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

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > MH-General Discussions & Problems
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-05-2011, 07:06 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
fansill's Avatar
 
Nor'easters Club
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 446
Black Tank Dump - How Often??

Good Evening All,

We just returned from another glorious weekend in the "Big Baby" and I have another question. Usually I dump the black water tank after every outing followed by the grey water. I do this even if we are just gone for 2 days and the black tank is only reading 1/4 full. Is this advisable? I have heard that others wait until the tank is at least 1/2 or 3/4 full, but sometimes that may take us weeks or even months depending on whether we get out every weekend or have to wait for a month to go camping again. I hate to take any chances on odors building up if I leave the black tank "cooking" for weeks between dumpings, but I can understand the reasoning behind getting the tank fairly full to ensure that the solids are being disolved.

Please give me your opinions and tell me how it has worked for you...

Thanks again.

Faith
__________________
Faith and Bob, Bitsy the Papillon and Bosco the Chi-weenie....RIP Truffles
2005 Revolution LE - 2008 Honda CRV Toad
Northern Massachusetts and the rest of the Country.
fansill is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 06-05-2011, 07:33 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Tallyrver's Avatar
 
Heartland RV Club
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 696
During the hot months in North Florida I like to flush every trip ,unless i go the next weekend .No use carrying around a bunch of toxic stuff .
__________________
Wayne and Debbie
2012 Redwood Fifth Wheel
2013 F350 Dually
Tallyrver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2011, 07:36 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,224
I dump even if not very full. Then refill with fresh water and dump again. Then add some water so tank is not completely dry.
bldrbob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2011, 07:39 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
WilleyB's Avatar
 
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 483
Don't know what others do, but I just add more water then dump it. I wouldn't leave a small load brewing in the tanks while the RV sits in the driveway either, but then again that's just me.
Second option, if you know it's going to be a short stay, use more water when you flush and flush often.
Willey
__________________
Vanguard VXL2000
Ford V10 Super Duty
Me the Missus and Gabby
WilleyB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2011, 07:42 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Go Dawgs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Kent, WA
Posts: 1,092
I usually dump every other trip. Unless I'm not going to be using the RV for longer than 2 weeks. JMHO
__________________
Arnold
2006 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40 PAQ
2017 Ram 2500 Big Horn 6.4 Hemi
Go Dawgs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2011, 07:45 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 682
My black tank is about 1/4 full and by the time we take our Fall trip,the tank contents will have had six months to "mature" and will not smell any worse at that time! In the event of "cooking", (your term)the tank vent system will take care of the off-gassing effect.I do drain the hot water heater for such a layover to avoid the sulphurous odour when put back in service.The trap for the washer/dryer needs to be filled to avoid gray water tank smells in hot weather.
__________________
04 Southwind 37C W22

DIY Rear Panhard Rod
exrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2011, 07:09 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
jzick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,193
We travel continuously for 6-7 months and then winter at the Fl stick and bricks with just a few weekend trips then. On our last leg of the journey to storage we will use the motorhome facilities as normal. The unit will then be parked for several months. During that time the black and grey may be used by me while I am working on it or cleaning and get some weekend use. By spring the tanks will be 1/3 to 1/2 full. The tanks will not be emptied and sit and cook - temps can get pretty high in Fl, even in winter. Never had an odor problem. You can do whatever you are most comfortable with - if you want to dump just add more water to the tank and dump.
jzick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2011, 06:35 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Grayson, GA
Posts: 905
I dump after each trip -- no matter how full the black tank is. After dumping the black tank and while the grey tank is dumping, I turn on the black tank washer and let it wash for about 5 minutes and then dump it again followed by about 2 minutes of more water with the valve shut after the second dump. That way the black tank is not completely dry. Also, after about every third dump of the black tank, I pour in some Calgone water softner in the black tank after the small amount of water is added. This mixture "sloushes" around while I am driving and it helps to keep the tank walls nice and slick so nothing will stick to them.
__________________
Dave and Karen -- '02 Ultimate Advantage 36 C, 350 HP Cummins, Allison 3060 Tranny, 2013 Ford Edge, InvisiBrake
David K is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2011, 07:31 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
wa8yxm's Avatar
 
Damon Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
BBFT (Back before full timing) I'd dump at the end of every trip, No matter how full.

If you feel the need for more liquid in the tank so as to get the proper "WOOSH" effect, ADD before dumping.. That's what the tank flusher is for, or hold a hose over the regular tank "Inlet" while holding it's valve open.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
wa8yxm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2011, 10:08 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Rodneykrantz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: West Columbia SC
Posts: 809
I was told If you fill the tank up with water before you open the valve it causes a swirling effect and emptys much better
Rodneykrantz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2011, 11:56 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 133
Quote:
Originally Posted by David K View Post
followed by about 2 minutes of more water with the valve shut after the second dump. That way the black tank is not completely dry. .
That way makes sense to me but the sticker on the coach, as well as advise I've read on the boards, say you are never to use the tank rinse inlet without the tank valve being open.

The only problem I could think of would be pressure build up in the tank but would think the tank vent would prevent that. Anyone else use the tank wash inlet to add water back in the tank?
__________________
Bill
Peddler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2011, 01:09 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
96 Wideglide's Avatar
 
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,723
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peddler View Post
That way makes sense to me but the sticker on the coach, as well as advise I've read on the boards, say you are never to use the tank rinse inlet without the tank valve being open.

The only problem I could think of would be pressure build up in the tank but would think the tank vent would prevent that. Anyone else use the tank wash inlet to add water back in the tank?
I do, and yes, mine has the same warning !
96 Wideglide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2011, 01:20 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
HeapBigEngin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 637
Faith....there was at one time an interesting post on this forum by a gentleman who provided a very detailed discussion of a process he uses to keep his tanks clean and odor free. It involves using laundry detergent, Calgon and ocassional bleach. As the second owner of this coach, I use this process on our Revolution's tanks....and it made an incredible difference. And the process is relatively inexpensive. Re dumping, a lot of good thoughts already presented. Suggest you do a search for that article I mentioned if it is of interest to you.
__________________
2003 Fleetwood Revolution DP
HeapBigEngin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2011, 01:32 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
DrDaveMA's Avatar
 
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Wales, FL
Posts: 3,113
The warning is so you do not "forget" the black tank flusher is running and walk off. If you do that you will ONLY do it once.

I flush after every trip, living in the Charlotte area it gets a bit warm and I do not want that toxic mix cooking in my coach. After I dump the black tank I close the valve (you can't get me to move with a gun ), run the flusher to fill the tank at least past the point before I dumped it the first time. Once the flush is drained I close the black tank and run the flusher again to put about 5 gallons in that tank (at the same time dumping the grey tank to wash it all down). I then throw a packet into a clean black tank until the next time we go out.

I also have a clear section in the dump hose so I can see when the black tank runs clean (if it takes an extra flush I do it). That's just 1 man's way of avoiding a "Robin Williams".
__________________
Dave, Bobbi and Fenway
2005 38' FDTS Alpine Limited, 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
Lake Wales, FL
DrDaveMA is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
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
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Black Tank Rinse DASA National RV Owner's Forum 2 09-02-2010 07:50 AM
Black tank valve open!?!?!? lp5151 RV Systems & Appliances 12 04-29-2010 12:00 PM
Black Tank Gusher!!! RickO RV'ing Humor & Crazy but True Stories 16 09-21-2009 04:52 AM
Black Tank Dump Valve Replacement herbhof Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 3 07-21-2008 05:15 PM
I saw my black tank today digNbubbs Monaco Owner's Forum 13 04-10-2008 08:47 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:01 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.