SewerSolution FAQ (frequently asked questions)
1) I need to move sewage over a long distance. Can the SewerSolution do it??
Using the 3/4" ID hose the maximum range is 30'. You can extend the 10 ft waste hose with 1" schedule 40 PVC pipe. The Full Hookup Adapter includes a connector for 1" PVC pipe. This allows a total of 100 ft of range over flat ground and still delivers waste at a respectable 4.5 gallons per minute. If the slope is downhill you can have longer range as the discharge from the pump is all liquid.
2) Will the SewerSolution pump uphill??
The SewerSolution will pump through a short hose uphill about 3' above the level of the tank. Any more than that and the rate of delivery is too small. Try this with some caution as asking the SewerSolution to pump too much uphill will result in filling your tank instead of emptying!!
3) Should I leave the SewerSolution permanently attached to the RV sewer pipe ??
We recommend that you remove the pump from the RV sewer pipe and replace the sewer pipe cap when not connected to sewer. The main reason for this is the possibility that waste may escape if you have leaky tank gate valve. Your RV tank gate valve should not leak. If it does you can easily replace the seals or the entire valve.The SewerSolution pump, hose and adapter will coil to about 14" across. The system is self cleaning, so it is easy to stow.
4) Can I use the SewerSolution to transfer waste to a mobile tank??
The SewerSolution adds extra water to the discharge because it is a water powered jet pump. The total load in the mobile tank will be about 140 to 150% of the waste pumped. In other words, if you remove 10 gallons of waste from the RV sewage tank you will have a total load of 14 to 15 gallons in the mobile tank. The actual amount of fluid added depends on length of hose and any uphill pumping. More hose and/or pumping uphill add more water to the load. Also see #11.
5) Can I use the SewerSolution with my RV pump as the water source??
Lots of people do this. An average RV pump will maintain about 10 psi running the SewerSolution so it will not allow use of long hoses or uphill pumping in this configuration. As long as you are pumping with a short hose or downhill you should be OK. Remember that you will be using up your fresh water! Also see # 11.
6) How do I use the SewerSolution at a site with full hookups??
When gravity draining grey water, disconnect the garden hose from the pump and install the inlet plug to prevent leakage through the anti-siphon valve.
The SewerSolution works great at full hookup sites. Just plug the Adapter into the campground sewer.. Leave your gray water open and it will drain continuously. Periodically use the SewerSolution to pump out the black water. Make sure that you have a properly installed Anti-Siphon Valve installed in your supply hose. (An Anti-Siphon Valve is supplied with the SewerSolution). When gravity draining grey water, disconnect the garden hose from the pump and install the inlet plug to prevent leakage through the anti-siphon valve.
7) How do I connect the SewerSolution ??
The SewerSolution connects to your RV sewer pipe with the common Valterra bayonet fitting. The SewerSolution connects to a regular male garden hose on the water inlet. If you have a white sewer cap, you most likely have a Thetford connector and will need a "universal adapter" to connect the SewerSolution (Thetford T05-2285VP).
8)How much Waste Hose do I need ???
We recommend using a short 10 foot hose where possible, like at dump stations. The pump delivers betters and it is easier to stow. Carry another 10 foot length of hose for places where you need more range. We sell a 10 foot Extension Hose with a splicer to make this easy.
9) Will the SewerSolution clog ??
The normal contents of the RV sewage tank will not clog the SewerSolution. Just like on a ship the rules are " don't put anything in the head unless you have eaten it first...." Things that can lead to clogging are low water pressure (need at least 15 psi), using anything other than toilet paper (no paper towels or facial tissue, please !). It’s best to leave the waste in the tank a couple of hours before pumping it.
Some reasons for a clogged pump are:
A clogged waste hose may cause the pump to clog.
Plumbing obstructions like tight elbows may cause clogs.
The Jet Nozzle must be working right for pumping. To check, first flush the pump clean and remove from the RV sewer pipe. Disconnect the Extension Hose and connect the garden hose. Turn on the water pressure. While set to the Dump there should be a strong, solid stream of water shooting through the center of the of the Discharge Tube. If the jet is not clean and straight the Nozzle should be removed with a 3/8" socket wrench. Any debris should be flushed out. The brass Nozzle should have a set of small plastic guide vanes installed for correct operation. Reinstall the Nozzle and again check for a clean, centered jet of water.
10) My dump station doesn't have a faucet to hook up a garden hose. Can I use the SewerSolution ???
There is a neat little product called a 'Water Thief' that is sold by many
RV dealers & accessories companies. It connects quickly to the cut off end of of a hose on one end and has a male garden hose thread on the other end. This gadget makes using the SewerSolution easy when no threaded garden hose end is available.
11) What if I don't have much water available??
If you have limited water, like when you are using your RV water pump (see #5) or when you are transferring to a mobile tank (see #4) you can try siphoning. Normally the sewage outlet will be below the level of the SewerSolution. This means the liquid waste may siphon out with the water inlet shut off if you first use the SewerSolution to start the flow. Solids may accumulate in the pump and not siphon out. You can see this in the pump window. Just restart the pump (water on) momentarily to clear this blockage and then stop the pump (water off) to let siphoning resume. This method can really save water, especially if the tank contents have been sloshed by traveling. Intermittent use of the RV water pump to save water works much better if your rig is equipped with an accumulator. This will provide a high pressure blast of water to clear the pump on demand.
12) My SewerSolution doesn't clean out my tank the way I expected. What's wrong ?
The SewerSolution is not a tank flushing gizmo!!
The major strengths of the SewerSolution is that it liquefies and pumps waste over a distance, it is self cleaning and it replaces the messy job using the 3" hose with a tidy job using a 3/4" hose. The tank flushing feature just shoots water back up your sewer pipe, like several products currently on the market. If you have a straight shot into the black water tank thru the sewer pipe it will circulate the flush water in the tank and that works really well. Otherwise, the SewerSolution will just let you fill the tank with flush water without agitating it. If you want really good tank flushing you need an in the tank spray unit.
Another good approach is to use products like Bio-Green which contain bacteria and enzymes to digest your tank contents making them easier to get out the RV sewer pipe. What often happens is that folks begin using the SewerSolution not realizing that they have lots of old crud built up in the corners of their tank. Once they begin to flush with the SewerSolution they find that waste just keeps coming out a bit at a time. They see this as the SewerSolution failing to flush out the tank. The SewerSolution is a pump. It will liquefy and pump the material that enters the pump inlet. If the waste never gets there, the waste will remain in the RV. The real reason for this problem is poor design of RV's not allowing enough vertical drop to the outlet. The SewerSolution works well with 'in-tank' flush nozzles that are currently available.
Another good strategy, if your RV design allows it is to put together or buy a rig like that used to flush leaves out of roof gutters. Use this to shoot water down your tank vent pipe on the roof. This will normally result in a vigorous tank flush. A tip if you are seeing excess water draining back down the sewer hose when backflushing; just stick a self adhesive hook on the side of your rig to allow you to hold the Extension Hose above the level of the RV tank. This will force the water to run into the tank and not out the hose. You will need a few extra feet of hose to do this.
14) Do I still use holding tank chemicals with the SewerSolution ?
If you used tank chemicals before getting the SewerSolution, keep doing it. Do try to avoid hard chemicals as they can attack the polycarbonate plastic used in our pump and cause failure.