"Tank Vent Maintenance" has just been added to the HM reference library (that's the LIBRARY, folks, NOT the archives). Judging from the number of posts recently about problems caused by block tank vents, I don't think I added it any too soon!
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Ed Schenck
Thanx Peggy.
Not sure, though, about hitting the vents with a hose, I wouldn't want water in my diesel tank. A piece of stiff wire always finds an insect nest of some kind in there. I wonder if there is not some other solution? Do any of the vent thru-hulls have screens? Mine are those chromed brass things that point down. They'd be hard to replace for sure.
Not sure, though, about hitting the vents with a hose, I wouldn't want water in my diesel tank. A piece of stiff wire always finds an insect nest of some kind in there. I wonder if there is not some other solution? Do any of the vent thru-hulls have screens? Mine are those chromed brass things that point down. They'd be hard to replace for sure.
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Peggie Hall/Headmistress
Fuel vents need screens...
holding and water tank vents do not. However, boat mfrs tend to use the same thru-hull for everything. If your holding tank thru-hull has a screen in it, remove it..it's just a dirt/dust magnet and becomes very corroded very quickly. I'd have to agree with you that shooting water down a fuel tank vent might not be the best thing to do...however, if the opening in the thru-hull is 90 degrees to the hose, it's unlikely you'd send enough water into the tank to notice. HOW you keep your tank vents open is up to you. The important thing is that you keep 'em open--that you pay close attention to 'em and maintain 'em.
holding and water tank vents do not. However, boat mfrs tend to use the same thru-hull for everything. If your holding tank thru-hull has a screen in it, remove it..it's just a dirt/dust magnet and becomes very corroded very quickly. I'd have to agree with you that shooting water down a fuel tank vent might not be the best thing to do...however, if the opening in the thru-hull is 90 degrees to the hose, it's unlikely you'd send enough water into the tank to notice. HOW you keep your tank vents open is up to you. The important thing is that you keep 'em open--that you pay close attention to 'em and maintain 'em.
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Terry Cox
BRASS WOOL...
was suggested by an old time sailor, as he watched me trying to unplug my holding tank vent. Just stick a small wad into the vent scupper and it helps to discourage the little critters from building their nests, but allows ventilation. Terry S/V Belle-Vie
was suggested by an old time sailor, as he watched me trying to unplug my holding tank vent. Just stick a small wad into the vent scupper and it helps to discourage the little critters from building their nests, but allows ventilation. Terry S/V Belle-Vie
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Peggie Hall/Headmistress
Not the best idea...
Bronze wool may allow some air to pass, but it does restrict the air flow, which causes the tank contents to turn anaerobic, which in turn creates odor. Read the article "Holding Tank Odor--Odor Out the Vent" for details."
Bronze wool may allow some air to pass, but it does restrict the air flow, which causes the tank contents to turn anaerobic, which in turn creates odor. Read the article "Holding Tank Odor--Odor Out the Vent" for details."
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nick
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Eric C Lindstrom
Suck it up?
The pump out where we keep our boat has a very nice rubber fitting on the end that creates suction against the pump out deck hole. What would you think about pressing this against the vent on the outside of the boat to "reverse-force" anything that might be in the vent? I would make sure the tank is empty first.
The pump out where we keep our boat has a very nice rubber fitting on the end that creates suction against the pump out deck hole. What would you think about pressing this against the vent on the outside of the boat to "reverse-force" anything that might be in the vent? I would make sure the tank is empty first.
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Peggie Hall/Headmistress
Y'all sure like to do things the hard way!
If you do it on a regular basis, you shouldn't ever have to do anything more than blast out the thru-hull with water through your hose nozzle to keep the vent open. It's only when you neglect it and let it become blocked that it's necessary to resort to "extreme" measures to clear it. If you accidentally overflow your holding tank, rinse the tank out when you pump out, then overflow the tank out the vent with clean water to rinse out the vent line and the thru-hull--something you should do after every 4-6 pumpout/dumpouts anyway. As for how to clear a vent that you've neglected until it's become so cloggged up you can't open it by poking around the thru-hull with a screw driver and/or flush it out with water, I can't tell you the "best" way because vent lines aren't the same on all boats. I CAN tell you that you try some of the suggestions I've seen here at your own peril, though! IMO, if it's that bad, you'd be better off just cleaning out the thru-hull and replacing the vent hose. Some of y'all get upset that I harp more on prevention than cure...but 99% of cures wouldn't be necessary if you hadn't neglected prevention...and preventing problems is always easier--and usually cheaper--than curing 'em.
If you do it on a regular basis, you shouldn't ever have to do anything more than blast out the thru-hull with water through your hose nozzle to keep the vent open. It's only when you neglect it and let it become blocked that it's necessary to resort to "extreme" measures to clear it. If you accidentally overflow your holding tank, rinse the tank out when you pump out, then overflow the tank out the vent with clean water to rinse out the vent line and the thru-hull--something you should do after every 4-6 pumpout/dumpouts anyway. As for how to clear a vent that you've neglected until it's become so cloggged up you can't open it by poking around the thru-hull with a screw driver and/or flush it out with water, I can't tell you the "best" way because vent lines aren't the same on all boats. I CAN tell you that you try some of the suggestions I've seen here at your own peril, though! IMO, if it's that bad, you'd be better off just cleaning out the thru-hull and replacing the vent hose. Some of y'all get upset that I harp more on prevention than cure...but 99% of cures wouldn't be necessary if you hadn't neglected prevention...and preventing problems is always easier--and usually cheaper--than curing 'em.
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