holding tank vent

[Dan Wesley]

My holding tank is pressurizing so apparently my vent is plugged. Any clean solutions?

 

[Steve Dion]

Try a water hose.

Dan:I'd try using the water hose in the vent. Be sure that you vent does not have a screen. Stuff can get caught here too. I have a straight thru hull fitting for my vent hose. Everytime I pump the holding tank I flush the vent hose.If you cannot clear it up with the hose you are going to remove it to clear it and then reattach.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Clog is most likely at the thru-hull

That's where at least 90% of 'em are. If blasting it out with water doesn't clear it, use a screw driver to scrape out whatever is in it. If there's a screen in it, remove it. It's rarely necessary to remove the hose unless you've overflowed the tank (BIG no-no!)so many times that it's full of caked waste...in which case it's usually easier to replace the hose than try to clean it out.Until you get it open, don't try to pump out or dump your tank, and don't use the toilet again. As with most things, prevention is easier than cure. There's an article in the Head Mistress forum reference library called "Tank Vent Maintenance" that tells you how to keep all your tank vents clear in the future.

 

[Frank LaBrake]

If it's a Jabsco toilet try this

I was getting back pressure in the pump when switched to a dry position. I removed the tank vent line that runs to the transom thru-hull and flushed it with hose water from the dock water line. Still got the back pressure. Peggy recommended replacing certain parts in the Jabsco toilet that are known to hang up. I bought a Jabsco rebuild kit at West Marine ($45), more parts than I needed for this job but I'm sure it makes sense to have the extras around.I removed the pump handle and rod by removing the large plastic nut that threads into the pump assembly and then I removed the six screws that hold the cover in place. Switch the Wet/Dry lever to the Wet position and remove the valve cover. Once the cover is off I replaced the upper seal, the valve seat and a small spring that fits on a plastic post in the cover. Make sure that you push the upper seal down tight and replace the valve cover while holding it down tight as you replace the screws. I had to do this twice as the fit wasn't correct the first time and I got a nice even spray of water around the valve cover.Before you replace the pump handle and rod get some SuperLube aerosol and attach the small tube to the spray nozzle and spray the entire interior of the tube that holds the pump handle assembly.So far no more back pressure and the pump slide action is as smooth as day one.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

If he's feeling backpressure,

and only assumes his tank his pressurized, the problem could be a failed dry/flush valve in the toilet (I'm not sure why rebuilding cured it in yours, because the part--the dry/flush valve--isn't in the rebuild kit)...but if the tank is definitely pressurized, nothing he does to the toilet will fix it...the problem has to be a blocked tank vent.Btw...the recommended SuperLube is the thick grease that comes in a tube, not the aerosol. The thick grease lasts much longer and does a much better job of protecting the seals and valves.