Community Forums

4GsCampinFam · 06-06-2020, 12:25 PM

When we were out on our last trip had a couple of minor tank draining issues. So the gray tank was almost full and wouldn’t drain when my wife opened the valve. She said it drained normal for a few seconds the went to a trickle. I shot water up the drain pipe to flush it out. Then the day we left the black tank wouldn’t drain past 1/3 tank. After driving home I went to a local trailer dump and the black tank drained with no other issues. Also flushed it out with no other issues.

My question is this..... Other than using product in the black tank during use is there anything you fellow RVers use to keep your tanks clean and flowing problem free?

I do add 5gal of water and product to black before we leave. Giving the chemical a good chance to mix up and just incase anyone needs a quick restroom stop along the way. Is there anything like this I should be doing to the gray tank?

van-gogh · 06-06-2020, 03:03 PM

This may help you, please watch the video and start a 1:30-time into video

4GsCampinFam · 06-06-2020, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogman635UT

This may help you, please watch the video and start a 1:30-time into video

Thanks Dogman, there's no video posted

450Donn · 06-06-2020, 04:23 PM

What RV? Age?
Quite possible debris in the tanks floating around and blocking the dump opening. Several options, inspection camera comes to mind. Its also quite possible the valves if the pull is cable operated that they are slipping and not working. Its also its possible the valves are not working.

Bigd9 · 06-06-2020, 04:33 PM

I always charge both my gray tank and black tank with a very powerful and dangerous chemical called dihydrogen monoxide. I never use any of the other so-called commercial store bought RV Treatment chemicals and so far after 50 years I've never had a problem with either tank. Just be careful with the dihydrogen monoxide. Thousands are killed by misusing it every year.

Tips. Never put anything like grease in the gray tank. I always drain any grease from cooking into the trash. I keep as much food solids out of the gray tank also. If the gray tank is clogging something you are doing is not right. The black tank problems are usually related to a bad solids/water ratio. The more water the better. I even will use a wash tub in the sink while doing dishes, and take the wash water and pour it down the toilet. That adds a lot of liquid to that tank.

Remember, dihydrogen monoxide is so much better than those silly chemicals you have to buy.

sshephard1 · 06-06-2020, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigd9

I always charge both my gray tank and black tank with a very powerful and dangerous chemical called dihydrogen monoxide. I never use any of the other so-called commercial store bought RV Treatment chemicals and so far after 50 years I've never had a problem with either tank. Just be careful with the dihydrogen monoxide. Thousands are killed by misusing it every year.

Tips. Never put anything like grease in the gray tank. I always drain any grease from cooking into the trash. I keep as much food solids out of the gray tank also. If the gray tank is clogging something you are doing is not right. The black tank problems are usually related to a bad solids/water ratio. The more water the better. I even will use a wash tub in the sink while doing dishes, and take the wash water and pour it down the toilet. That adds a lot of liquid to that tank.

Remember, dihydrogen monoxide is so much better than those silly chemicals you have to buy.

H2O?

rbTN · 06-06-2020, 06:46 PM

wrong post

Reevesfamily · 06-06-2020, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4GsCampinFam

When we were out on our last trip had a couple of minor tank draining issues. So the gray tank was almost full and wouldn’t drain when my wife opened the valve. She said it drained normal for a few seconds the went to a trickle. I shot water up the drain pipe to flush it out. Then the day we left the black tank wouldn’t drain past 1/3 tank. After driving home I went to a local trailer dump and the black tank drained with no other issues. Also flushed it out with no other issues.

My question is this..... Other than using product in the black tank during use is there anything you fellow RVers use to keep your tanks clean and flowing problem free?

I do add 5gal of water and product to black before we leave. Giving the chemical a good chance to mix up and just incase anyone needs a quick restroom stop along the way. Is there anything like this I should be doing to the gray tank?

All the other posts should be helpful as well, but I've never had any trouble with either in over 30 years. Always leave both valves closed until they get at least 3/4 full while at the site. Then flush and recharge black tank. Always roll with about 10-15 gallons of water mixture while traveling, mixture of water/camco treatment/Ajax dish soap - about a 5 second squirt. When dumping black tank I always dump and flush until it's completely clear and then fill the tank to 3/4 full on the gauge and dump it and recharge for travel. One of the most important tasks I have on our trips. I have also never had any smell issue. Never put any food scraps or greasy stuff down the gray tank.

deandec · 06-06-2020, 08:05 PM

Yep, water and more water. No other chemicals for 18 years in the same rig.

bddadles · 06-07-2020, 07:26 AM

Need more water. you are getting some blockage and the trip home stirs it up.

Jshopes81 · 06-07-2020, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deandec

Yep, water and more water. No other chemicals for 18 years in the same rig.

Lucky you, ours starts to stink without the blue stuff.

deandec · 06-07-2020, 01:47 PM

While full timing, our electric toilet drop chute plug failed.

We lived with a short open tube to the black tank below for a week until the parts arrived for repair.

Amazingly, no odor with an uncovered outhouse inside the rig and no chemicals added.

At first, I thought our xxxx doesn't stink.

But alas, it just must have been covered with adequate water.

If one is not using enough water so the time between black tank dumps is maximized, I guess there would be odor so chemicals would be required.

Bigd9 · 06-07-2020, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sshephard1

H2O?

How about oxidane?

It works just as well as boring old H2O

Have you all viewed the U-Tube video showing what a tank of water looks like when going down the road? There isn't much action going on at the bottom of the tank. Some seem to think its like a ocean with waves in there, but it is more like a backyard swimming pool without any swimmers in it.

dustyone · 06-07-2020, 03:25 PM

I was at a campground once that actually had a full holding tank it kind of did the same thing it drain a little bit roll well and then all of a sudden went to a small dribble dribble it wasn't good. I would wonder if that was your problem it is possible you know, Roots like to go anywhere and that includes in the piping to the drain of the campsites. Me and you have no issues now I'm kind of thinking that's what the issue might have been.