Do you leave black and grey tank open?

[TonyDi]

We close the black tank and leave the grey open. We don't have any smell from the tank after doing this for 7 years. I will once a year treat the grey tank with Happy Camper to keep it in good shape.

I was in Lake George NY several years ago and a MH had a major problem. He had closed the grey tank but failed to completely turn off a water faucet. Something a grand child could easily do. His grey tank filled, and overflowed the shower. When he came back hours later, water was running out of the coach. Lesson learned.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by TonyDi

We close the black tank and leave the grey open. We don't have any smell from the tank after doing this for 7 years. I will once a year treat the grey tank with Happy Camper to keep it in good shape.

I was in Lake George NY several years ago and a MH had a major problem. He had closed the grey tank but failed to completely turn off a water faucet. Something a grand child could easily do. His grey tank filled, and overflowed the shower. When he came back hours later, water was running out of the coach. Lesson learned.

Lesson learned should have been Don't use city water connection and leave it valved in when not in RV.
Instead fill fresh water tank.........use pump.
If 'leak' you can hear pump running

Also easier to turn pump off/on .....controls are RIGHT there inside RV....before you leave.

[SpaceNorman]

Never ... we leave both the black and grey tanks closed - dump as necessary - and close again. Firm believer that the more liquid volume being flushed - the more solids and particles will exist the tank upon dumping.

We attached the Sanicon system to our sewer connection whenever we're moving regularly (it takes long to actually empty the tanks - but requires less effort to hook up by eliminating having to deal with the "stinky slinky". When we are sitting anywhere for more than just a few days - we attach the typical "gravity fed" sewer hose to the sewer connection and use the gravity dump. Once connected, the hookup stays in place until we leave - and reducing dumping the tanks to pulling a couple of levers and maybe 2-3 minutes of actual dumping time.

Grey tank capacity seems to drive how often we need to dump. We tend to count showers / loads of clothes to determine if a dump is necessary. We've got a 60 gallon gray tank ... and need to start thinking about dumping once we've had 6 "events" (an event = 1 shower or 1 load of clothes) since the last dump. Other water use (hand washing, cooking, dishes, etc.) seems to be incidental in terms of impact on the holding tank.

[lanerd]

Originally Posted by sd75mac

Thanks,
After dumping, DW always adds tank deodorizer. And we never use the shower and only CG water for dish washing. Thus, the gray tank has mucho Dawn floating thru the gray tank dump.

I wasn't referring to using the laundry soap in the black tank when traveling to cleaning out the dump hose when dumping. Laundry soap mixed with the 2 gallons of water will slosh around in your black tank cleaning the inside of the tank and sensors.

Actually, no need to add deodorizers to black tank. It won't stink up the rv unless you have a problem with a seal, gasket or vent. Deodorizers are just a waste (pun intended) of money.

I actually use about 5 gallons of water along with a cup of liquid laundry soap (Oxy-Clean) and a 1/2 cup of Calgon water softener. The soap cleans and the Calgon leaves a slick surface that will make it more difficult for solids or toilet paper to stick.

Ron

[Kro1957]

We charge/service that black tank with a typical RV Black tank chemical and about 4 oz +/- of DAWN dish soap. We learned this from a FT'er who is also a RV tech. by trade. He also told me of a brand of toilet chemical he uses and I could not find that particular brand at WMart. Now I forgot the name of it.

Anyway, the Dawn is important and helps break everything down. A previous post also mentioned Calgon. Makes sense but I had not heard of that one before so may add that also. Especially when we are moving.

When we are camped, the black tank usually only gets dumped about once a week, but then again I rarely use it. I tend to walk to the campground facilities and use them. I do have the DW trained on how to service the LAV if I am gone on a trip and she has to do it. But, 5-7 days, it's dumped, rinsed and charged and then the slinky hose is rinsed from the grey tank. We close off the grey tank usually a day before we know that a blank tank flush is coming.

[lanerd]

Originally Posted by Kro1957

We charge/service that black tank with a typical RV Black tank chemical and about 4 oz +/- of DAWN dish soap. We learned this from a FT'er who is also a RV tech. by trade. He also told me of a brand of toilet chemical he uses and I could not find that particular brand at WMart. Now I forgot the name of it.

Why do you feel you need to add a black tank chemical? Do you have odors inside your rv? If yes, then as I mentioned previously, you have a problem with a seal, gasket or vent. If no, then what is the black tank chemical for?

Ron

[rkresge]

Originally Posted by lanerd

Why do you feel you need to add a black tank chemical? Do you have odors inside your rv? If yes, then as I mentioned previously, you have a problem with a seal, gasket or vent. If no, then what is the black tank chemical for?

The main job of the black tank chemical is to help break down the solids, including both poop and paper. Odor control is secondary.

Frankly, when I'm dumping the black tank almost daily, I'm not sure the chemicals have enough time to do any good. But we do it anyway.

Roger

[sd75mac]

Originally Posted by lanerd

I wasn't referring to using the laundry soap in the black tank when traveling to cleaning out the dump hose when dumping. Laundry soap mixed with the 2 gallons of water will slosh around in your black tank cleaning the inside of the tank and sensors.

Actually, no need to add deodorizers to black tank. It won't stink up the rv unless you have a problem with a seal, gasket or vent. Deodorizers are just a waste (pun intended) of money.

I actually use about 5 gallons of water along with a cup of liquid laundry soap (Oxy-Clean) and a 1/2 cup of Calgon water softener. The soap cleans and the Calgon leaves a slick surface that will make it more difficult for solids or toilet paper to stick.

Ron

Thanks, I'll try that.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by rkresge

The main job of the black tank chemical is to help break down the solids, including both poop and paper. Odor control is secondary.

Frankly, when I'm dumping the black tank almost daily, I'm not sure the chemicals have enough time to do any good. But we do it anyway.

Roger

WHY are you dumping Black Tank almost Daily?

Should wait until tank is Full/Almost Full before dumping.
High level/volume will carry the stuff down and out like a river moving boulders.
Dumping daily is like a small creek that barely can disturb a pebble.

Get a clear adapter to go between dump line and sewer hose and watch what flows out....that chemical is NOT breaking down stuff or TP

Again WHY dumping daily?

[rkresge]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

WHY are you dumping Black Tank almost Daily?

Because it's freakin' FULL, that's why!!!

[Kro1957]

Why do you feel you need to add a black tank chemical? Do you have odors inside your rv? If yes, then as I mentioned previously, you have a problem with a seal, gasket or vent. If no, then what is the black tank chemical for?

Ron
The chemical agent, like say Camco is composed of treatment chemicals to aid in keeping sensors clean, fresher smell, breaking down waste and so on.

With the black tank valve closed you are collecting waste and you want that odor minimized and bread down as much waste as possible to keep things in good working order.

We have RVed for over 40 years and never heard of not using some form of chemical agent in the Black tank.

[LETMGROW]

Originally Posted by rkresge

Because it's freakin' FULL, that's why!!!

You won't find a better answer than that!

I empty my black tank once a day also. Not because it is full, usually it's not anywhere near full. I fill the tank with clean water by holding the toilet valve open and watching the gauge on the wall. Once the tank is full I pull the dump handle and Whoosh the tank empties completely. I feel no need to rinse the hose unless I am going to unhook and move.
I also fill the gray water tank every couple days and dump it just to give it a good rinsing out. Normally the tank valve is open when parked with a full hookup.
I have a cap which screws onto the drain hose you can attach a fresh water hose to. Turn the water on, shake the hose a bit and the hose gets rinsed out nicely before you store it. I cap both ends of the drain hose when storing and traveling.
We seldom do dishes in the camper sink. My wife uses an outside portable sink my daughter bought her at Walmart some time ago. It hooks up to fresh water and we never have food waste going into our tanks. My wife is fussy and cleans dishes and cooking utensils before using the sink. The sink drains into a pail which I can dump into the sewer opening or if the water looks clean enough into the toilet.
One thing we are not is lazy when we camp. A little bit of effort and everything will continue to work well. It becomes routine quickly.
We have been camping since 1977. Been permanent for several summer seasons as well as traveled to various places. Along the way we have seen some folks struggle because they ignore the basic care of a camper system or they just won't get off their duffs and take care of things.
Lynn

[LETMGROW]

I should have also mentioned we use plenty of water each time we flush the toilet which is every time we use it. The answer to keeping that dreaded mound in the bottom of the toilet is water, water, water.
I do have a wand which connects to a water hose that can be put down into the toilet which will help break up solids if for some reason they do form.
I have used mine only before I store the camper for the winter months. It will help clean those pesky sensors and anything which may have gotten stuck on the inner wall of the tank.
Before storage I drain the tanks completely dry and close the valves then add a couple gallons of RV anti freeze to each tank and leave it there for the winter. At a couple dollars a gallon I feel it is good insurance.
Lynn

[rkresge]

Originally Posted by rkresge

Because it's freakin' FULL, that's why!!!

P.S. Our TT also has relatively small waste storage tanks.