Black water tank resource

[asantanajr]

Hi. In my quest for my first time with a RV, I found this youtube video about black water tank maintenance that I found quite useful. Thought about sharing here. I watched videos from different sources, but this one seems to make more sense to me. One thing in common to all of them: always flush with a lot of water.
You may disagree as an experienced camper, what this video is showing. In a few points:
- the black water tank is not a septic tank so don't maintain it like one.
- Do not keep the valve always open.
- The best treatment is one with bacterias and enzymes.
- Happy Camper is as efficient as only using water. (This may be the most controversial one)
- Always rinse your tank thoroughly filling the tank completely before emptying it.
- have the tanks professionally cleaned once a year or every two years.

Black water tank maintenance

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Professionally cleaned??? I'm skeptical of that one. To start with, what is a "professional black cleaner" and where would I find one?

Except for the valve not staying open, the rest I would just call good practice.

 

[asantanajr]

Just going to paste here what is mentioned in the video regarding your questions. These are not my personal opinions.
Having the tank professionally cleaned typically involves a service that power washes or hydrojets your RV holding tank, using back pressure spray to clean out all the accumulated material. This service is advocated for, and it is a good idea to get your tanks cleaned, perhaps once a year or every couple of years.
And here a good video showing tanks being professionally cleaned.

When the black tank valve is left open, the liquid contents flow out naturally. However, the solid waste, including paper and poop, stays behind and begins to build up in the tank because it is not carried out with the liquid. This accumulation forms a pyramid-shaped blockage.

 

[PancakeBill]

Welcome to the forum, what is your Black Tank Service company called and where located?

 

[asantanajr]

Thanks, but as I mentioned in the beginning, I haven't even started using a travel trailer yet. I have been doing a lot of research and found the video that I thought would be worth sharing for those who are new to RV like me.

 

[Kirk]

I haven't even started using a travel trailer yet. I have been doing a lot of research and found the video that I thought would be worth sharing for those who are new to RV like me.

I have a bunch of RV experience and after watching the video, there are things that I very much agree with, but not all. The comments about being generous with the use of water in your toilet is absolutely true. And while it is also true that your black tank is not a septic system, none the less the natural breakdown of solids into liquids is exactly the process in the first section of a septic tank. The natural action that happens in the first section of a septic system is what you want to have in your black tank. The catch is that the waste doesn't have as long as it would in the first part of a 2-section septic tank. Use of any additives is not necessary unless you are needing to dump every day or two but then adding a bacteria or probiotic product is the best choice. Chemicals are a very bad choice but most of those are gone from the market. Enzyme treatments are eco-friendly, non-toxic, but they are slower to act than bacteria products. As to the ledge that he talks about, that is only true of some black tanks but not all. If your tank has one, then there is some validity to what he says.

I suggest that you keep researching as there are many videos on the subject and some are better than this one. My guess is that he has a tank cleaning service, since there is no need for that if you maintain your tank properly. I owned one class A for 14 years, living in it as our only home for 12 of those years and I only used any type of additive if we had company and filled our black tank too quickly. How often you need to dump the black tank depends upon the size of that tank and the number of people using it. Our class A had a 60 gallon black tank and with just the two of us it usually filled in about 8 or 9 days. I made it a habit to dump every 7 days when sitting still for an extended period. An easy way to clean the waste tanks is to fill them about 1/3 to 1/2 full of water just before travel and then add a generous portion of liquid laundry detergent. When you arrive at your next location, make dumping the tanks one of your first activities.

 

[asantanajr]

I have a bunch of RV experience and after watching the video, there are things that I very much agree with, but not all. The comments about being generous with the use of water in your toilet is absolutely true. And while it is also true that your black tank is not a septic system, none the less the natural breakdown of solids into liquids is exactly the process in the first section of a septic tank. The natural action that happens in the first section of a septic system is what you want to have in your black tank. The catch is that the waste doesn't have as long as it would in the first part of a 2 section septic tank. Use of any additives is not necessary unless you are needing to dump every day or two but the adding one and a bacteria or probiotic product is the best choice. Chemicals are a very bad choice but most of those are gone from the market. Enzyme treatments are eco-friendly, non-toxic, but they are slower to act than bacteria products. As to the ledge that he talks about, that is only true of some black tanks but not all. If your tank has one, then there is some validity to what he says.

I suggest that you keep researching as there are many videos on the subject and some are better than this one. My guess is that he has a tank cleaning service, since there is no need for that if you maintain your tank properly. I owned one class A for 14 years, living in it as our only home for 12 of those years and I only used any type of additive if we had company and filled our black tank too quickly. How often you need to dump the black tank depends upon the size of that tank and the number of people using it. Our class A had a 60 gallon black tank and with just the two of us it usually filled in about 8 or 9 days. I made it a habit to dump every 7 days when sitting still for an extended period. An easy way to clean the waste tanks is to fill them about 1/3 to 1/2 full just before travel and then add a generous portion of liquid laundry detergent. When you arrive at your next location, make dumping the tanks one of your first activities.

He doesn't have a tank cleaning service, but his company makes an additive with bacteria and enzyme.
Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

My skepticism stems from my considered option that an annual power-washing, professional or not, will be a waste of time & money if you follow all the other recommendations. That's based on more than 20 years of RV life.

 

[asantanajr]

My skepticism stems from my considered option that an annual power-washing, professional or not, will be a waste of time & money if you follow all the other recommendations. That's based on more than 20 years of RV life.

Understood. Well, I am getting a used RV. Who knows what is in the black water tank... :-( i have been considering professional cleaning at least this time and follow all the other recommendations so I avoid other power washers.

 

[joerone]

Understood. Well, I am getting a used RV. Who knows what is in the black water tank... :-( i have been considering professional cleaning at least this time and follow all the other recommendations so I avoid other power washers.

Not a bad idea to start fresh with a professional cleaning...otherwise, plenty of water, enzyme based treatment a tank flush often

 

[House Husband]

We have owned and operated a MH for 32 years. Have never used a power flush. Never use chemicals. Our commode dumps directly in to the black tank. We add 5 gallons of water to our black tank after every dump. Probably use 3/4 of a gallon of water when using toilet paper. Most dumps are made when our black tank is very close to full. Never had an issue with the black tank. RVers are lobbied to by everyone that has something to sell.

Richard

 

[Gr8bawana]

I personally don't give tips or advice on something I have no knowledge about.

 

[asantanajr]

We have owned and operated a MH for 32 years. Have never used a power flush. Never use chemicals. Our commode dumps directly in to the black tank. We add 5 gallons of water to our black tank after every dump. Probably use 3/4 of a gallon of water when using toilet paper. Most dumps are made when our black tank is very close to full. Never had an issue with the black tank. RVers are lobbied to by everyone that has something to sell.

Richard

Not only RVers, but I watched a few videos and one thing in common was the use of a lot of water, which you have just confirmed. Most of the additives are not better than only water.

 

[Kirk]

Most of the additives are not better than only water.

You are getting a lot of good advice from people who have been using RVs for many years. Like Gary (his 20+ years is more like 40 years as is mine), I have never had an RV waste tank power cleaned. I have owned 6 self-contained RVs with waste tanks, two of them bought new and three bought used. As I said above, I do use something to clean the tanks occasionally but never saw any reason to pay for such service. Since they can't get into the tank except from the toilet opening, I seriously doubt that they do any better job, if as good, as I do with water and detergent. If you want to be especially sure that the inside is clean, rather than laundry detergent, use some TSP cleaner. TSP cleaner is a heavy-duty cleaning powder (Trisodium Phosphate) known for its powerful degreasing and stain-removing abilities, excellent for prepping surfaces before painting, cleaning greasy cabinets, removing mold, and tackling tough grime on walls and siding, but requires gloves and eye protection due to its alkaline nature. TSP is available from Lowe's, Home Depot, or Amazon, as well as most paint stores.

 

[PancakeBill]

As to power washing, there is a device you can buy that connects to your hose, it has 2 or 3 jets that spin with the water pressure. That is likely what this service uses. The trailer you buy may also have the black tank flush. Hook water hose to it and turn water on, it has one or more jets mounted inside the tank to rinse.

You do you, but paying for a power wash from an outside service is likely not much more than you can do yourself.

 

[asantanajr]

You are getting a lot of good advice from people who have been using RVs for many years. Like Gary (his 20+ years is more like 40 years as is mine), I have never had an RV waste tank power cleaned. I have owned 6 self-contained RVs with waste tanks, two of them bought new and three bought used. As I said above, I do use something to clean the tanks occasionally but never saw any reason to pay for such service. Since they can't get into the tank except from the toilet opening, I seriously doubt that they do any better job, if as good, as I do with water and detergent. If you want to be especially sure that the inside is clean, rather than laundry detergent, use some TSP cleaner. TSP cleaner is a heavy-duty cleaning powder (Trisodium Phosphate) known for its powerful degreasing and stain-removing abilities, excellent for prepping surfaces before painting, cleaning greasy cabinets, removing mold, and tackling tough grime on walls and siding, but requires gloves and eye protection due to its alkaline nature. TSP is available from Lowe's, Home Depot, or Amazon, as well as most paint stores.

Absolutely! I decided to share the video content I found hoping that more experienced people could share their experience here. It is easy to be seduced by videos done by product sellers/service providers, but nothing replaces the experience many of this group have and that are willing to share. For that, I am grateful and I hope this thread will also help other people new to RV like me.

 

[Firstime RVer]

Over the last nine years of use, we've generally only used an additive like Happy Camper for trips that lasted more than just a weekend.
If we start to pick up an odor, we will make sure there is at least 10 gallons in each of the black and gray tanks, adding a quarter cup full of Dawn before leaving for a trip, dumping as required, during our stay.
Finally once or twice a year, I'll send a fan spray nozzle, mounted on the end of a garden hose, down into the black tank thru the toilet. I rotate the nozzle as I insert it. It does a great job of knocking loose and flushing any remaining solids.
Its simple. effective and doesn't take much time or effort to accomplish.

And that's all there needs to be done to keep your waste tanks functional.

Safe travels and all the best of the Holidays.

 

[JudyJB]

I have been living in my RV for the past 13+ years, and all I have ever had to do was to occasionally use my flush mechanism to fill the black tank and let it flush out. That tends to help all the toilet paper and solids get flushed out. Also, I sometimes fill my black tank about halfway with clean water and maybe some dish detergent and drive around a few miles before dumping it. This keeps the solids and toilet paper loose so they dump out.

I do not store my rig, but I do suggest to people who live in very dry climates to add a couple of buckets of clean water in the tank when storing it so the mess does not have a chance to dry into a solid block!!

Never had it "professionally cleaned."

 

[Kirk]

One thing that none of us have mentioned is that you can add a tank flush system to each tank if you would like. They do about the same thing as a power flush would but you can use them ever time you dump. I installed one into the black tank of our fulltime class A and later wished that I had put one into the gray tank as well.