How exactly does a head vent become clogged? I recently had the vent unclogged and was told it was completely clogged from tank to exit. I empty the holding tank more than should be required but at times it seemed it was not emptying out as it should. We use marina facilities most of the time and pump like crazy when using the head, but this is the second time I've had a seriously clogged vent. Bill J
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Holding Tank Vent Clogged
We clogged our vent by over-filling the holding tank on our first cruise on our 37.5 Legend. As you pump waste into a full tank, the sewage has no place to go but up the vent. Since the vent tube is a small diameter, the crud in the sewage remains even after the tank is pumped. Eventually the crud dries and the vent is blocked. The symptom we experienced was sewage remaining at deck level in the pump out pipe even after we pumped the holding tank for an extended period. Unknowingly, we created a vacuum in the tank. Peggy says we were fortunate the tank did not collapse. Luckily, the blockage occurred at the point where the vent tube enters the holding tank. There is a right angle fitting at the top of the tank that the vent ties into. We were able to reach that connection by removing the floor from the starboard aft lazerette. We removed the hose clamp holding the vent tube to the angle fitting and were able to clean out the blockage with a bent hanger. It was a tight fit, but a smaller crew member fit in the compartment. As soon as the blockage was free, we could hear a gush of air flowing into the tank as the vacuum was relieved. Since our boats are both the in Legend family, your vent plumbing maybe the same as ours. Peggy has also indicated that vents get plugged by spiders and assorted bugs crawling into and building nests in the vent through hull. On our boat we were able to disconnect the vent from the through hull while working in that same lazerette and clean the bugs/spider webs. Again following Peggy's advice, we always run water into the holding tank via the vent through hull every time we pump out. This way we should be able to keep that vent clean. Good Luck!
We clogged our vent by over-filling the holding tank on our first cruise on our 37.5 Legend. As you pump waste into a full tank, the sewage has no place to go but up the vent. Since the vent tube is a small diameter, the crud in the sewage remains even after the tank is pumped. Eventually the crud dries and the vent is blocked. The symptom we experienced was sewage remaining at deck level in the pump out pipe even after we pumped the holding tank for an extended period. Unknowingly, we created a vacuum in the tank. Peggy says we were fortunate the tank did not collapse. Luckily, the blockage occurred at the point where the vent tube enters the holding tank. There is a right angle fitting at the top of the tank that the vent ties into. We were able to reach that connection by removing the floor from the starboard aft lazerette. We removed the hose clamp holding the vent tube to the angle fitting and were able to clean out the blockage with a bent hanger. It was a tight fit, but a smaller crew member fit in the compartment. As soon as the blockage was free, we could hear a gush of air flowing into the tank as the vacuum was relieved. Since our boats are both the in Legend family, your vent plumbing maybe the same as ours. Peggy has also indicated that vents get plugged by spiders and assorted bugs crawling into and building nests in the vent through hull. On our boat we were able to disconnect the vent from the through hull while working in that same lazerette and clean the bugs/spider webs. Again following Peggy's advice, we always run water into the holding tank via the vent through hull every time we pump out. This way we should be able to keep that vent clean. Good Luck!
I can't add or a thing to what Steve said
I can't even make any minor corrections. Once in a great while someone posts something that indicates my efforts here over the past few years have not been in vain!
)
I can't even make any minor corrections. Once in a great while someone posts something that indicates my efforts here over the past few years have not been in vain!
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