Peggy, I read someone elses post where you said that flowback into the bowl after flushing could be a partially clogged vent line. Assuming no easy access to the vent except from the outside how would I clean the vent line out. I would fear a coat hanger would be too rough and not bend enough, and it wouldn't seem that compressed air would help much since the vent has the cover to deflect water away from it which also prevents easy access. Thanks for your thoughts. Peggy , I just finished reading your forum archive on cleaning the vent line and now see you recommend water, but the cover on the vent line that prevents water from entering when heeled over during sailing would seem to prevent easy access for the water flow. I'll give it a try today and see what happens. Bob Knott h380
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Visually inspect the thru-hull
99% of vent clogs occur at the thru-hull. And if there's anything in the opening, poke around in it with a screwdriver or whatever you can get into it. If there's a screen in it, have no qualms whatever about destroying it...screens in holding tank vent thru-hulls cause more problems than they prevent. Depending upon where your vent thru-hull is located, that may not be easy. But if anyone ever told you that maintaining a boat WOULD be easy, they either lied or they neglect everything that isn't. Where's the vent thru-hull located on your boat? And what kind of cover is on it. Depending upon where it is, you might be better off without it.
99% of vent clogs occur at the thru-hull. And if there's anything in the opening, poke around in it with a screwdriver or whatever you can get into it. If there's a screen in it, have no qualms whatever about destroying it...screens in holding tank vent thru-hulls cause more problems than they prevent. Depending upon where your vent thru-hull is located, that may not be easy. But if anyone ever told you that maintaining a boat WOULD be easy, they either lied or they neglect everything that isn't. Where's the vent thru-hull located on your boat? And what kind of cover is on it. Depending upon where it is, you might be better off without it.
FIND YOUR HOLDING TANK...
and if it's beneath the sole in the main cabin, remove the sole and diconnect the vent line from the tank. Connect a city water hose to the vent line using standard fittings. The city water pressure should clear the line. The holding tank on my P42 is located beneath the sole on the starboard side in the main cabin. After turning on the city water I still had to take a small screw driver and insert it into the vent scupper before the crust of the plug broke loose. Terry S/V Belle-Vie
and if it's beneath the sole in the main cabin, remove the sole and diconnect the vent line from the tank. Connect a city water hose to the vent line using standard fittings. The city water pressure should clear the line. The holding tank on my P42 is located beneath the sole on the starboard side in the main cabin. After turning on the city water I still had to take a small screw driver and insert it into the vent scupper before the crust of the plug broke loose. Terry S/V Belle-Vie
Simple vent line test
I just cleared out a partial clog from my vent line last night. We discovered a sag in the line that was filled with water. When we pumped the head we noticed that air wasn't coming out the vent and that the tank was ballooning. We removed the vent line, flushed it out with a hose, cut off the excess, and reinstalled it so as to minimize sags or dips.
I just cleared out a partial clog from my vent line last night. We discovered a sag in the line that was filled with water. When we pumped the head we noticed that air wasn't coming out the vent and that the tank was ballooning. We removed the vent line, flushed it out with a hose, cut off the excess, and reinstalled it so as to minimize sags or dips.
If you'd check the thru-hull first, Terry...
and used the screwdriver to scrape out the clog, there'd have been no need to use the hose...'cuz the line wasn't blocked, the thru-hull was. I don't recommend your high pressure water method btw.
and used the screwdriver to scrape out the clog, there'd have been no need to use the hose...'cuz the line wasn't blocked, the thru-hull was. I don't recommend your high pressure water method btw.
HI PEGGY, WHY NOT USE THE...
city water pressure? Too much force on any line blockage? Thanks. Terry
city water pressure? Too much force on any line blockage? Thanks. Terry
Yep....too much pressure
If a stubborn blockage doesn't damage the plumbing, it can give you a very unpleasant bath when something blows apart.
If a stubborn blockage doesn't damage the plumbing, it can give you a very unpleasant bath when something blows apart.
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