Venting while pump out?

[Scotian]

I do NOT have marina pump out option and have a manual pump.
Do I need to open water thru hull or set Jabsco water in or water out levers to a certain selection.
Recently did a pump out. It took a long time to start getting fluids but eventually got it going but wondering if there is anything I should have done in advance.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Your holding tank must have a vent to allow air to be expelled from the tank as you add waste and flush water. That same vent will allow air to enter the tank as you pump the tank to empty it.

The delay you mention at pumpout could be due to one of two issues- (1) the pump you are using is taking a long time to prime itself (bad pump valves, air leaks in the hose between the tank and the pump, etc), or (2) the air vent of the holding tank is partially plugged.

FWIW, my bet is on a slow prime of your pump.

 

[Scotian]

Lets just say it flys out pretty good once it gets going so may just be need to bring it up the tubes and out.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Do I need to open water thru hull or set Jabsco water in or water out levers to a certain selection.

No...the toilet plumbing has nothing whatever to do with dumping the tank. However, the tank still must be vented...and a blocked tank vent could make it hard--even impossible--to dump the tank for the same reason it makes it impossible to pump it out: without a source of air into the tank to replace contents as they're removed, any pump--even a manual pump--will pull a vacuum.

However, I don't think that's your problem...'cuz your pump would still prime promptly and be able to remove at least a gallon or so before it exhausts the air in the tank and starts to pull a vacuum...but yours is refusing to prime. So I think your pump may need rebuilding and/or some hose connections not tight.

Still, you need to check your tank vent regularly and back flush it to keep it clear.

 

[bodonovan]

Yo Peggie

You mentioned rinsing the tank. With detergent or what? Thanks

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

You mentioned rinsing the tank. With detergent or what? Thanks

Water is all that's needed to flush out any sludge. Pump out first...then put enough into the tank via the deck pumpout--'cuz that sends the water into the tank at the bottom to stir up any sludge and hold it in suspension so it can be pumped out--to cover the bottom to depth of no more than about 6"...pump that out. Repeat...repeat..till you're pumping out clean water, then run a couple of gallons through any macerator.

This should be done 2-3x/year and especially in preparation for winter layup.

If you feel a need to actually CLEAN the tank (some people do, but I can't imagine why anyone would), do all of the above, then put a gallon of liquid detergent (don't use powder)--Tide, Wisk, Cheer--in a full tank of water and go sailing and tack a lot. Pump that out and rinse it again if you want to.