Community Forums

harmans92 · 04-09-2005, 10:18 AM

Has anyone heard of or tried a method for keeping the black water tank clean by throwing in a bag of ice and some Pine-Sol after dumping? Do you leave it in until the next dump? Is all of the sloshing around OK? What tricks do you like to use for keeping the black water tank clean & fresh?

harmans92 · 04-09-2005, 10:18 AM

Has anyone heard of or tried a method for keeping the black water tank clean by throwing in a bag of ice and some Pine-Sol after dumping? Do you leave it in until the next dump? Is all of the sloshing around OK? What tricks do you like to use for keeping the black water tank clean & fresh?

C Driver · 04-09-2005, 10:36 AM

The bag of ice thing has been discussed and used by a lot of RV'ers. Added, then just drive around to stir things up then dump.
We have a black water clean out jet inside the tank which I use regularly. I have, a couple of times. filled the tank and added Rid-X and let it sit for a while then dumped it ... probably not a good idea at a campground or public sewer though.
Not sure what the pine sol would do other than smell a little.
There is a rotating jet type hose that fits down the toilet that looks like it would probably work pretty well

Jeff_in_The_Dalles · 04-09-2005, 07:40 PM

I have one of those rotating jet hose things, and it seems to work very well. I rinse out the tank with it after each dump.

Frankenstien · 04-10-2005, 04:39 PM

When in Storage I use a rid EX Type additive... + leave in around 5 gal of water for the Stuff to do "its Thing".....

Moby Bill · 04-10-2005, 04:41 PM

After and as part of clearing a paper pyramid, our dealer installed a No Fuss. I love it. It may be over kill but I use it whenever time at the dump station permits, especially at the last stop before putting it back in storge for a while. When the color clears and solid items stop passing through the clear connector, I am ready to prime it with fresh water and head for our next campground or storage.

Rick A · 04-11-2005, 11:44 AM

I too use the wand with the rotating head. It does a pretty good job of cleaning the tank. I also add a fresh 4-5 gallons of water and deoderizer after each dump to prevent any buidup on the bottom of the tank.

campingdude · 04-12-2005, 07:49 AM

A few bags of ice works, 3/4 tank of water and 5 miles of bummpy road - works great!

The Sequel · 04-19-2005, 08:19 AM

I don't have any personal experience with the Pine Sol, but I've read many times that it can damage your valve seals so you should not use it in the tank.

bobnkathleen hartman · 05-12-2005, 06:04 AM

We had a "clean out" sprayer installed in our TT before we picked it up a the dealers (this may be what Moby Bill called a "No Fuss") you hook a hose to it and to the camp/dump station water supply, and it rotates and sprays in the black tank, you use it to fill the black tank then dump it, and repeat as often as required to get a clean flush. In our older TT, we did not have one, and I got real tired of taking the screen off the bathroom window to put a hose down the john. First major warning: I have been told of campers who were not watching the black tank gauge when useing a flush-out, and overfilled the black tank with very bad results. Second Major warning: be sure to use a seperate hose for this, not your normal fresh water hose, as there is a slight potential of "back flush" into your input hose when using certain types of camp water taps, and you don't want to drink that stuff! We use 2 large plastic bins, the type with a clamp top, to store (a) the fresh water supplies (90 degree hose connection, a pair of pressure regulators, and the fresh water hoses; and (b) all the "black water" products...a clean out hose, hand held tube (JIC) and a box of laytex gloves!
On a side note, to avoid the paper pyramid, ask every one to run a full bowl of water down the john after having using the toilet. (Watch the real young ones, they like to watch the water go down and can overrun the system if you are not careful.)
Enjoy Life! It beats the daylights out of the alternatives!

AnneW · 05-18-2005, 08:33 PM

This is a subject I really needed help with! We just de-winterized our TT and hubby opened up the black water tank and some mold looking stuff came out! YUCH!! I told him about the ice cubes, and we're going to give it a try this weekend. Is there anything to prevent mold stuff?? Could it have been left over tissue that sat all winter? We flushed out the tank before winterizing, and had it professionaly winterized, so this was surprising to us. Maybe I need to get one of those brush things....

Power Stroker · 05-22-2005, 04:11 PM

I have used 1/2 Gal. Greased Lightning With a 1/2 tank of water shake

it up well and dump it. I sometimes prime the black water tank with a 1/2 gal. of Greased Lightning, and it does a fine job while camping no other adds needet.

RichR · 05-23-2005, 08:00 AM

AnneW-
I leave the grey and black drains open for storage.That should elimanate your trouble of mold.
RichR

AnneW · 05-23-2005, 02:06 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RichR:
AnneW-
I leave the grey and black drains open for storage.That should elimanate your trouble of mold.
RichR </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hmmmm.... I may have to give that a try! Thanks!