plugged toilet
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5321
Printed Date: 03 May 2024 at 10:06pm
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Topic: plugged toilet
Posted By: wingnut2312
Subject: plugged toilet
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2014 at 9:36pm
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So we get to the campsite and find that one of the kids thought it was a good idea to dump paper towel in the toilet. Water seems to pass through easy enough, but not willing to try numero dos.
I had a stick and attempted to push the paper down into the black tank as it was empty. It went down some, but seemingly not all the way. I don't want to push too hard for fear of breaking something. How can I unclog it? Is there a safe Draino type of chemical for the pod? Any help is appreciated!! ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Replies:
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2014 at 10:06pm
| If you can't retrieve it I would flush it with water, repeating until the paper breaks down and passes out the drain tube. If you can't pull it back then it has to go out through the drain unless you have access to open up plumbing. I would think continued flushing would eventually break the paper down and then out. The key is to flush it good repeating until it's all out. Make sure you get it all because wet paper that then dries can dry pretty hard and block things up. Do you have something that you can inspect it with to ensure you got all the paper out? A snake camera or maybe a telescoping mirror. If that dosn't work you can try some RV tank treatment specifically designed to break paper down. I'm pretty sure you can get it at Walmart in the sporting/camping section near the special RV toilet paper, etc...good luck! Let us know how it turns out. |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2014 at 10:12pm
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This treatment claims to breakdown paper!
http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/RID-X-Citrus-Scent-RV-Toilet-Treatment-24-fl-oz/35702177 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2014 at 10:31pm
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Similar to what was mentioned above, until you can get it out I would fill up the black tank so the water fills up the drain pipe above where the paper is stuck, to ensure it doesn't dry. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: shroomer
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2014 at 12:14am
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Had a recent problem with black tank not completely emptying. Remembered some advice here about putting ice cubes in the toilet. It worked like a charm. The motion moved the ice around and cleared the blockage. Ice turned to water and it all ran out. $3.00. ------------- Larry and Debbie w/Rosie the mutt. Old: '13 177, '06 Silverado V6 New: '15 Whitehawk 20MRB '14 Silverado V8 |
Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2014 at 8:19am
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My problem seems to be that the stuff is floating at the top. I turner off the water pump to open the valve and water and paper was floating there. I can still flush and have water go down, but it is still staying there.
The tank empties, but the display says there is still some in there. Kinda lost here as I don't know the anatomy of the system. When you flush, does it just drop straight down into the tank? Is there a curve or valve that opens and closes to keep the smell in the tank? Something is keeping water up near the toilet, but still allowing other water to pass through. So wierd ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2014 at 8:38am
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Don't know about the 182 but the 179 has a 45 into the tank. No valve other than the one you see in the toilet. Get your elbow length rubber gloves and pull out what you can- unpleasant job but you do what you gotta do  ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2014 at 9:00am
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Fill up the black tank with water (you can use the shower head to speed this up, or just run a garden hose inside) and add 2-3 bags of crushed ice. Drive around for 20 minutes to agitate and then dump. As techntrek has said, don't let the paper towel dry out. It'll create a near-unremovable cementlike blockage. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2014 at 9:11am
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You should be able to flush it into the tank, but you will have to work from where the paper entered the system. Flushing via the black tank connection probably won't work. Once you get the lines clear and all of the paper into the tank, I would think you are home free. Does anybody know the size of the pluming from the commode to the tank? I would think it's at least 2.5 to 3". If your at the campsite get a hose with a nozzle and blast the paper into the tank! If its really really stubborn I would think you can use a small plumbers snake to clear it all. Good luck!
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Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2014 at 12:33pm
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I fixed it. Grabbed a stick and kept poking at it until it brike up and went through.
Thanks for all of the suggestions!! ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2014 at 7:52pm
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Glad you could flush that problem. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2014 at 8:06pm
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2014 at 10:03pm
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Have you dumped the tank yet? My neighbor had a similar situation with his trailer (not a pod) and it plugged the dump valve.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2014 at 11:28pm
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LOL, check out this youtube video on using ice in a black holding tank. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6acEmqvcw
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Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2014 at 11:29pm
| Keep that stick, it might come in handy! |
Posted By: bcmatell
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 3:10pm
| A tip,never put any toilet paper down the toilet,use a bucket with lid. |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 3:37pm
Which is why I advocated retrieving the clog back out the way it went in.....  ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 3:47pm
Toilet paper isn't a problem if you fill the toilet at least 1/2 full for #2, and if necessary, flush more than once. Also add several gallons of water along with the tank chemical of your choice right after emptying the tank. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 3:48pm
Right..... Toilet paper is not a problem if one uses the correct paper and plenty of water. Been doing it without problems for 40 years  ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |