Peggie, I re-plumbed my system recently...Hunter 31. I finally got a chance to pump out overboard (legally) and this is what happened. I have a manual pump mounted at the discharge point of the tank (under v-berth). I opened the ball valve under the tank, and the below waterline seacock. Began pumping and all of a sudden it became very difficult to pump, as if it was plugged or something. I gently forced it a little and realized that the waste was being forced out of the deck pumpout fitting????? Of course, the deck fitting is much higher elevation than the tank. The only reason I can figure is that the waste is unable to be forced past the air pocket in the sanitation hose above the seacock. However, this still doesn't make sense to me cause it seems to me that if the tank is at a higher elevation than the seacock, the waste should overcome the air in the hose. I know you always suspect the vent, but I have gone to the extent of removing the vent at both ends to ensure this wasn't the problem. I included a diagram of the system. Hope you can help. Thanks much
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No y-valve?
Gary: Our H'31 had a 'Y' valve after the holding tank. There was only one way for the waste to go.
Gary: Our H'31 had a 'Y' valve after the holding tank. There was only one way for the waste to go.
Does anyone know....
or have a theory.....why it won't work the way it is? If a fluid is at a higher elevation than the seacock, why won't it drain? I had rather cut off both my arms than cut into this system again. It was surely the job from hades. Just wondering if something could be plugged. Although, I have checked the seacock and it's clear. The pump was in the same location before and it discharged fine. Thanks
or have a theory.....why it won't work the way it is? If a fluid is at a higher elevation than the seacock, why won't it drain? I had rather cut off both my arms than cut into this system again. It was surely the job from hades. Just wondering if something could be plugged. Although, I have checked the seacock and it's clear. The pump was in the same location before and it discharged fine. Thanks
Seacock
This may be a dumb question, but are you sure that the seacock was open when you tried to pump the tank out?
This may be a dumb question, but are you sure that the seacock was open when you tried to pump the tank out?
You must have something plugging the loop to the t
Just air in the loop wouldn’t block the flow. You don’t really need the vented loop before the through hull discharge, especially with your valve at the tank. You do need a Y valve at the junction of the hose to the deck pump out and the hose to the through hull discharge. Because you don’t have the Y valve, the portion of the hose down stream of the junction may contain waste that is not being removed during deck pump-outs. This waste may be the clog causing the current problem and will also eventually lead to odor permeating that part of the hose. Most don’t have another valve at the tank as you do. This is a good idea though as it eliminates the possibility of waste standing in the discharge hose and causing eventual odor permeation. Patrick is right. Moving the pump downstream of the Y valve would be a better location. Currently, you are pulling waste through the pump every time you pump-out. I don’t know if this is bad for the pump or not. You will never need to pump waste out onto your deck so you don’t need to have it where it is but you probably don’t need to move the pump. You’re right that this isn’t a problem with the tank vent hose. If that were plugged it wouldn’t cause the flow to be diverted to the deck fitting. S/V Anodyne
Just air in the loop wouldn’t block the flow. You don’t really need the vented loop before the through hull discharge, especially with your valve at the tank. You do need a Y valve at the junction of the hose to the deck pump out and the hose to the through hull discharge. Because you don’t have the Y valve, the portion of the hose down stream of the junction may contain waste that is not being removed during deck pump-outs. This waste may be the clog causing the current problem and will also eventually lead to odor permeating that part of the hose. Most don’t have another valve at the tank as you do. This is a good idea though as it eliminates the possibility of waste standing in the discharge hose and causing eventual odor permeation. Patrick is right. Moving the pump downstream of the Y valve would be a better location. Currently, you are pulling waste through the pump every time you pump-out. I don’t know if this is bad for the pump or not. You will never need to pump waste out onto your deck so you don’t need to have it where it is but you probably don’t need to move the pump. You’re right that this isn’t a problem with the tank vent hose. If that were plugged it wouldn’t cause the flow to be diverted to the deck fitting. S/V Anodyne
Check for the plug
You said earlier that you had “recently” redone the plumbing. Have you pumped out a few times since? If so, each time you pumped out you were cleaning the path to the deck fitting but leaving behind anything in the loop. During that time it could have hardened enough that pump pressure wouldn’t be enough to move it out. You use the phase “would not push it downward thru the seacock”. In your diagram you show an upward loop before the seacock. I assumed that this is a vented loop carried upward to almost the same height as the deck fitting so that it is above the water line at any heel. You’ve confirmed that the through-hull is open and unclogged. Maybe you should open up the “T” and see if you can run a snake out the through hull. If you do find a plug I would install a Y valve. If you don’t! …. Peggy we need help. (Peggy our prayers have been with you and your father. I understand that what you are doing there is so much more important than anybodies boat.)
You said earlier that you had “recently” redone the plumbing. Have you pumped out a few times since? If so, each time you pumped out you were cleaning the path to the deck fitting but leaving behind anything in the loop. During that time it could have hardened enough that pump pressure wouldn’t be enough to move it out. You use the phase “would not push it downward thru the seacock”. In your diagram you show an upward loop before the seacock. I assumed that this is a vented loop carried upward to almost the same height as the deck fitting so that it is above the water line at any heel. You’ve confirmed that the through-hull is open and unclogged. Maybe you should open up the “T” and see if you can run a snake out the through hull. If you do find a plug I would install a Y valve. If you don’t! …. Peggy we need help. (Peggy our prayers have been with you and your father. I understand that what you are doing there is so much more important than anybodies boat.)
Your pump is in the wrong place
Tank contents are following the line of least resistance, which is a straight line to the deck, when you pump. Remove the pump and put a y-valve there...one side going to the deck fitting, the other to the pump (which may require a longer section of hose than is currently going from the tee to the deck fitting). Put the pump inline where you have the tee. Leave the vented loop where you have it--between the pump and the seacock. Pumps are supposed to pull liquids into them and push 'em out...that's how they work. So the fact the pump is pulling waste out of the tank and pushing it on through the line isn't the problem. Neither the vented loop (Y'all really DO need to learn how vented loops work...air doesn't get into a line through which anything is being PUSHED, only when PULLING). Waste IS making it over the top of the loop, but what's in line between the tee and the top of the loop is creating resistance...so pumping is sending tank contents both directions--over the loop AND straight up. And btw, you apparently need a gasket or o-ring under your deck fitting cap, 'cuz unless the seacock is closed or something is preventing anything from going toward the thru-hull, a manual you shouldn't have any seepage around it. Thanks for asking about my dad! Incredibly for someone his age, he's doing pretty well physically...he's all but beaten pneumonia and pleursey. But he's very frail now, and his illness has really taken a toll on his mind. He never had a trace of dementia before he got sick...now, he's more or less lucid (the new Alzheimers/anti-dementia drugs really do work!), but now has very little short term memory and an even shorter attention span. He's in a nursing home...unlikely that he'll ever be able to live at home again, even with help (I'd move into his house if he could )...he needs 24 hour supervision now, so it's unlikely he'll ever leave the nursing home. He's getting excellent care there, and I spend at least a couple of hours with him every day, making sure he does (the director of nursing and the administrator do NOT like to see me heading for their offices! <g>) So while my life is no longer a roller coaster ride--at least for now--he remains my central focus and will be for the rest of his life...taking each day at a time, grateful for each day in which there isn't another crisis. He's the reason I moved to Little Rock after my mother died...I'm an only child...he has no one else. And now that things HAVE settled down--at least for now--to somewhat of a routine, I should be able to spend a bit more time here. I've really appreciated your prayers and support for the last two months. Thank you!
Tank contents are following the line of least resistance, which is a straight line to the deck, when you pump. Remove the pump and put a y-valve there...one side going to the deck fitting, the other to the pump (which may require a longer section of hose than is currently going from the tee to the deck fitting). Put the pump inline where you have the tee. Leave the vented loop where you have it--between the pump and the seacock. Pumps are supposed to pull liquids into them and push 'em out...that's how they work. So the fact the pump is pulling waste out of the tank and pushing it on through the line isn't the problem. Neither the vented loop (Y'all really DO need to learn how vented loops work...air doesn't get into a line through which anything is being PUSHED, only when PULLING). Waste IS making it over the top of the loop, but what's in line between the tee and the top of the loop is creating resistance...so pumping is sending tank contents both directions--over the loop AND straight up. And btw, you apparently need a gasket or o-ring under your deck fitting cap, 'cuz unless the seacock is closed or something is preventing anything from going toward the thru-hull, a manual you shouldn't have any seepage around it. Thanks for asking about my dad! Incredibly for someone his age, he's doing pretty well physically...he's all but beaten pneumonia and pleursey. But he's very frail now, and his illness has really taken a toll on his mind. He never had a trace of dementia before he got sick...now, he's more or less lucid (the new Alzheimers/anti-dementia drugs really do work!), but now has very little short term memory and an even shorter attention span. He's in a nursing home...unlikely that he'll ever be able to live at home again, even with help (I'd move into his house if he could )...he needs 24 hour supervision now, so it's unlikely he'll ever leave the nursing home. He's getting excellent care there, and I spend at least a couple of hours with him every day, making sure he does (the director of nursing and the administrator do NOT like to see me heading for their offices! <g>) So while my life is no longer a roller coaster ride--at least for now--he remains my central focus and will be for the rest of his life...taking each day at a time, grateful for each day in which there isn't another crisis. He's the reason I moved to Little Rock after my mother died...I'm an only child...he has no one else. And now that things HAVE settled down--at least for now--to somewhat of a routine, I should be able to spend a bit more time here. I've really appreciated your prayers and support for the last two months. Thank you!
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