BW tank flushing
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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=5328
Printed Date: 14 Jun 2025 at 1:35am
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Topic: BW tank flushing
Posted By: Sagevole
Subject: BW tank flushing
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2014 at 5:30pm
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This may be a question for my dealer, but I thought I would ask the forum first...
There is a garden hose fitting hook-up to the right of the R179 door that indicates it is for sewer flushing. A sticker above the connection states: CAUTION! SEWER TANK FLUSHER SEWER VALVES MUST BE OPEN WHEN USING THIS INLET This is a new 2015 R179 that has never been used, so I thought I would test the BW flushing system through the sewer flusher connection. After turning on the hose inlet, I monitored the BW outlet for flow. The volume was (IMO) very low as compared to the hose input. My question is whether this is 'normal' (i.e. there is a restrictor in the inlet side)? A second question is whether anyone thinks it would be 'safe' to keep the BW valve closed and fill the BW tank with the flusher inlet even though there is a cautionary note saying not to do that... My thought is that the manufacturer is worried someone might overfill the BW tank and damage the seals. Any of your thoughts would be appreciated... ------------- Mike and Liz New to RVing - not to camping 2013 Toyota 4Runner 2015 R179 Hood River Edition + R-dome |
Replies:
Posted By: Old Dingo&Mrs.Dingo
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2014 at 5:49pm
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The flush water goes through flexible tubing (3/8" ID) and a siphon (or vacuum) breaker on it's way to the black tank. Both of these components can cause a loss of flow. I haven't seen where the system terminates, but I imagine there are several jets (or nozzles) that would further reduce the water flow and increase the velocty. ------------- Old Dingo and/or Mrs. Dingo 181G 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2014 at 5:52pm
During our walk thru the tech really stressed not to pump in water without the valve being open, said it could be ugly ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2014 at 6:34pm
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Checking Youtube, I see that several RVers flush the black tank by doing just what you imply. Allowing the tank to fill with the valve closed to a point by monitoring it closely. Once 2/3 rd or 3/4 flow they open the valve. All this is done by sticking a hose just inside the commode valve as many RVs do that do not have a separate black flush connection, or by allowing the flush connection to fill it. It's certainly a task that warrants 100% while under way. I would probably have the DW on the inside to insure it doesn't start to overflow. Of course, while the valve is closed and water in going in, at a certain point the tank will overflow into the coach. This is a really good video on flushing the black tank. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZFyfsy4ptw |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2014 at 7:34pm
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I leave my valve closed the once or twice a year that I use my flush system. The reason you don't want to do it is because if you forget or let it keep filling you go past the tanks capacity and out from the top of black tank vent on the top of your Rpod. Let me add that 2nd sticker telling you to not to do it with the valve gate closed is new in the past few years, and as we all know about warning labels, they end up on things when someone does something that results in something "icky happening" in this case.  Filling an empty tank with the flush, say if you were doing and end of the year cleaning, takes several minutes. It's a slow process but the sprayer inside is rather effective! ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: Sagevole
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2014 at 3:30pm
Thanks all for the information. I did fill the BW tank 1/3 full with the valve closed and then flushed it. All went well despite the warning label...  ------------- Mike and Liz New to RVing - not to camping 2013 Toyota 4Runner 2015 R179 Hood River Edition + R-dome |
Posted By: ttim
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 12:32pm
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About the flush valve, I have had my brand new, never used, 2014 pod for one month. The flush valve did not work. Found out it was put in backwards. Just an FYI. ------------- warm regards, tt |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 3:30pm
happens more often than you'd think ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |