Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > General Discussions about our Montanas
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-20-2022, 04:04 PM   #1
TDeakins
Established Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Franklin
Posts: 24
M.O.C. #27981
Black Tank Backflow Lines

I have two white lines running up the wall behind the hot and cold water lines to my bathroom sink. Couldn’t be in a worse place. These lines are joined at the top by a black colored device of unknown purpose. One of the white lines is leaking where it is joined to this device. It doesn’t leak all the time or even often, but it’s a mess when it does. It has persisted since I bought it two years ago and I have just now determined where the leak is. At first I thought it was the water lines … it is not. Then I suspected it might be the lines to the clothes washer … again, it is not. My question is; what is this “rig”? … what purpose does the device serve? … how do I make it stop leaking? In doing research, I found some old forum threads that refer to it - or something like it - as a “black water tank backflow restricter”. Okay, so just what is that, anyway?
 
TDeakins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2022, 05:07 PM   #2
Carl n Susan
Site Team
 
Carl n Susan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,323
M.O.C. #4831
That is the anti-backflow device for the black tank flush lines. They are known to be a problem. You can replace it with another one - the brass ones last longer - or cut the lines down in the basement, join them together, and bypass the valve all together. Be sure to add an anti-backflow device at the black tank flush connector in the convenience center
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB

Carl n Susan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2022, 06:29 PM   #3
TDeakins
Established Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Franklin
Posts: 24
M.O.C. #27981
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl n Susan View Post
That is the anti-backflow device for the black tank flush lines. They are known to be a problem. You can replace it with another one - the brass ones last longer - or cut the lines down in the basement, join them together, and bypass the valve all together. Be sure to add an anti-backflow device at the black tank flush connector in the convenience center
Many of the parks I’ve stayed in have anti- backflow devices on their potable water points. Is this the same device I should install on the flush connection?
TDeakins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2022, 07:56 PM   #4
Mikendebbie
Montana Master
 
Mikendebbie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Austin
Posts: 2,390
M.O.C. #21044
I think these things are the backflow preventers Carl refers to…
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	07F5DD57-B995-46D7-BE84-4FCC77FFAFC9.jpg
Views:	26
Size:	127.3 KB
ID:	12022  
__________________
MikenDebbie Aggie ‘77 in the sticks near Austin TX
2019 Chevy 3500 High Country DRW
2018 Montana 3921FB
Aussie Gus + Texas Heeler Jimmy
Mikendebbie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2022, 11:11 PM   #5
Rondo
Site Team
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,749
M.O.C. #7560
Mike those are backflow preventers but not the ones that Carl is talking about. The two lines that Tony is talking about are under the bathroom sink and are connected to a backflow device for the black tank rinse lines. They have a real tendency to go bad and either cause a leak under the sink or even flood the bedroom or bathroom. It is a larger black plastic one way valve that stops the water from the black tank from back flowing into the main or campground lines. If you go to the Search Engine here at the top of the page and type in Black Tank Backflow you will see plenty of posting about this and a lot of the threads have pictures of the factory installed valve. A lot of us have replaced it with a metal backflow valve from the big name hardware stores in their plumbing department.
Rondo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2022, 07:10 AM   #6
twindman
Montana Master
 
twindman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,925
M.O.C. #5651
I had one of those cheap black plastic devices under the sink. Can't remember but something went wrong. I just disconnected it and took it apart - easy job back then. It is nothing but a tube with a marble in it. When water flows to the tank, the marble hits something that stops it from plugging the outlet. When reversed there is a perfect fit for the marble to stop the backflow. I just took the marble out and put it back together so I didn't have to do any refitting with the pipes.
__________________

Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
twindman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2022, 07:55 AM   #7
Wisconsin Retiree
Montana Fan
 
Wisconsin Retiree's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Coloma, Wisconsin
Posts: 200
M.O.C. #28036
I am with Carl. Eliminate it all together. They are cheap & fail often making a very avoidable mess.
Add an external back flow valve at the convenience center port. Done
__________________
Chuck
2019 3121RL 35 ft., 2020 3500 Dodge Ram SRW, Cummins 6.7 HO, Air Bags - Air Lift BT Wireless Compressor, Coloma, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Retiree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2022, 12:00 PM   #8
TDeakins
Established Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Franklin
Posts: 24
M.O.C. #27981
Thank you all …

… since my leak appears to be where one of the white pipes connects to the black box, I’ve decided to cut the white pipes off on the storage locker and seal them up. I will use a standard back flow restricter where the hose meets the washout connection. You all are much appreciated. Thanks again
TDeakins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2022, 05:04 PM   #9
Tree Top Turkeys
Seasoned Camper
 
Tree Top Turkeys's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Ashland
Posts: 64
M.O.C. #30303
Mine leaked as well. I now have the black tank flush line separated in the basement with two quarter turn ball valves. To flush my tank I connect start water then open both valves.
__________________
Thanks
Tree Top Turkeys is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
2018 montana 3791, back flow restricter, black tank flush, white lines

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:49 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.