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Topic: Wet wipe removal from black tank (Read 1531 times) previous topic - next topic

Wet wipe removal from black tank

Welp, one of our guests for the last two weeks didn't get the memo and has been putting wet wipes in the toilet. Lots of wet wipes. Any suggestions for getting them out? The wipes... not the guest. Though I'm ready to throw the guest out too at the moment.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #1 –
I gather they are now in the tank  why not open valve and stick a garden hose down toilet on full and try flushing them out
Johnh
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #2 –
Same for the guest!
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #3 –
Quote from: John Haygarth –
I gather they are now in the tank  why not open valve and stick a garden hose down toilet on full and try flushing them out
That's where my head was at too. Thinking I'll put some water softener salt pellets in the tank and try and swirl them around with a hose. I used to have one of those "magic wand" tank cleaners that I could stick down there... don't think I do anymore though.

The big rub is that we're on septic here at the house.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #4 –
Hate to recommend a sieve for draining black tank, BUT............... or is that Butt?
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #5 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Hate to recommend a sieve for draining black tank, BUT............... or is that Butt?
Anyone want to buy a U320?
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Elliott –
Anyone want to buy a U320?
That will be a heck of a "Disclosure Statement".
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #7 –
Collect them all, any way possible, and return them to the back seat of your guest's car with your hearty thanks.

Then put a big strainer in the toilet
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #8 –
Ok this thread has made me laugh.  Im not laughing at you but with you.  Keep us updated on the progress of this stinky situation.  Pun intended.  Again I repeat with you not at you @Elliott. :D
06 Nimbus 34'
Build #6362

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #9 –
Elliott how convenient is the lid to the septic tank for the house? My previous tenant had a girl friend flush the wet wipes down the toilet, they float, and plugged up the leech line and things backed up. Lifted the lid on the tank and used a grass rake to remove  them and set aside to dry. A few days later put them in the trash.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #10 –
Remove the commode and you should have a 4" hole direct to the bottom of the tank.  Use any type of grabber to fish them out.  I didn't say anything about this being fun,  but experience will tell you it works.

Nick
Nick
1999 U295 40'

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #11 –
Do you have a gravity drop toilet, or a vaccu-flush?  If vacuflush they will be trapped in the vacu-flush pump.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #12 –
If you remove the commode add a new seal

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #13 –

So after further inspection, the wipes are septic safe! I'd still rather not have them in my septic or coach but it's a bit of a relief. I threw one in a bowl of water and it's already breaking down after an hour. I'm going to let them stew until the tank's full and then blast it with this bad boy after I dump: Amazon.com: Camco RV Flexible Swivel Stik with Shutoff Valve - Creates...

I decided against my original idea of throwing water softener pellets in there since I don't know what that'd do to the bacteria in the septic tank.

@craneman I have risers on the tank that make inspecting it easy so I'll do as you suggest with any remaining...uh...floaters.

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1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #14 –
Quote from: AC7880 –
Do you have a gravity drop toilet, or a vaccu-flush?  If vacuflush they will be trapped in the vacu-flush pump.
Gravity, thankfully.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #15 –
Maybe a wet vacuum cleaner. It would be a shitty job but might clean out you
tank.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #16 –
I would think that after a few dumps of a FULL tank they would come out with no issue.
Calgon liquid at Walmart
Frank & Daisy
NO LONGER  "looking for the perfect Foretravel
36' or less non slide preferred."  She has been found and is ours.
2003 U320 36' non slide  Unit 6103
Cummins ISM 450
Allison 4000MH

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #19 –
Is there a dump station around Prescott that goes into the city's sewage system?  Wouldn't hurt anything and it wouldn't be in you septic tank for you to think about.  Maybe have the friend help >:D
Dave and Kelli
1997 U295 40' Build #5188 CSGI
1995 U240 36' Build #4621 SBID-SOLD
2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #20 –
I heard they had a service for emptying wipe filled waste tanks in Quartzsite.
Don't know what it involved.
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #21 –
I think I'm going to be ok just dumping it in my septic tank. My test subject is breaking down to smaller than food particles in the bowl. I'll just have to blast the black tank well to get any bits off the sidewalls so the javelina sensors don't go wonky.

Quote from: Dave Larsen –
Trade for a U240?
May I take a raincheck until my bulkheads and fuel lines are due for replacement?

1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #22 –
Did you ever install a third valve? Every time i dump i fill the gray tank with the potable water. You could also fill  Fill the black tank full. Drain the black tank, close third valve back fill with gray tank . Close gray and dump black again. I generally get three full back washes when dumping and drain fluid is always clear on last dump cycle. On my 3610 I do not have clear view of tank at toilet drain even with dump tube removed. Its only like 14 inches long, right below dump is the the sloped 45 of the tank. I'm confident your is configured differently. If my tank is completely full i can see fluid threw the toilet but only about 4 inches deep in view. If this doesn't work ill bring down my 75 foot 3/4 drain snake. We can destroy everything.
Scott

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #23 –
Looks like problem is not as bad and you thought it was going to be.  I was thinking getting one of the roll around tanks. Fill that up.  Put a filter on the sewer drain and start pouring in that to catch the wipes.

I have been told by maintenance people that wipes are the second worse things for grinder pumps in lift stations moving sewerage. 
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Wet wipe removal from black tank

Reply #24 –
Quote from: dsd –
Did you ever install a third valve? Every time i dump i fill the gray tank with the potable water. You could also fill  Fill the black tank full. Drain the black tank, close third valve back fill with gray tank . Close gray and dump black again.
Yea I have the third valve and usually do as you suggest when I dump. This is about the ONLY area my 5th wheel was superior in anyway... it had a hose inlet right into the black tank for flushing it and it worked wonders (when all the pex joints weren't leaking... which was never now that I think of it).

Quote from: turbojack –
I was thinking getting one of the roll around tanks. Fill that up.  Put a filter on the sewer drain and start pouring in that to catch the wipes.

That's actually a great idea
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.