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Old 01-16-2023, 10:29 PM   #1
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Slow draining gray tank . . .

I'm dealing with a slow draining main gray tank on my 2021 4113. Every once in awhile it will woosh empty as it should. I'm also not sure if I'm getting a complete empty or not.

I first tried some remedies to address food and sludge buildup - boiling water, baking soda and vinegar and dishwasher detergent. No luck with those three separate solutions.

I also purchased one of the clear elbows with a hose connection. Using a Valterra gate valve downstream of the elbow, I was able to backfill the gray tank and flush it several times. Seems to drain fine that way most of the time.

I believe I'm down to a bad vent or an obstruction in the tank (thinking a slug of plastic from when they drilled the tank out). Checking the vent seems like the logical first step. I only have one vent on the roof up front and assume that one is the black tank. For the gray tank am I looking for one of those capped valves (air admittance valve) somewhere in the underbelly? Any help would be appreciated.
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Old 01-23-2023, 10:05 AM   #2
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Have you tried pouring a bag off ice down the tank and immediately follow it by a drive with the trailer. The ice will hopefully break up what you have in the tank that's causing your issue.

I had used one of those alleged disposable black tank deodorants treatments and the lining got stuck on my fill sensors. No matter what I did, (trailer's build in flush/top wash wand) it would not clear until I did the ice method..

Good luck!
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Old 01-23-2023, 10:16 AM   #3
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For the gray tank am I looking for one of those capped valves (air admittance valve) somewhere in the underbelly? Any help would be appreciated.
That will not be in the underbelly, but in the cabinet under the sinks.
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Old 01-23-2023, 10:19 AM   #4
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an obstruction in the tank (thinking a slug of plastic from when they drilled the tank out).
That’s what my problem was. Mine had a straight drain pipe and I was able to remove it using a long wire. Mine would take about 10 minutes to drain 5 gallons.
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Old 01-24-2023, 10:10 PM   #5
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That will not be in the underbelly, but in the cabinet under the sinks.
Correct:

I traced the vent lines from both the black and gray tanks. They go up the wall just to the right of the stove behind the kitchen cabinets. I am not able to see the pipes above the base cabinets. I tried running a camera up the wall to see if the gray line tops out or if the two pipes merge before the roof. Unfortunately, my camera wouldn't track up the pipes far enough to see.
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Old 01-25-2023, 06:12 AM   #6
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You're at the point I would stop and post here. So I'm just wishing you good fortune on finding the problem.
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Old 01-30-2023, 10:10 AM   #7
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I would think an obstruction, since it changes when you backfill. the vent would make the drains gurgle when it is struggling to replace the fluid with air.
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Old 01-31-2023, 08:25 AM   #8
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I would think an obstruction, since it changes when you backfill. the vent would make the drains gurgle when it is struggling to replace the fluid with air.
I do get the gurgling when the tank drains slow. Other times, like when we have water in the shower or the sink (full tank), we get a good drain. It varies though, sometimes it'll be a whoosh with a lot of rumbling. Other times, what would look like a normal (medium flow) drain.

I saw a video where a guy located his gray tank air admittance valve behind a wall. He ended up extending the pipe up to the roof where he installed a traditional roof vent. Since I lost sight of the gray tank vent behind my kitchen cabinets, I wouldn't be surprised if this was my situation. Either that, or the gray tank vent has to join with the black tank vent before the roof, which I think would be a no no.
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Old 01-31-2023, 10:25 AM   #9
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I do get the gurgling when the tank drains slow. Other times, like when we have water in the shower or the sink (full tank), we get a good drain. It varies though, sometimes it'll be a whoosh with a lot of rumbling. Other times, what would look like a normal (medium flow) drain.

I saw a video where a guy located his gray tank air admittance valve behind a wall. He ended up extending the pipe up to the roof where he installed a traditional roof vent. Since I lost sight of the gray tank vent behind my kitchen cabinets, I wouldn't be surprised if this was my situation. Either that, or the gray tank vent has to join with the black tank vent before the roof, which I think would be a no no.
Just remember that they are not necessarily built to building code. I would check the roof for the vent. I would think there is one for each tank through a wall to the roof. You might be able to contact Jayco about if they have a plumbing diagram as to where and what is thins are located.
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Old 01-31-2023, 12:01 PM   #10
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I realized on my Montana, I have to literally lean it to the DS to fully drain the tank. I don't know if the tank is mounted weird or what but noticed a dramatic difference in the draining. I have a clear elbow at the drain and as soon as I leaned it to the DS, it gushed out.
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Old 01-31-2023, 09:03 PM   #11
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Just remember that they are not necessarily built to building code. I would check the roof for the vent. I would think there is one for each tank through a wall to the roof. You might be able to contact Jayco about if they have a plumbing diagram as to where and what is thins are located.
I have two vents in the rear but only one up front. Assuming the one up front is the black. Unless, like I said, the two merge into one.
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Old 02-05-2023, 01:01 PM   #12
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vent

Had the same problem with my 2020 24RL... Was the roof vent.
The black waste stack was left too long(high) from the factory.
The roof vent cap was sitting directly on top of the waste stack!!
Sometimes the tank would drain....other times not.

Had to remove the cap, shorten the stack and installed a new cap,
All good now
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Old 02-08-2023, 08:45 PM   #13
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The last few times I've drained the gray tank I've let it fill completely. Seems to do the trick. It drains as I think it should, a very steady moderate flow. I'm going to continue that process with the hopes that it continues to cooperate.

On the flip side, I believe that my tank sensor isn't working correctly. No surprise there, but it shows 2/3rd full most of the time regardless of actual level. That is, until it goes above 2/3rd and hits the full mark. When the water backs up in the sink or the shower I'm seeing full on the gauge.
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