No I have not tried, I'm not a mechanic. Oct 6, 2015. Apparently, when the tank was completely full, the weight in the tank, put enough . Successful. After the catalyst is added, there are only about fifteen minutes of working time before the resin "sets up" and starts . ther eis a hair line crack in the pipe, it runs along the top half of the pipe for about 8 to 10 inches. The grey and black tanks come equipped with vents that extend out of the roof of the RV. ~3 Part Video Series~#1: Best Method - Full repair including drilling relief holes and applying solvent and cement to inside of tank. Anyone have an Idea as to how to access the Grey Water Tank on this coach? Before and after the repair. With the wastewater valves closed, and the black cap off, place a 5-gallon bucket under the sewer drain port. Gray water really stinks. There will be a rubber seal on each of the flanges. 1. Submitted: 4 years . The repair resin is designed to harden within 8 . When checking this O ring, check that the sealant between the filler and the deck is sound too. Put a sealant or fast-drying around the pipe or shower drain. These are usually the black ones you see used for gray and black water. Turn on the water supply valve and let the tank fill. Rinse both tanks thoroughly and put some food coloring in one of them. from that square fitting back 1 inch. Another way to systematically tell. The grey water tank may be cracked. Sounds daunting, but this DIY fix is easier than you think. Flush valves allow you to rinse your gray water tank and flush out your sewer hose in order to break up clogs and clean your tank sensors. and not the top, made it a whole lot easier! Most drain the black tank first, then use the grey water tank to flush the hose clean. I next used 50 grit sandpaper to buff the surface of the tank for better adhesion of the epoxy. Description. It is essential that the area is 100% clean. Once the tank is full of solid waste, you may experience sewage backups in the toilets or slow drains in tubs and sinks. P-Trap Replacement - another way to permanently fix the leak problem in your shower drain is by replacing the P-trap tube that is running from the drain to the pipe. 2. You have to unscrew and remove the old P-trap tube. Now wipe down the area and the threads to ensure that it is clean of any grime, grit or residue. #20. Lift or pull the gray water tank up and out from the housing area. 3. Determine the Exact Location of Your System. Avoid driving or parking over the septic system. The plastic tank repair epoxy will usually dry an off-white color. They are Polyethylene plastic, and Plasti-Mend won't work. Fill the rest of the tank with fresh water and let it sit for at least one hour in the tank. If you take your unit to a big dealership for repairs, you'll pay a minimum of $129 per hour, but this price can rise to as much as $189 per hour if you own an expensive rig. Some heavier, more serious damage may call for the entire replacement of the tank unit itself, with the assessment from the rainwater tank's supplier. Let it sit for awhile and watch to see if any of the water drains out into your bucket. robert. The crack starts where you can see the white residue, around the edge of the flange, where it's cemented to the face of the tank. The last two outings we noticed clear water leaking from the bottom of the trailer after emptying the front grey and black water tanks. The shop replaced the broken pipe, reinstalled the tank, and repaired the plastic under belly. These have been neglected over the years and as a consequence, structural issues have resulted in cracking and leaking. This amazing product acts as a filler, adhesive and sealant all in one handy container. All went well until the tank was nearly full. A worn filler cap 'O' ring could allow water into your tank. No Dropping of Tank.#2:. Fill the closed tank with water and wait . Both grey and black water tank valves are open when I do this. This repair might actually work! Shut off the water supply going to the leaking water filter by turning a ball valve lever 1/4 turn (90 degrees). **Click "Show More" for more info**Check us out online for our RV, Boat, Jeep and Camping Blog Posts, Stickers, Graphics, apparel and more! Plasti-Mend is a specially formulated mix of plastic resins and solvents designed to repair ABS based RV holding tanks. Once it is completely dry, you may sand it down gently to remove the rough outer edges and paint it over with an appropriate plastic paint that matches the color of the rest of the tank. When ground water builds up under a drain/leach field . Keep the drill to use as a plug when you need to empty the container. Report post. Unscrew the leaking filter housing. This leaves me to believe that there is a crack in the tank rather than a fitting. Also on the JB . Posted September 28, 2011. Grey and Black Tanks- The Dirty Water Tanks. Close one valve and leave the other open. It's recommended that you do this with a garden hose either hooked to a sprayer system going right into the tank, or by putting the hose down through the toilet. Overfilling the holding fresh-water tank can also cause leaks underneath the camper or RV, as can failing to empty the grey and black water tanks before they overflow. Split leaking water tank If you find you have a split in your tank and want a temporary fix then the only action to tank may be fixed by using a silicone called the Plumbers Gold. That said, I started to look to see if it may be an existing penetration leak like at at vent or grey water . Locate the hose clamps on the gray water tanks valves or nozzle and unscrew them by turning the hose clamp screw counter-clockwise. Monaco Owners Club. Seal up the ends of the water tank, and then place it into the water. $25.00 at Dues Camping Center in Dickinson, TX. I then propped the tank back into position with pieces of wood and a few temporary screws, reattached the vent pipe with the neoprene coupling, closed the grey water valve, and turned on the water in the sink to fill the tank. Run water in it, if available, to rinse it thoroughly. but the failure being on the bottom of the tank. You will either need to open the drain valve and let some out, or go to the dump station and empty both the black and gray water tanks. . Posts: 61. Run about 5 gallons of water into the gray water tank through the kitchen faucet. Sand the area around the crack until the tank surface is roughed up to allow a good adhesive bond. My grey water tank in my airstream has a slow leak, coming out the undercarriage. Avoid any liquids or water to flow through the tube. 7/12/2014 matt with the d box leak! Mix the epoxy resin with its catalyst. To help isolate the leak I would first test all the plumbing for the gray water tank. Instead of having a multitude of different tools on standby to fix leaks, all you need is one cartridge of CT1 in your hand. Concrete tanks which have water continuously have water sitting around the base increase the potential for . ******Grey Water tank valve leak******. Leave both valves open overnight or long enough for the pipe to drip completely dry. When a tank is flooded, water will come through any opening, including the inlet and outlet pipes, the manhole cover or the cover to the tank. The black tank holds all of the toilet water and its accompanying human waste. Posts: 54. If hot water alone did not work, there are also a variety of chemicals that you can use to unclog an RV's grey tank. Over time, all rainwater tanks suffer wear and tear and may need maintenance repairs once in a while. In order to repair the tank properly, you'll have to drain the tank below the level of the crack before starting the repair process. Every time we would use the kitchen sink or use the shower the grey water would run out the hose connection end cap well it would leak out through it. Unclog The Grey Tank With Drain Cleaner. Cracked RV Waste Tank Repair Video. First, the tank needs to be pumped out and cleaned. Currently, septic installers place a drain around the outside of the drain/leach field area to remove excess ground water. Flush your tanks by refilling them, and draining them again. Mar 31, 2015. Hooking Up Your Sewer Hose & Draining Tanks First Time Camper's Series: Episode 7. If the hole is in the bottom, just clean well and seal using sikaflex, the grey one. ). 2. As I went to dump our grey water tank, I noticed a slow drip coming off of the pull handle.NEVER a good sign! Over the course of our 6 months snowbird trip, I had to reapply several times to prevent leaks. Prepping the area of the crack If there were any previous repairs made with tape or water weld, be sure to remove any residue with a putty knife and wire brush. The water tank that your RV has to hold fresh water for drinking, showering, and the toilet, may have a crack in it. A geotextile membrane is then added over the crushed stones. said: New septic put in 6 years ago. Adjusting Roller Shades Easily change shade roll speed and stopping height. Repair or replacement is important as the damaged tank may allow . That will be the smaller wastewater valve. It will also work on the side but you will have to paint it with something because the sun will eventually break it down. The grey water is not holding in the grey water tank. If not already done, add a drain line connecting the septic tank to the leach field pipes. Lift the sewer hose from the end of the RV to the dump hole, so as to get rid of any remaining water in the hose. Terry H Past Texas North Chapter Leader/Moderator Staff member Nov 25, 2008 #5 I had a similar problem on the gray water tank for the kitchen. Allow ample time for water to accumulate and remove the waste water cap to see what color the water is. My attempt to repair the grey water holding in my camper. It only leaks when more than 1/2 full. Keep the rubber gloves on during the entire process to prevent unwanted . CT1 is chemical resistant, making it the safest option for sealing leaking tanks. My grey water tank in my airstream has a slow leak, coming out the undercarriage. The leaks are occurring when I hook up the hose and spray flush the black tank. READ MORE . Thoroughly clean the valve using a brush, cleaner (like Spray 9) and copious amounts of water. On a black water tank, remove the toilet and the floor flange and the vent pipe that extends up through the roof. To abstain from root damage, plant trees away from your septic tank. This cold water then fills the tank, which in turn pressurizes the hot water system in your RV. Posted By: rramjet on 11/25/10 10:53am. WATCH VIDEO . Repair vs. replacement. Now, push the tubing over the fitting flare, rocking it back and forth until it comes to a full stop against the fitting. Normally the piping is hard piped into the tank and it is a big task to re-do all the abs piping. I hadn't learned about leaving the grey Water dump valve open most of . Ideally, the material from your holding tank moves through the . Fill your new fresh water tank half way with fresh water. Connect a garden hose to the barrel (see image), then choose either the "tank" setting or the "hose" setting to direct the flow of water where you need it. Upon further investigation I found a crack in. Simply, cut the tubing squarely and ensure there aren't any burrs on the tube. Insert the threaded base of the fill valve through the hole in the bottom of the tank and secure with the locknut. !=================. This complete kit contains everything required for making professional-quality repairs in just minutes with state-of-the-art components and easy-to-follow instructions with photographs. Any leaks that form will accelerate the pace of heat loss and quicken the freezing process. . When the tank is empty, open the grey water tank valve. The black tank may be cracked. If this has a crack in it, you are probably going to see a very large water puddle, as these tanks hold . I found a shutoff valve which connects to the sewer hose connection and a bottom connection for the sewer hose to connect to. Total cost was $440.00. A very difficult product to work with though. Step 2. Clip the refill tube to the overflow tube. In this video, I give you a look at the kit contents and my latest cracked waste tank repair attempt using the G/Flex 655 epoxy. Dry and clean the area around the hole , cut a section out a lunchbox or the like and using contact adhesive glue a patch over the hole. Use biodegradable cleaners to clean the tank. Depressurize the filter by turning on the water faucet after the system until the water stops. You might have to cut the ABS vent pipe close to the floor line and use a coupler fitting after reinstallation. If water gets in here it won't get into your tank but it could run down the outside of the filler pipe and pool on the top of your tank. This may essentially make the damaged area of the tank invisible and perfectly functional again. Before proceeding, it's necessary to discuss each of these points as follows; 1. Pump the tank regularly. You could have a PEX fitting leaking and not the sewer line. When you clean the dishes, wash your hands, or take a shower, the grey tank is where the dirty water goes. Advertisement Step 1 Drain the tank. About 1 to 3 inches of crushed stone should do the trick. the pipe after pull open/close valve leading to the grey tank. Cold water enters the tank at the bottom through tubing from the fresh water tank. 1,103. #4. Once the water heater tank is full, the water heater uses either propane or electricity, depending on the type of water heater, to heat the water in the tank. This then may fill up the tank with groundwater, which may carry with it soil and silt. Septic tanks gradually fill with solid waste. Look for signs of bubbles making their way to the surface. WATCH VIDEO . You should also be able to see a small line of bubbles along the path . Use a 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch drill by hand and open a hole at the lowest point with a container under it. West System 655-8 G/flex Epoxy Adhesive, two 4.5 fl oz. Cut a fiberglass patch about 1 to 2 inches larger than the crack in all directions. Add 6 ounces of bleach for every 10 gallons of water in the tank. September 13, 2006: The first step in making the repair is to drill a small hole at the end of each crack. Condensation & Moisture What to look for & how to deal with it. If your poly water tank has a leak, you can easily fix the hole with a heat gun and a few minutes of your time. If by chance you see leaking water underneath your trailer or RV, then that is not evidence there is an overflow system in your model. Permatex Plastic Tank Repair Kit repairs cracks up to 4 inches in length and holes up to 0.375 inch in diameter. Unscrew the nut from the fitting, and slide it back over the tubing. . There is a variety of unclogging chemicals designed specifically for use with RV's. Well, I just took out our travel trailer this last weekend and ran into an issue. Step 4 - Santize. The membrane prevents soil or dirt from slipping between the crushed stones and blocking the leaching bed. Monitor the tank for cracks or leaks - This applies to the network of pipes running to and from the water tank as well. Note: I made the comment that JB weld stays flexible and in thin layers it does, but the thicker you make it, the less flexible it becomes. So like for the gray water tank fill in through the shower while checking the sewer lines with the cover off the belly section. The faster it is to spot such signs the better. Average Labor Costs for RV Repairs. The carpet by the shower was also wet. Fill each tank one at a time and see if the leak occurs. Sewage from the black and gray water tanks are plumbed to this valve to allow you to dump the waste at an approved dumping station. CT1 is the ultimate sealant and adhesive. You need to give the cleaned-up septic tank time to dry out before the cracks can be filled. Drain tank, start filling and watch underneath with mirror to see if you can see where it is leaking. The tank's overflow system should ensure any water overflowing does not sit around the base of the tank. The black water tank drain valve is 3 The gray water tank drain valve is 1-1/2 #2 - Drain the tank into an appropriate receptacle, and flush plenty of water through the tank. I too suffered the dreaded Grey Water Tank leak a few years ago in a used Newmar 5th wheel that we had just acquired. Fill the sinks up one at a time and then drain the water, while watching on the outside, also run the shower to see if the leak starts. Flush Valve. Close your valves, and disconnect the hose from the outlet. 4. Join Date: Mar 2008. You must also remove the 3-inch tank outlet fitting and disassemble the termination assembly. You want to make sure your water system is all buttoned up before the first frost arrives. I'm looking for someone local who can come on site to take a look and repair it, if possible. Some dealerships have the attitude that if you can afford to pay several hundred thousand dollars for a coach, you can afford whatever . This is evidence of where the crack is. 3.) Once the installation is complete, use chlorine bleach to sanitize your freshwater system. This is a new silicone that was developed in 2013 just for plumber when requiring silicone to stop the leaking underwater and also setting, again under the water. This is what all the new tanks are sealed with, as lead solder isn't allowed in food grade water. It still required an RV Tank Repair. As mentioned above, there are as many as 10 possible causes as to why your camper could be leaking; 1. I have a pump chamber after my septic tanks (twin 750 gals), the chamber pump (100 or 150 gal ) kicks on when the level gets high enough. (aparently the system didnt get any antifreeze when it was winterized) is there something that I can fix it with. With all of the holes sealed, air will be fighting its way out through the crack which usually leaks water. Fresh or gray, you need to get the water out. Many thanks to all who responded to my the leaking valve on my grey water tank. Then, tighten the nut by hand until secure. Flush the tank and adjust the float as needed for the correct water leve l. The drain valve, or your RV's dump valve, is the spot where all your plumbing pipes for the holding tanks come together in your RV. Shut off the water after filter if possible. Slide the hose clamp off the valve/nozzle and pull the hose off the tank. This allows the liquefied sewage to drain or filter through the necessary 36 inches of dry soil. Remove those taking note of how they seat in the flange. The d box has 2 outflow pipes leading to a leach field with baffles etc. If your septic provider has confirmed the viability of repairing the cracked septic tank, the process will likely be as follows: CALL NOW FOR SERVICE: 1 (855) 925-0760. The grey water is pumped to my d- box about 25 feet. Reconnect the top supply slip nut. Others include unusual lush vegetation and the backing up of toilets and drains. READ MORE . My trailer's (26' Fleetwood Terry) grey water tank is leaking when full and seems like the leak is on the top of the tank as I've filled it three times with water to determine where it is and every time it spills water over the top edges. Many signs point to a leaking septic tank. The frequency of pumping depends on a few factors. I have a 2000 HR Vacationer with leaking Grey Water Tank. The grey water is allowed to pass through the tank and out into the underground drain field lines in your yard. These include standing water around the septic tank, foul odor, and a soggy yard. Make sure to keep the glue back a bit from the hole so as not to bugger the thread. The fitting probably has a cap twisted on. I live in Indio, CA. After the sewer drain hose is connected to the RV drain, and secured in the sewer, a 'T' handled pull rod should open the gate valve. This is to relieve the pressure the crack makes on the tank and hopefully stop the spread of the crack. Cracked Water Tank. Not the clear or whitish looking ones traditionally used for fresh water. Holiday Rambler Vacationer Grey Water Tank. The idea behind this "curtain drain" is to remove built up water. Here are some tips to protect your septic tank: During heavy rain, avoid digging or working around the septic tank. All the above flow-critical components can fail at any time, turning your beauty into a beast. I am pretty sure the fittings are pvc glued. Remove the four bolts from the valve head, and while lightly prying the pipes apart, remove the valve from the two flanges. If this still does not work, move on to the next solution to unclog your RV grey tank.