You are on the camping adventure of a lifetime, and suddenly, the toilet won’t flush. Blockages in your RV toilet line, or black water plumbing system, can change a relaxing weekend getaway into a logistical nightmare. Don’t worry though, our easy-to-follow instructions will help you clear the blockage and get you back on the road as soon as possible.

Key Points About Unclogging RV Toilet Lines

• Make sure you are dealing with a clogged RV toilet line prior to cleaning it, as other clogs require alternate methods to resolve them.
• You may be able to unclog the toilet line with a toilet plunger. We like this one.
• For stubborn clogs in black water plumbing systems, particularly those in hard-to-reach places, you’ll need a premium, bacteria- and enzyme-based cleaner like Unique Clear-It to break up the clog.
• Clogs in black water plumbing systems, including RV toilet lines, require plenty of water and time to resolve.

What is a Blocked RV Toilet Line?

Clogged toilet lines usually occur in RVs when too much paper and waste is flushed, without using enough water. Blocked lines are more likely to occur in RV’s where the toilet is not positioned directly over the black water tank, or when waste and toilet paper need to travel through long distances of pipe. These clogs occur because bends and joints in plumbing and sewer pipes can easily become clogged with waste and toilet paper, creating a blockage.

For additional information about using RV toilets, and the differences between camper toilets and home toilets, please review our guide: Can You Poop in an RV Toilet?

How to Clear a Blocked RV Toilet Line

Clogged RV toilet lines, or black water plumbing systems, can often be confused with pyramid plugs because they share a common symptom: water pools in the toilet bowl because the clog prevents water from reaching the black water tank.

If you aren’t sure if you’re dealing with a blocked RV toilet line, make sure to refer to our guide: 3 Common Types of RV Toilet Clogs You Should Know About

If after fully diagnosing the clog you discover that you have a pyramid plug, please review our guide about How to Get Rid of an RV Pyramid Plug.

Steps to Unclog an RV Toilet Line

If you’ve determined you have a blocked toilet line, don’t stress, because thankfully, fixing this type of clog may be as simple as using a toilet plunger –- similar to the way you would at home. However, if a plunger doesn’t work, the process for clearing a RV toilet line is still very straightforward.

1. Turn off the supply of fresh water to your RV.
2. Hold down the flush pedal.
3. Use a toilet plunger to attempt to force the blockage out of the toilet line, similar to how you would at home. We like this plunger.
   • If the plunger clears the blockage, proceed to step 8.
   • If the plunger doesn’t clear the blockage, proceed to step 4.
4. Hold down the flush pedal and pour one entire bottle of Unique Clear-It into the toilet bowl.
5. Let the treatment sit in the toilet overnight, or longer.
   • Some clogs may be broken up in as little as a few hours, but for the majority of clogs, you can expect Clear-It to unclog your tank in 12-48 hours.
   • Stubborn clogs may require 72 hours or more. There is no amount of time that is too long to let the treatment sit, the longer the better!
6. Try to plunge the toilet again in the morning.
   • If the clog is cleared, proceed to step 8.
   • If the clog is not cleared, proceed to step 7.
7. Using ½” PEX pipe, or a toilet snake, try to break up the clog: push it down the line until it breaks through to the black water tank.
8. Once the blockage is cleared, turn the fresh water supply back on: hold down the flush pedal for a while to make sure residual residue and debris are cleared from the pipe.
9. Dump the black water tank.
10. Thoroughly rinse the black water tank: fill it completely with water and then dump the tank.

If you’ve followed the entire process above and are still experiencing issues, please reach out to our wonderful Customer Support Team. Our team of experts are ready to help you fix problems and get your tanks back on track.

RV Toilet Clogs & The Unique Method

While there is no magic solution that solves RV toilet clogs, there are a few rules that can help you resolve existing clogs, and even prevent them from occurring in the future.

Created over 30 years of solving RV wastewater problems professionally, The Unique Method was developed to help RVers reliably solve their most challenging wastewater problems. The process includes only two things — following the right process, and using the right products. The steps outlined by Unique Camping + Marine are simple, and easy to follow, and their bio-enzymatic (bacteria and enzyme) product formulas effectively eradicate odors at the source, breakdown solid waste, and handle sensor probe maintenance all at once.

Review: Unclogging a RV Toilet Line

Dealing with a clogged RV toilet line is certainly not pleasant, but following these simple instructions should help you fix the problem with ease. The most important things you need to clear a RV toilet clog are a bacteria- and enzyme-based cleaner, plenty of water, and time. When you use Unique Clear-It, you’re getting the strongest and most effective RV black tank unclogger on the market. Say goodbye to nasty toilet clogs, and hello to perfect camping memories with Clear-It.

For more extensive information about how to prevent blocked RV toilet lines, please refer to our guide about Preventing Clogs in Your RV Black Water Holding Tanks.