It appears (without digging into it) that the sediment may have
solidified at about the halfway mark over some years and a small area
around the pickup has been pumping the top surface out only. I took
the pickup tube out and it was crusted up on the outside with crud
(to put it politely)
If you were able to remove the pickup tube from the top of the tank I
assume this left a hole where the tube came out. You could take a
stiff wire (unfolded coat hanger or old section of handrail) and mark
it for the depth of the tank and then prod around to see if the wire
does or doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the tank everywhere
you poke it.
Also make sure there is no hole or crack in the pickup tube between
its top and bottom. If there is, this is as far down as the tube
will pick up because as soon as the hole or crack is exposed the pump
will start to suck air. However this would not cause the pump to
slow down, but speed up as it no longer has anything to pump.
From your description of the macerator pump on the tank output line
slowing down, this would seem like it is trying hard to pull very
dense material out of the tank. Or it's pulling against a vacuum due
to a clogged vent. If the vent line proves to be clear and you can
pump the liquid contents of the tank out through the hole left when
you remove the pickup tube, then you can try to spray down the inside
of the tank with a high pressure hose nozzle directed at the sides
and bottom through the pickup tube hole. This might break up the
accumulated crud.
I've also heard that vinegar will break down solidified waste over
time. Again, if you can remove the liquid contents of the tank
through the pickup tube hole in the top you could pour in a whole lot
of vinegar and let it sit for awhile. Unfortunately I don't know
what "awhile" might be. I would think it would be several days at
least.
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington
>It appears (without digging into it) that the sediment may have
solidified at about the halfway mark over some years and a small area
around the pickup has been pumping the top surface out only. I took
the pickup tube out and it was crusted up on the outside with crud
(to put it politely)
If you were able to remove the pickup tube from the top of the tank I
assume this left a hole where the tube came out. You could take a
stiff wire (unfolded coat hanger or old section of handrail) and mark
it for the depth of the tank and then prod around to see if the wire
does or doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the tank everywhere
you poke it.
Also make sure there is no hole or crack in the pickup tube between
its top and bottom. If there is, this is as far down as the tube
will pick up because as soon as the hole or crack is exposed the pump
will start to suck air. However this would not cause the pump to
slow down, but speed up as it no longer has anything to pump.
From your description of the macerator pump on the tank output line
slowing down, this would seem like it is trying hard to pull very
dense material out of the tank. Or it's pulling against a vacuum due
to a clogged vent. If the vent line proves to be clear and you can
pump the liquid contents of the tank out through the hole left when
you remove the pickup tube, then you can try to spray down the inside
of the tank with a high pressure hose nozzle directed at the sides
and bottom through the pickup tube hole. This might break up the
accumulated crud.
I've also heard that vinegar will break down solidified waste over
time. Again, if you can remove the liquid contents of the tank
through the pickup tube hole in the top you could pour in a whole lot
of vinegar and let it sit for awhile. Unfortunately I don't know
what "awhile" might be. I would think it would be several days at
least.
____________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington
