maxmorrow
Birmingham ala.
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Joined: 08/30/2005
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I bought a used trailer that had been hooked up to a sewer and they left the valve open resuling in a hard "cake" in the bottom 1/3 of the tank. I do not move the trailer since it is set up at the lake. Is there anything that can be put in there to loosen up the problem. I was thinking of using a presure washer with a 90 degree on the nozzle. Any suggestions???? Thanks John M.
If you ain't the lead dog...the scenery never changes!!!!
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Glen41
North Texas
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Joined: 01/25/2008
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Dynamite 
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GSF
full-timing in North America
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An RV tech once told me that he uses a really long common screwdriver as a chisel to break up the pile.
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA USA
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Joined: 01/05/2005
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Septic tank digester available at hardware stores. Need enough water to make it work. Maybe half to three quarters of a tank. Let it site and work. May need a couple applications. Read instructions as most are package for 500-1000 gal septic tanks.
Bud
Suzuki XL7 pushing Pace Arrow
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weathershak
Delaware
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Joined: 12/11/2006
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I always have bad luck when pressure washing as anything I pressure wash gets sprayed back on me. I don't think you would want any of the previous owners memories sprayed on you. Keep the tank full of water and Rid X for a couple of weeks and it will soften up.
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tvman44
Southwest Louisiana
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enblethen wrote:Septic tank digester available at hardware stores. Need enough water to make it work. Maybe half to three quarters of a tank. Let it site and work. May need a couple applications. Read instructions as most are package for 500-1000 gal septic tanks.
Sounds like the way to go, maybe a long stiff rod to shove down the toilet to kind of break up the cake and get a better start on the septic tank digester.a
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lv2rom
Kansas City, Missouri
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Since you can't just take it out for a nice shake up drive your options are limited.....I like the idea of about half filling the tank with water and a box of septic tank treatment and let 'er sit for a while. If you can get under the rig can you "thump" on the bottom of the tank to loosen it up somewhat....the danger is a hard "pie" blocking your black pipe valve.....Brian
2005 F350 Dually -AFE air box/MRSP exhaust/Bags/Bilsteins/Energy Susp./Michleins
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Glen41
North Texas
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Yeah my first answer was a bit sarcastic. Duh!!!
I would try anything that came in a plastic bottle since the black tank is plastic. However be prepared to wait a long time.
I would very leery of anything that required yourself pounding on the tank with any tool whatsoever. Results could be quite unexpected.
BTW I still think dynamite would be a spectacular solution. Especially if applied to the original owner's new potty.
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RGordon
Atoka, TN
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I would think you have to remove black water tank from unit and if you cannot desolve it, replace with new!!!There should be a caution sign to not leave valve open all time on all rv's!!!!
Ron & Libby Gordon
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Bob Shaw
Newnan Ga
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Well it depends on how hard packed it really is. If it's still kinda mushy, what I have used is a toilet closet auger, you know, the kind with the spring on the end with a handle that you turn. I bent the spring at the end of the auger at a 90 deg. angle and put it into the tank and turned it to break-up the TP Teepee I had one time. I always carry it with my now. But, I don't think that would work if the stuff was dry and hard packed. I have used a tissue digester that I left in for a couple of days, but they recommend that you drive the unit to shake and break things up.
You might want to try the GEO Method and put in some calgon water softener and laundry detergent, and let it sit for a while to see if you can soften things up. Just be careful that you don't get big clumps that may block your drain valve.
One last option is, if it still drains ok, and the toilet flushes ok, just start using it and be sure to keep lots of water in it to keep the hard pack at the bottom covered with water. And if you use the GEO Method or a tissue digester, I'd think that eventually the mass will soften-up and break-up.
Good luck. Let us know how you make out.
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