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Open Roads Forum  >  Class A Motorhomes  >  Maintenance Issues & Tips

 > Clogged Grey Water Tank

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balfre1946

travelling

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Posted: 07/17/12 10:56pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Our grey water tank is very clearly clogged up with something..after putting every possible cleaner available on the market it still stinks and does not drain properly. We are in a 2010 Fleetwood Fiesta 34B...how do I have access to the tank to actually clear the clogged material out? I see no access from the outside.

Chuck&Gail

In the Colorado Mountains

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Posted: 07/17/12 11:06pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Get one of those gadgets that goes on the sewer outlet that you can connect a water hose to that will run water at a high pressure back INTO the tank. That often clears clogs, so I've read.


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rockhillmanor

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Posted: 07/17/12 11:07pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

balfre1946 wrote:

Our grey water tank is very clearly clogged up with something..after putting every possible cleaner available on the market it still stinks and does not drain properly. We are in a 2010 Fleetwood Fiesta 34B...how do I have access to the tank to actually clear the clogged material out? I see no access from the outside.


Are you sure the blade is working properly? It might not be opening all the way. I thought my blade had broke, then I saw these tiny threads on the end and realized the handle threaded on. So actually the handle thru the years had somehow turned its way outward and was not opening the blade inside all the way. Turned and tightened the blade handle back down over the exposed threads and all was fine.

Access to the outside opening, if your sewer hook up has a Y where both the black and gray drain from, you can open the main cover, open your gray tank lever and run a toilet brush up the gray side. OF course it won't go up very far but the clog might just be there.This also will tell you if the blade isn't opening too if the brush hits it solid going in.


"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us".


Jim@HiTek

Gresham, OR, USA

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Posted: 07/17/12 11:13pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I would pour a 1/4 cup of Dawn dishwashing liquid down each grey tank drain; sinks, shower, including the washing machine drain if you have one. Then run lots of water down each. Then I'd add Calgon water softener. Fill the tank to 3/4 and take a very long windy drive to the nearest LARGE dump station. Then I'd have a garden hose (not a drinking water hose) connected to one of those clear drain connections with a hose attachment so I could force water into the tank while it's draining. The clog is probably right there at the outlet of the grey tank.

One thing I've heard here on the forum over the years is that people sometimes find a wooden or plastic cutout that the manufacturers minions drop into the tank when they cut out a drain hole connection. You might have one of those.

Once it's all drained, you might be able to see up in there, if it didn't drain quickly, you might be able to see what it is. After all that detergent, I wouldn't be to worried about getting close to it.


Jim@HiTek
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balfre1946

travelling

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Posted: 07/17/12 11:18pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Thanks but we have tried EVERYTHING..what we now need is physical access to the tank...Dawn, calgon, et al has not worked. Is there a screen on the tank that holds hair, sink******back or is it completely unimpeded?

Jim@HiTek

Gresham, OR, USA

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Posted: 07/17/12 11:33pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

After any liquid dumps into the tank from the house, there shouldn't be anything to impede the flow out of the dump drain. So, no, there is no screen.

Think you might have one of those cutout problems. They can show up the first week or years later.

Or, do you have any kids or grandkids with small toys? Some of them missing?

Have you tried blasting water back up the main drain?

old guy

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Posted: 07/18/12 12:34am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

my son had that problem. turns out it was a soap plug up. we took a snake and pushed it in and then had to close the valve real fast to keep the stinky water from getting to us. we lucked out, reinstalled the hose and the water cleared the pipes.

carpetguy2

N.IL

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Posted: 07/18/12 04:43am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Had a similar issue.But we were at a campground.Had thee septIc truck come out to suck everything out.Never had a issue since.They say you should have it done once awhile anyways.
Call your local septic to come out to your house .My dad does that too when family comes over.
Good luck


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NHclassC

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Posted: 07/18/12 06:04am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Any chance you could buy a snake and go in thru the outlet?


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sljkansas

Miami Co. Kansas

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Posted: 07/18/12 06:10am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Had the galley tank plugged up once on the old 5ver. Had to run a snake up the drain pipe. Found the plug, grease from frying bacon, DW had accidentally dumped the grease down the kitchen sink and then ran hot water with it. Well that was fine in the tank, but when it hit the 1.5" drain pipe it gelled up. She never did that again.


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