Pumping Waste Problems

[Not-very-jolly-Roger]

Hello to all:
I have had the current 37-C for three years.... and in the beginning, before I knew everything, I could use the deck fitting for waste removal.... I did this at least three times sucessfully.... Now, when fitting pumper hose to fitting, viewing thru the sight glass.... nothing is moving....
Could this be from the (I think original) black wire reinforced hose collapsing on the inside?
I have visually inspected black hoses while under vacuum and they "look" alright, but it won't pump out as it should.
What I have done in the past is to "cut" the black hose where it goes into the holding tank and insert a smaller diameter hose into this, and "reverse" pump out works sorta okay.... And, when I pump this way, I flood the holding tank with fresh water being inserted via the deck fitting... and the water does go in to the holding tank for a rinse, and then pump the cleaner water out.... this leads me to believe that the hoses are not blocked.....
Suggestions welcome.... thanks, Roger.

 

[kloudie1]

Vent line is the next place to check, Roger.. make sure the vent hole is open at the tank, and thru the hose, and the vent fitting itself.. if a lot of air can't get into the tank when ya try to pump, not much can get out of the tank. Not a fun job but good luck with it!

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

I think Kloudie nailed it...

Blocked tank vent. Check the vent thru-hull first...scrape out whatever you find in it with screwdriver blade or whatever works. If there's a screen in it, knock it out...screens cause WAY more problems than they solve.

Then check the vent line connection to the tank...both the tank fitting and that end of the hose...scrape out what you find there.

Once you solve this problem, you need to learn how to maintain your system to PREVENT problems, 'cuz prevention is always easier, cheaper and far less of a PITA than cure.

 

[kloudie1]

Yes Indeed, Peggy.. I was thinking of your last statement about prevention as I lay upside down in the seat locker of an O-day 28 we were delivering several weeks back.. cleaning out the vent line for the tank as we motored along the ICW toward Destin FL.. Not the piney fresh smell I usually associate with that part of the world!

 

[RobJ74]

I just spent 2 daysof my 8 last trip taking apart my entire system. I had an 'impacted deuce' mid line. Once I changed the line from head to tank, and had enough spare change to do the waste cap to tank branch too... it still didn't work. I then snaked my vent lines... to have a mass evacuation of spiders crawling out my starboard side vent. The 4 year old then got the ok to run the system through its paces and all checked out fine. This is a 1994 Hunter 29.5.

 

[Guest]

Head winds

Both heads flushed normal during the survey. Keep in mind our new boat (91 model year that we purchased in 2002) spent most of her time at the dock with little to no use for several years. The admiral and I had been cleaning below decks to get Belle-Vie ship shape. We cleaned and checked the forward head and it worked normal, except for a loud thump beneath the admiral's feet, while sitting in the starboard setee. Did the same with the aft head. The first time it flushed fine, then it would not discharge; the water just swirled in the bowl.

I borrowed a plunger from my neighbor thinking the discharge line was plugged, but to no avail. So, I pulled the discharge line from the head, and after releasing a considerable amount of compressed air, went about attaching a city water hose to the line to clear it. The first time it seemed to clean it out after some rumbling. Again, it released compressed air when I disconnected the city water line.

I tried it one more time just to make sure. I remembered reading a forum article about plugged holding tank vents, so I pulled the starboard sole board covering the holding tank and disconnected the vent line from the tank. I then connected the city water line to the vent hose and looked to see if anything was coming out of the scupper. Nothing! Nada! Zip!

I took a small screw driver, and hanging over the side, inserted it into the scupper and gently poked at the opening. First I got a hiss, then a whoosh of water as the pressure blew out some little critter's nest or dried sludge that had plugged the opening. After reconnecting the vent and discharge lines, I checked the heads again and both worked like a charm.

Our standard procedure now is to follow Peggie Hall's advice:

1. Flush one gallon of fresh water through each head to clear out the discharge line.
2. Pump out tank, then fill with fresh water.
3. Pump out tank then fill with about four gallons of fresh water and repeat until clear water pumps out.
4. Using a special city water hose adapter that fits over the vent scupper I force fresh water back through the vent line to make sure that it is clear.
5. Add another four gallons of water and pump out again; repeat until clear water pumps out.
6. Flush each head with one quart of Odorlos mix.

Shortly after solving the plugged vent scupper problem the same symptom appeared again. This time it was plugged at the tank. Our SS tank has a 1/4 inch bronze elbow that the vent line clamps to. This elbow was plugged with a calcified material. I used a bent wire coat hanger to auger out this material.

As a closing note, thanks to those who have contributed articles to this forum, and especially to Ms. Peggie Hall. They have been very helpful to me in solving Belle-Vie's mostly minor problems. Belle-Vie's holding tank and head system remains trouble free after five years of cruising the PNW waters.

Terry Cox