Vacuflush Mystery

The pump out boat arrived and I began to pump the tank as always. We are live aboard and are pumped out once a week. Mysteriously, despite huge suction, the tank would not release its contents. We tried the overboard discharge and despite the discharge pump coming on, nothing was discharged.

The tank is 3/4 full, the vent line appears to be clear. If I run the discharge pump and then open the deck pump out air rushes in leading me to believe the pump is generating suction. My only guess is a clog somewhere in the system.

Any advice will be appreciated. Howard

My guess is your vent is plugged, otherwise you wouldn't hear the pressure relief when you opened the deck fitting

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Therein lies the mystery. I disconnected the vent line completely at the top of the tank. It still won't pump out.

Did you push a wire into it to confirm it isn't plugged at the actual fitting?

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mbevins said:

Did you push a wire into it to confirm it isn't plugged at the actual fitting?

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I had this very thing happen to me once due to a combination of factors. Is the OP's holding tank part of one of those totally integrated Vacuflush systems? Otherwise I don't understand the reference to "Vacuflush Mystery".

Good point, just assumed a standard holding tank

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