Community Forums

Rusty years · 01-19-2014, 08:59 PM

I know this may sound crazy, but when I flush my toilet little black gnats fly up from the tank. What am I to do, have never seen this before.

TXiceman · 01-19-2014, 09:31 PM

You have drain flies. The easy way to kill them is to mix a strong solution of chlorine bleach and water and put it in the tank. Let is set for a day with enough water to cover the bottom an inch or so. Fill the tank up and let it set another day or two. Then dump and flush. It should get rid of them. They probably came up through the open hose when you were at a campground.

Ken

jesilvas · 01-19-2014, 09:35 PM

And be sure to leave your dump valve closed until you actually need to dump.

huntnski · 01-19-2014, 09:41 PM

To get rid of them immediately and give you time to do the above flush with bleach try spraying a flying insect spray down into toilet. The chemicals might not be good for your toilet system but it works, I've done it.

hes4all · 01-19-2014, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

You have drain flies. The easy way to kill them is to mix a strong solution of chlorine bleach and water and put it in the tank. Let is set for a day with enough water to cover the bottom an inch or so. Fill the tank up and let it set another day or two. Then dump and flush. It should get rid of them. They probably came up through the open hose when you were at a campground.

Ken

Most likely correct. I never leave my drains open when at rv park because of this very reason. I'll drain them every few days if needed.

BFlinn181 · 01-19-2014, 10:02 PM

While most likely gained through the stinky slinky left open, it's not unheard of them coming down the rooftop vent pipe to the black tank. Bleach will take care of the flies, larvae and eggs.

bigmichael · 01-19-2014, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

You have drain flies.
Ken

That's so much nicer of a name then what I've heard them called

scenic route · 01-20-2014, 08:53 PM

After seeing cockroaches the size of teacup Chihuahuas living under a CG's sewer cap, I never leave the manifold dump valve open. We have two 40gal gray tanks and two 40gal black tanks, each with a 'T' handle and valve. All stay closed until it's time to dump. AFAIK, no 'drain' flies or CRs in any of the tanks...and I'd like to keep it that way...

Things really are bigger in Texas!

bertnspike · 01-20-2014, 10:16 PM

Everybody always says "don't leave your tank valves open". I have never ever left my tank valves open and I have gotten sewer gnats more than once. It only takes one pregnant female getting past the valve to start an infestation.

How easy they are to get rid of depends on where they set up housekeeping.

tropical36 · 01-21-2014, 09:48 AM

We usually leave the gray valve open with no ill effects, but along these same lines, I've never understood the benefit of those hose slopes that obviously keeps the drain clear. I mean, now you've lost a natural water trap, like most every sewer drain has in some fashion and has to help, even if the CG's sewer system has a trap at each site.