a connection between using Poo-man and the seal problem? I don't know. Might be. Should we ever need Poo-man again I'll make sure that Jo Ann is inside holding the pedal down while I'm outside supervising.

Re: holding tank pump out

Reply #4 –
It seems as though new seals require some time and use before they seal completly.    I replaced the one in our toilet and it leaked off and on for a while until it sealed totaly.  All is well at this time.  It would seem prudent to keep the flush valve open if suction is applied to the tank as there is no vent on my tank that I am aware of.    Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'

Re: holding tank pump out

Reply #5 –
In an Ohio Amusement Park (Nameless) years ago in our SOB, I paid the park to pump out and things went bad fast. We signed up and went to work. Came home at 6:00pm to...well, Chernobyl of sewer bays! Big mess. Bay door closed to hide mess and open valves. Yikes.

The new guy on the Wagon hooked up and went to town. I suspect the straight vacuum was on when he pulled the valves open. Never got to talk to the "technician" who caused even bigger problems for us.

We went about a month before our black tank started to leak, two thousand miles away from home. What a headache to replace an obsolete tank.

"Get involved with the proces,"he said understatedly.
Paul & Kathleen
1995 U320c SE 40'
Build 4681 --Cummins M11 /17511
"That Irish Girl"
Red MINI " 40"

Re: holding tank pump out

Reply #6 –
Good idea to keep toilet valve open during pump out, but what about gray tank that does not have anything to keep open?

Re: holding tank pump out

Reply #7 –
The pump guys I've seen pumping rvs have a catch box on thier hose. Don't believe I'm going to attach a 300 Horse power vacuum cleaner directly to my coach. Just saying.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: holding tank pump out

Reply #8 –
Unsee... holy crap.
Paul
'92 U300 SBID 40'  #3968 "Large Marge"
Detroit Diesel 6v92TA & Allison HT746
'09 Mini Clubman w/ manual 6spd @ 39 mpg

Re: holding tank pump out

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
Good idea to keep toilet valve open during pump out, but what about gray tank that does not have anything to keep open?


Grey tank has open air flow shower drain and 2-3 sink drains.  If enough suction it will pull air in.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: holding tank pump out

Reply #10 –
One would think the 2 inch vent pipe to the roof would allow enough air into tank when vacuuming out tank, guess it depends on how big the vacuum pump on the truck is. Have seen some trucks that have a kind of reverse pressure relief valve that opens when vacuum exceeds a set negative pressure.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.