Recently I've several intermittent episodes of holding tank "stuff" spraying out the vent of my cat 30 when pumping the toilet. There is also a usually, but not always, a little bit of back pressure on the pump when it happens. It seems to me there must be a partial clog somewhere but not sure where. I keep a "liquids only" policy except for marine toilet paper when the females have to go. I am planning on adding some tissue digester to the system when I get back to SD but wondered if this has happened to anyone else and how they handled it. I can't think of anything to ruin a sail quicker than being sprayed with holding tank "stuff". Thanks Ron P
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Partially blocked tank vent
which is pressurizing it. I'd also guess you tank is full to overflowing. When the pressure builds enough, waste sprays out the vent (if the vent were full open, it wouldn't spray, it would be a stream). It's an intermittent problem because just barely enough air can pass through the vent to slowly relieve some or all of the pressure between flushes. Tissue digesters won't help a bit. Read the article "Tank Vent Maintenance" (along with a few others) in the Head Mistress forum reference library.
which is pressurizing it. I'd also guess you tank is full to overflowing. When the pressure builds enough, waste sprays out the vent (if the vent were full open, it wouldn't spray, it would be a stream). It's an intermittent problem because just barely enough air can pass through the vent to slowly relieve some or all of the pressure between flushes. Tissue digesters won't help a bit. Read the article "Tank Vent Maintenance" (along with a few others) in the Head Mistress forum reference library.
Ron, the first thing I notice is Catalina!
Ron: The first thing I notice in your post is that you have a Catalina. Does this model have the vent in a Stanchion? If it does, you should change it over to a thru hull fitting that can be back flushed everytime you pump out. There is no way you can totally prevent overfilling a tank. You must use chemicals that break down the matter in the tank and keep that vent clean.
Ron: The first thing I notice in your post is that you have a Catalina. Does this model have the vent in a Stanchion? If it does, you should change it over to a thru hull fitting that can be back flushed everytime you pump out. There is no way you can totally prevent overfilling a tank. You must use chemicals that break down the matter in the tank and keep that vent clean.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Of course it's possible to prevent overflow
All it takes is enough of an attention span to know when the tank is full and to stop using the toilet when it is. If the tank is inaccessible for convenient visual inspection, install a gauge. Yes, I know that the vents on some tanks allow spillage when the boat is heeled. That can be cured by moving the vent. Do these preventive measures require a bit of effort...maybe even a little expense? Yes. But effort and occasional expense are part of owning a boat.
All it takes is enough of an attention span to know when the tank is full and to stop using the toilet when it is. If the tank is inaccessible for convenient visual inspection, install a gauge. Yes, I know that the vents on some tanks allow spillage when the boat is heeled. That can be cured by moving the vent. Do these preventive measures require a bit of effort...maybe even a little expense? Yes. But effort and occasional expense are part of owning a boat.
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Dan
Occasional Expense?
I'm looking forward to getting to the occasional expense part....be much easier on my budget.
I'm looking forward to getting to the occasional expense part....be much easier on my budget.
R
Ron
Thanks
Thanks for the advice to all ( I was hoping to get a reply from "The Head Mistress"). I'll hopefully get this fixed. I "thought" I was pumping the tank regularly enough (actually it had just been pumped out before the last episode) but, obviously, the tank warrants a closer inspection. Plus I use a lot of fresh water to keep the lines clear, maybe too zealous there.... Steve yes the vent is in the stanchion-it actually took a while to figure out where the spray was coming from. Thanks again. I'll re post when I get back to SD (the Navy sent me to Bahrain for a few weeks, nasty hot here) and let you know how things came out.
Thanks for the advice to all ( I was hoping to get a reply from "The Head Mistress"). I'll hopefully get this fixed. I "thought" I was pumping the tank regularly enough (actually it had just been pumped out before the last episode) but, obviously, the tank warrants a closer inspection. Plus I use a lot of fresh water to keep the lines clear, maybe too zealous there.... Steve yes the vent is in the stanchion-it actually took a while to figure out where the spray was coming from. Thanks again. I'll re post when I get back to SD (the Navy sent me to Bahrain for a few weeks, nasty hot here) and let you know how things came out.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Going to the pump out and actually emptying
the tank may not be the same thing. If the vent won't allow enough air through it to prevent the pumpout from pulling a vacuum--or even a partial vacuum--the tank doesn't empty. So when you get home and try it again, make sure the pumpout is actually pulling anything out of the tank, and that the tank is empty when you're done. If the vent isn't the problem, we'll go "back to the drawing board."
the tank may not be the same thing. If the vent won't allow enough air through it to prevent the pumpout from pulling a vacuum--or even a partial vacuum--the tank doesn't empty. So when you get home and try it again, make sure the pumpout is actually pulling anything out of the tank, and that the tank is empty when you're done. If the vent isn't the problem, we'll go "back to the drawing board."
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Ron
Will be back in August
Peggy, That makes the most sense. I just assumed the tank was empty when no more stuff came out. Hopefully a simple cleaning of the vent will do it. I'll repost in August when I get back and get a chance to check things out. Thanks again Ron
Peggy, That makes the most sense. I just assumed the tank was empty when no more stuff came out. Hopefully a simple cleaning of the vent will do it. I'll repost in August when I get back and get a chance to check things out. Thanks again Ron
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Do you know anyone who can
take care of whatever needs to be done to the vent and pump out the tank now in your absence? If the vent IS blocked, you have a potentially dangerous situation...because methane, while odorless, is flammable...that's why all holding tanks must be vented to the outside of the boat. The danger IS minimal, but I have seen one explosion when methane leaking from a pressurized tank into a bilge was ignited by static electricity, apparently during a thunderstorm. But there are a couple of other issues: If your tank is full and the vent is blocked, gasses other than methane created as waste "cooks" in the summer heat can't escape, pressurizing the tank...enough to make a real mess in your boat. And, if you're using "blue stuff" or any chemical, any sludge in the bottom of the tank can turn to concrete before you get home, especially if the tank hasn't been rinsed regularly to get rid of it. So I wouldn't let this go another month or more. IMO, it's worth paying a yard if necessary to open up the vent, pump out and THOROUGHLY rinse out your tank soon.
take care of whatever needs to be done to the vent and pump out the tank now in your absence? If the vent IS blocked, you have a potentially dangerous situation...because methane, while odorless, is flammable...that's why all holding tanks must be vented to the outside of the boat. The danger IS minimal, but I have seen one explosion when methane leaking from a pressurized tank into a bilge was ignited by static electricity, apparently during a thunderstorm. But there are a couple of other issues: If your tank is full and the vent is blocked, gasses other than methane created as waste "cooks" in the summer heat can't escape, pressurizing the tank...enough to make a real mess in your boat. And, if you're using "blue stuff" or any chemical, any sludge in the bottom of the tank can turn to concrete before you get home, especially if the tank hasn't been rinsed regularly to get rid of it. So I wouldn't let this go another month or more. IMO, it's worth paying a yard if necessary to open up the vent, pump out and THOROUGHLY rinse out your tank soon.
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Ron
Hmmmmmm
Yes that would be a bad thing to return to..... I am going to get in touch with a service at the marina that can do this kind of thing. I'll update when they take a look. Thanks once again for all the good advice. ron
Yes that would be a bad thing to return to..... I am going to get in touch with a service at the marina that can do this kind of thing. I'll update when they take a look. Thanks once again for all the good advice. ron
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