Bleach & Your Black Water Tank

[Moxxi]

A fellow camper was telling me that, to control the black water tank odor, she puts bleach in her BW tank about once a week. (I have no idea as to how much she puts in).

Bleach comes in a plastic container. So. I don't think that the bleach would hurt your plastic BW tank. But, what about any gaskets, seals or the dump valve?

Or, is it just a bad idea altogether?

Seems like I've tried so many different products. All of them claiming to control odors, but none of them actually getting the job done.

I know that I haven't tried EVERY product (i.e., Happy Camper). But, I'm still looking.

[Barbaraok]

If the problem is odor in the rig that means the bottom seal on the toilet isn't holding water. That's what needs to be fixed. Putting in bleach is just wasting money. Nothing is needed except for water for a black tank.

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by Moxxi

. . . she puts bleach in her BW tank about once a week.

I don't think that the bleach would hurt your plastic BW tank. But, what about any gaskets, seals or the dump valve?

No, bleach won't damage your plumbing. Your black tank is probably ABS plastic and your gate valve seals are probably Santoprene. ABS & Santoprene are bleach tolerant.

Bleach is the most readily-available toilet deodorant.

[Old-Biscuit]

The RV waste plumbing system has vapor barriers......Water traps, seals, air admittance valves, vents etc.....Pretty much same as the S&B homes waste system


IF you SMELL waste tanks (black or grey---grey can be worst then black) then one or more of the vapor barriers is NOT working
Find/fix


Chemicals are not the be-all-end-all of odor controls.

[txcpl]

Your best friend in keeping blackwater tank smells to a bare minimum is WATER, and plenty of it. After emptying your tank, flush it with plenty of water. Flush until it runs clear. Every so often I fill the tank about 1/3 full of water and put in some dish detergent, and let it slosh around until the next stop. Then flush it out.

Bleach has its benefits, but is not necessary if your tank is kept rinsed out with water.

Some people choose to use a deodorant as well.

[scbwr]

I believe it's in my MH manual....no bleach in toilet/tanks as its bad for the seals. You shouldn't need bleach if the tanks get flushed properly. I've had very good results using Happy Campers:

https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Campers...campers+friend

[8824rv]

I agree lots of water is the best cleaner on a day to day basis.
On occasion, prior to a day or two of travel I will drain all the tanks and put two ounces of my Turtle Wash & Wax truck wash in them with a couple gallons of water (makes lots of suds in cold water). I will also use the rinse in the black tank to agitate the mixture even more. After sloshing around for 4-6 hours, when we arrive and set up, I drain the tanks. It does a nice job based on what I see in the clear 45 degree coupler on the hose.
AND!!!! Sometimes the level sensors even work for a few days.

[twogypsies]

I'd advise just to make sure you use a 'little' bleach. Bleach kills friendly bacteria which is needed to digest waste and get rid of those often talked-about pyramids.

Another thing that will keep that pyramid from growing is WATER. That's all we ever used. No smells.

If the small amount of water covering your toilet seal stays there and your roof vent isn't clogged you should have no smells.

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by scbwr

I believe it's in my MH manual....no bleach in toilet/tanks as its bad for the seals.

They don't live in your black tank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7hOqOGFDP4

[lwmcguire]

Concentrated bleach is very hard on the PVC glue, don't over do it

[computerguy]

Need to fix the root cause and not mask the problem.
My previous RV was a Monaco and I would get that nasty smell. Turned out the vent to the roof didn't make it to the roof. So the smell was venting into the rv not the roof.
Again, fix the problem and don't put a bandage on it.
To each their own

[pumper9x9]

The only thing I put in the black tank is water and 3 cap fulls of liquid Ridex.

[vito.a]

If you want a clean black (or gray) tank, put some Blue Dawn dish soap in it and let it soak, then rinse well. Do this a few times and it will get very clean.
I buy the large economy size Blue Dawn premium dish soap from Costco.

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by lwmcguire

Concentrated bleach is very hard on the PVC glue, don't over do it

In Weld-On's spec sheet (see page 20), Weld-On says bleach has no effect on their PVC/CPVC cement. The same is also true for PVC pipe itself.