Post by chametzoo on May 17, 2014 7:20:55 GMT -8
Hi All,
I have an early 60's Mobile Scout (17) which was originally equipped with a shower and toilet room. Fresh water tank with electric pump and Vaillant on demand water heater, make for a nice shower situation ;-). The toilet is brand new, as is the rather large, and also new black water tank (possibly 20+ gal. mounted to the underside of the trailer frame, running the entire width directly below the location of the toilet in near the rear of the trailer.) Grey water from the kitchen sink and shower, drain directly to the ground; there is no grey tank.
My concern in this thread is the way that the black tank is currently vented. I have not had the opportunity to use and test the system yet. I've been told by the PO that there is a 1 1/2" standard pipe fitting glued into the top of the BW tank. In reaching my hand in the narrow space between the underside of the floor and the top of the tank, it seems there is some kind of screening on the fitting. Of course this vent will allow gravity into the tank for dumping, etc. But is this an adequate method of venting for the mitigation of odors…? all of this assuming that proper and regular tank dumping and tank cleaning are practiced. It seems that when the trailer is camped, that gases emanating from the BW tank could languish in the narrow gap (a few inches) between top of tank and bottom of floor in the absence of a nice cross breeze. I am not a plumber, but in my experience a waste holding tank, or any fixture tied in to a sewer, would be vented to daylight, above roof line if possible. (My understanding is that the original BW tank on this trailer simply vented out the side wall with a piece of 1/2" copper pipe.) Also, what's to stop sloshing liquids in the tank from splashing out of that vent fitting when underway? The PO insists, that this system will not leak and with proper hygiene not smell. Creating a through the roof vent is possible, but would require dropping the tank, relocating the vent opening and piercing the roof.
Of those of you with vintage rigs with toilet/black water tanks installed (and used), what is your experience with venting theses tanks? How is it usually done and what are the outcomes? For you plumbers and experienced trailer restorers out there… same questions.
Thanks all for your help!
I have an early 60's Mobile Scout (17) which was originally equipped with a shower and toilet room. Fresh water tank with electric pump and Vaillant on demand water heater, make for a nice shower situation ;-). The toilet is brand new, as is the rather large, and also new black water tank (possibly 20+ gal. mounted to the underside of the trailer frame, running the entire width directly below the location of the toilet in near the rear of the trailer.) Grey water from the kitchen sink and shower, drain directly to the ground; there is no grey tank.
My concern in this thread is the way that the black tank is currently vented. I have not had the opportunity to use and test the system yet. I've been told by the PO that there is a 1 1/2" standard pipe fitting glued into the top of the BW tank. In reaching my hand in the narrow space between the underside of the floor and the top of the tank, it seems there is some kind of screening on the fitting. Of course this vent will allow gravity into the tank for dumping, etc. But is this an adequate method of venting for the mitigation of odors…? all of this assuming that proper and regular tank dumping and tank cleaning are practiced. It seems that when the trailer is camped, that gases emanating from the BW tank could languish in the narrow gap (a few inches) between top of tank and bottom of floor in the absence of a nice cross breeze. I am not a plumber, but in my experience a waste holding tank, or any fixture tied in to a sewer, would be vented to daylight, above roof line if possible. (My understanding is that the original BW tank on this trailer simply vented out the side wall with a piece of 1/2" copper pipe.) Also, what's to stop sloshing liquids in the tank from splashing out of that vent fitting when underway? The PO insists, that this system will not leak and with proper hygiene not smell. Creating a through the roof vent is possible, but would require dropping the tank, relocating the vent opening and piercing the roof.
Of those of you with vintage rigs with toilet/black water tanks installed (and used), what is your experience with venting theses tanks? How is it usually done and what are the outcomes? For you plumbers and experienced trailer restorers out there… same questions.
Thanks all for your help!