Keeping the group in the loop on the poop scoop

[kdmac]

So, heres' the scoop on the poop. Three days ago I smell "the smell"; I determine it's wafting up through the floor heater vents... I say to myself, "Oh Crap, this can't be good!). I head out and see the unmistakable sewer colored drip drip coming off the lowest point, OH SH*# , I said to myself, this is gonna cost me; my maticulously planned budget has just gone "down the toilet"!

Where else "can" I turn but to my cyber buddies. I have to "dump" this on someone and see if they can help me. I was grateful for so many caring responses. Lostnohio had a brilliant suggestion that it may just be "oozing" out through the vent at top (I guess if they didn't have a vent they'd blow up...HOLY SH#+, can you imagine!). I immediately emptied the tank. Next morning, "flushed" with excitement to test the vent theory I wiped (I would have parened the word "wipe' but I thought it was too gross) the drip area nice and clean, then ran clean fresh water through only to find 20 minutes later the drip had returned...so it couldn't be the vent.

I spent two days in a "downward spiral" of worry and angst about the warranty, would they pay or wouldn't they. I take it to the Tillamook Rv Repair (more than outstanding family-owned AMAZING place) I am prepared to "cra# out hundreds of dollars. I walk up to the counter, the owner, Stumpy, looks up from his paperwork, I tell him what I am there for and he says, OH CRA#, That's the SHI#&s isn't it? I laughed so hard almost "pee'd" my pants.

Two hours later they come into the waiting area and say, "NUMBER 1; there's no crack or damage. NUMBER 2 I'm only gonna charge you one hour labor.

He said it had just gotten full enough to go out the VENT...........YOU'RE BILLIANT, LOSTNOHIO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had put off dumping the tank longer than normal so I could time it to my departure date....don't do that....Dump them at or before 3/4 of a tank...

I know this post is a bit gross, sorry if I offended....I am usually not a "Potty" mouth.

[HorizonSeeker]

Oh, my, I don't think I can ever look at my tank levels again without this story running through my head. This is one lesson I am definitely glad to learn from someone else's mistake. Glad to know it all turned out ok.

[AlmostThere]

Glad it turned out a hap-"pee" ending!

BUTT:
by VickieP » Thu Apr 14, 2011 7:21 pm

But why did it leak/drip after you emptied it and put water in the tank?

I was thinking the same thing.

[VickieP]

But why did it leak/drip after you emptied it and put water in the tank?

[mitch5252]

But why did it leak/drip after you emptied it and put water in the tank?

Oh, just leave it to Vickie to ruin a funny story...

I had the same thought, though - why did it still leak?

Whew on the cost...lucky you. Congrats. And a lesson learned for all (or most) of us!

..

[kdmac]

But why did it leak/drip after you emptied it and put water in the tank?

Duh, I sure didn't explain that right at all...

It was two completely unrelated problems. they just coincided so well it seemed it must be one big nasty issue.

The vent leak allowed just a little sewage to go out the vent (and a little is enough to smell bad), and that little bit fell straigh down onto the under belly, had no part on the outlet where the drip was...

The drip was at the elbow on the outlet of the tank and the "adjustable ring" holding the two together was loose allowing the most tiny drip...so when I ran water through it dripped again.

I was right there with the guys today and saw it exactly the way they did. He dropped the belly and there was a splasing of sewage on it. Then we saw the ring was loose and once he tightened it they ran water through and no drip.

I had allowed too much to accumulate in the tank and the four months of nausea causing wind storms rocked and rolled that ring loose.

[sharon]

Probably because of the insulation still being wet, it would take a while for it to dry out, 'specially if it's not that warm there.

I've been known to have a potty mouth at times.....some of them love me anyway.

[retiredhappy]

Okay, that was a way too funny explanation. Glad it turned out to be a small problem.

[bluepinecones]

Glad to learn it was not a serious or expensive problem. I don't even have an RV yet, but think I'll remember this lesson thanks to your description.

[sharon]

Probably because of the insulation still being wet, it would take a while for it to dry out, 'specially if it's not that warm there.

I've been known to have a potty mouth at times.....some of them love me anyway.

Ok, so I was wrong..it's happened before and will happen again, but glad I was wrong on this one. That smell might have stayed in the insulation for a while. Glad it was all a simple fix, your bankroll is still intact and you'll be able to get on the road as planned!

[Rufflesgurl]

Glad you got that sh*$#& problem fixed!

Linda

[cpatinjones]

Good poop news!

[Bethers]

Good news, indeed. I've had people say their bathrooms always smell - and it's something to do with the venting. I've only had my vent cause the yucky odor once, and never did quite figure out why. It wasn't overfull that time - and when I boondock, my tank has gotten pretty full. But ... I'm so glad you didn't have a major repair and you were at a reputable place - and that you (and they) could see the humor.

[VickieP]

Also, my bathroom sink drains to the black tank and if I don't have water in the p-trap the odor will come up through there.

[rvgrammy1953]

Glad the POOP issue was solved....we have learned never depend on sensors, never leave black water tank open when in a full-hookup site, always use "the Blue" liquid stuff in the tank, and always "dump" every 7 days.... Keeps things in "flushing" order here....