How To Repair A Borken Drain Cable On An Rv

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The waste valve, or dump valve, refers to the piece near the end of the sewage pipe that controls your RV'south sewer line. On the valve itself, at that place is a T-shaped handle used to open or shut the valve. When the waste product valve handle isn't working properly, your pipes may leak sewage or you may have problem draining your septic tank. If the handle or the extension rod connecting the handle to the valve is broken, this is a pretty straightforward repair. Nevertheless, if the valve won't close all the fashion or your valve is leaking, yous need to supersede the entire piece. This process may be a little gross since y'all're dealing with sewage, but it's a fairly simple repair that may save you lot upwards to $300 in service costs.

1. ane

   Order a replacement handle for your RV's waste valve. If the plastic or metallic T-handle at the stop of the extension rod broke off, society a replacement T-handle online. These pieces are not universal, so lodge a replacement handle from your bleed valve's manufacturer. Observe the manufacturer'south name printed direct on the handle or on a sticker near the waste valve. Telephone call the visitor or society a T-handle online and wait for it to arrive.^[1]

   • Companies typically only make i type of T-handle so this should be quite easy. Just ask for a replacement T-handle and they should know exactly what you need.
   • The handle often breaks after a few years of apply because it'southward used to slide the extension rod in and out. Repeatedly pulling and pushing the handle volition crusade the threading to vesture down and it volition eventually pause.
   • A replacement handle will cost yous $iii-10.

   Tip: There are technically 4 parts of the waste product valve handle. The valve itself, the valve rod that sticks out the side of the valve, the extension rod which attaches to the valve rod, and the T-handle at the cease. This procedure just applies to a cleaved T-handle, but y'all may need to supplant the extension rod if it'south aptitude, or the entire valve if it leaks.

2. 2

   Slide the extension rod out 1–two in (2.5–five.1 cm) and grip it with pliers. Go to your sewage line where you dump the gray or blackness tank. Either pull the rod out by hand or grip the broken piece with aqueduct locks and slide it out a little. Grip the metal rod backside the handle with pliers to hold it notwithstanding and keep it from spinning while y'all replace the T-handle.^[2]

   • You lot have 2 tanks on your RV—the gray and black tank. The gray tank is for your shower and sink, while the blackness tank is for the toilet. If you have separate waste product valves for each tank, you only need to supervene upon the broken handle.

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3. iii

   Plough the T-handle counterclockwise by paw to unscrew it. Go on holding the rod down with your pliers. Use your gratuitous hand to spin the handle. Keep turning the handle over and over information technology pops off of the end of the extension rod.^[3]

   • This is a great opportunity to wipe the threading down with a clean material. If the end of the rod looks a footling yucky, just grab a clean rag and rub the threading to remove any gunk.

4. 4

   Attach your new handle and turn information technology clockwise to install information technology. Practise not release your grip with the pliers to keep the rod from sliding inside the waste product valve. Slide your new handle over the cease of the extension rod. Turn information technology clockwise until the threading catches. When it does, continue turning it by hand until you lot can turn information technology no further. Release the handle and the pliers to cease replacing the waste valve'due south handle.^[four]

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1. 1

   Social club a replacement rod and handle for your RV and throw on some gloves. If your valve won't open all the manner or the extension rod gets stuck when you pull the T-handle, you must replace the extension rod. These pieces are not universal, so social club a replacement rod and T-handle for your specific valve. The visitor'south name should be printed on the T-handle or waste valve itself, so contact this company or look online to observe the extension rod and handle you demand.^[5]

   • Y'all may need to supersede the extension rod and handle if your rod breaks or gets aptitude after years of employ. A bent or broken rod will brand information technology difficult to open or close the valve, which tin keep your sewage from staying in the pipe backside the valve.
   • Exist sure to go both the aluminum rod and the T-handle. These pieces normally come together, but y'all may need to buy them separately from the manufacturer.
   • You may demand to measure out the rod if the manufacturer makes handles in a diversity of sizes. To exercise this, pull your rod out all the manner and measure the entire length of the rod. The most common size is 72 inches (180 cm).
   • This rod will cost roughly $v-10.

2. 2

   Drain your tank earlier replacing the handle. Become to the sewer line where you lot dump your waste. Take your sewer hose and hook it up to the septic tank or sewer line you're draining information technology to. Connect the hose to your valve and pull the T-handle to open it up. Drain your tank the aforementioned way you unremarkably exercise.^[6]

   • Slide a bucket nether the faulty valve if your extension rod is leaking when you open it.

   Tip: There are 2 tanks on your RV, the gray and the blackness tank. The greyness tank is for dirty water from the shower and sink, while the blackness tank is for the toilet. Drain whichever tank is getting the new handle—you do not need to bleed both of them.

3. iii

   Unscrew the one-time extension rod using pliers or channel locks. Pull the valve out as far as you tin can and grip the extension rod with pliers or aqueduct locks. Utilize another set up of pliers or channel locks to concord the drain valve rod in place. Rotate the extension rod counterclockwise to unscrew it from the valve.^[7]

   • Merely to clarify here, in that location are 2 rods connecting to your drain valve. The extension rod is the portion closest to the T-handle. The piece that sticks out of the base of operations is attached straight to the drain valve. If you need to supervene upon this slice, you need to replace the unabridged assembly as described in the next section.
   • You can probably rotate the extension rod by manus once y'all loosen it with the pliers or aqueduct locks.

4. 4

   Slide the new extension rod over the drain valve rod. Take the replacement rod and slide the open end over the threading on the bleed valve rod. Rotate it clockwise by hand until the threading catches.^[viii]

5. 5

   Tighten the rod by hand and install the new T-handle. Continue turning the extension rod by hand until you tin can't rotate information technology whatever farther. Once the extension rod is attached to the drain valve rod, screw the T-handle into the stop of the extension rod past hand. Plough information technology clockwise until you lot can't rotate the handle any further.^[9]

   • Dump any excess bucket waste matter in the septic tank you lot hooked the RV up to, or dump information technology in your toilet carefully and affluent information technology to transport the waste dorsum through the organisation.
   • Take your gloves off and throw them out later you're done. If they got dirty, wrap them in a plastic bag and tie it in a knot before tossing them out. Wash your easily thoroughly afterwards you're done.

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1. one

   Order a replacement waste valve and put on nitrile gloves. Different the extension rods and T-handles, waste valves are universal. They do come in 2 different sizes, though. Measure out the diameter of the sewer pipage and buy a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) or 3 in (seven.6 cm) replacement valve based on the size of your pipe. In that location are hundreds of suitable pipes online but you can besides buy them from an RV repair service. Put on some nitrile gloves since you may get some wastewater on your hands while doing this.^[10]

   • Be sure to get the valve with the extension rod and T-handle. Almost every valve comes with these pieces automatically, but double-check merely to exist rubber.
   • These valves become actually muddy over time and they may clothing downward. You may demand to supervene upon the entire valve if information technology leaks when the extension rod isn't open or the rod won't come out all the way.
   • These waste product valves volition cost $twenty-forty depending on what kind of handle you desire. Some accept caps that you twist to open up and shut while others have the standard extension rod prepare upward. Some of them have a born pipe to extend the location of the rod and some accept articulate pipes and so you can monitor the water as yous drain your sewage.

2. ii

   Slide a saucepan underneath the junction where the valve and piping meet. Take a saucepan or empty storage container and place it under the valve where the extension rod sits. Y'all are going to have this slice off and yous may stop up with wastewater dripping all over the identify, so exercise not skip out on this pace.^[11]

   • Unfortunately, this process may get a fiddling messy. You're dealing with a piping that carries waste, so exist prepared for some funky odors.
   • The waste matter valve is the rectangular slice of metal that rests 4–12 inches (10–30 cm) behind the sewer line where you dump your waste.

3. 3

   Drain and flush your tank to remove whatever existing waste. Before y'all can supplant the valve, you must flush the tank. Hook your sewer hose upwards to the sewer line on your RV and attach the other stop to a septic tank or campsite sewer line. Open up the valve and drain the tank completely the same way you normally practice. Close the valve by pushing the T-handle in all the way and cap your sewer lines when you lot're done.^[12]

   • You can make the system even cleaner if you'd like by flushing the toilet repeatedly or running the shower depending on which tank you lot're cleaning. This will send clean water through the pipes to articulate them out.
   • If y'all take a rinse setting on the tank, run it subsequently y'all empty the tank. This is the best fashion to clean the system out.

4. iv

   Unscrew the 4 bolts holding the waste material valve in place. There are 4 screws or basics property the valve in place. They are on the rectangular lip of the valve. Inspect these screws or basics to meet if you lot need a flathead, Phillips head, or wrench to take them off. Then, unscrew each of these nuts or screws to unlock your waste matter valve.^[13]

   Tip: This can be kind of tough depending on the location of the valve. If your waste matter valve is tucked under the vehicle, yous may need to crawl underneath or achieve behind the sewer line to access the screws.^[14]

5. five

   Slide the old valve out and lubricate your new flanges if necessary. Once the screws or nuts are removed, lift the entire piece out by hand. Take your new valve out of the box and read the instructions. If the 2 circular flanges are pre-lubricated, you're ready to become. If they aren't, rub them with a liberal amount of petroleum jelly to protect them during installation.^[15]

   • The new valve volition come in ii parts with 2 circular flanges. The 2 halves of the valve fit into one some other and flanges fit around each pipage connection on the sides of the valve to reduce friction between the valve and the sewer pipes.
   • If your waste material valve's instructions don't mention lubricating the flanges, yous tin safely assume you lot don't need to rub petroleum jelly over them.

6. 6

   Put your valve together and slide a flange over each pipage connexion. Take the ii halves of the valve and hold them together so that the openings for the pipes signal abroad from the center. And then, slide the flanges over the 2 piping connections.^[xvi]

7. seven

   Slide the new valve in betwixt the waste pipes. Accept the two halves of the valve and slide them in betwixt the pipes where the old valve was attached. Push the 2 pipes against the waste matter valve on either side so that the pipes are flush with the openings on the valve. Squeeze the valve and 2 pipes together and line the screw slots on the valve upward with the screw slots on the pipe frame.^[17]

   • This can kind of exist awkward to do depending on the position of your pipes. Only take your time and check each connection where a pipe sits over a flange to ensure yous get a tight fit. If there are any gaps hither, your valve will leak when you empty the sewage.
   • Yous can orient the valve in 4 directions since the screws are arranged in a foursquare. Pay attending to where you're installing the handle to give the extension rod room to pull out.

8. 8

   Tighten the screws or basics to end installing the new valve. Apply a screwdriver or socket wrench to tighten each of the iv screws or basics. Tighten all 4 screws or nuts halfway to ensure they're fifty-fifty before tightening them as hard as you can. In one case you can't turn the screws or nuts anymore, run some h2o or flush an empty toilet to make certain your new valve doesn't leak.^[18]

   • If the extension rod isn't congenital into the valve (information technology normally is), attach it to the valve afterwards by twisting it over the valve rod sticking out of the side.
   • Flush the entire system with clean water after installing the new valve to make sure it doesn't leak.
   • Empty the waste bucket in the army camp's septic tank or affluent it downward your toilet carefully. Discard your gloves afterwards you're done by placing them in a plastic bag and tying the handles. Wash your hands thoroughly when you're done.

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• You may odor sewage when working on your waste valve. If you accept a sensitive stomach or you want to avoid nasty odors, article of clothing a dust mask or respirator while making your repairs.

• The waste material valve is e'er located right behind the sewage pipe where you dump your grey or blackness tank. It is the piece with a foursquare frame and a handle sticking out of the side.

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Things You'll Need

• Pliers
• Channel locks (optional)

• Pliers or aqueduct locks
• Saucepan
• Socket wrench (optional)

• Replacement valve
• Screwdriver or wrench
• Bucket
• Nitrile gloves

About This Commodity

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Replace-an-RV-Waste-Valve-Handle

Posted by: lathamwormse.blogspot.com

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