- This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 2 months ago by
CLOC-Admin.
CLOC-Admin.- Topic
CLOC-AdminI am getting the dreaded pile in my blank tank on a regular basis and I am curious if anyone else is. I think I am doing things right when I dump: I always flush the tank, and I fill it for about 5 minute from the flush connection to flush the whole tank, then I let the flush water run until the discharge is clear. I put about 1 minutes worth of water in the black tank after dumping so it is not dry. We have only been using RV toilet paper so it will dissolve. I don’t use chemicals, as they kill the bacteria that are supposed to digest the waste. Any thoughts about why I am not able to get the pile flushed out when I dump?Posted: 6:36 AM – Feb 04, 2013We more or less have followed the same procedure as you for years (except that we do use some drop-in chemicals) and never had a problem with odors until our most recent trip. It seemed to me that there was some debris that was not getting cleared away using our normal flush procedure and it formed a place for new accumulation shortly after each dump. First I added a little dishwashing detergent down the toilet, then let the tank fill through the tank flush for a few minutes with the dump valve closed. Then I just let this sit for a few hours, then flushed it all out with a good long flush. I repeated this (minus the soap) a few times, and it seems to have gotten us back to normal. I would also probably try dumping a few large bucketfuls of water directly down the toilet a few times to try to loosen things up at the point where the accumulation is likely occuring.Posted: 7:35 AM – Feb 04, 2013Use lots of water, which is what keeps an RV system from plugging up. We like to use a bowl full and more each time. We start off by filling the bowl just like our home system has water in it. We use the same clean out procedure as you are, maybe running it a bit longer. We do use chemicals and travel with 3-4 gallons of water in the tank.
We also wait until the tank is about 3/4 full before we dump.
Posted: 7:48 AM – Feb 04, 2013We dump very similar to how you do but I use the Goe method when I fill my tanks. Here is a link.
https://sites.google.com/site/cbruni/
I don’t use the bleach part of this method, only the softener and detergent. I dump every Sunday weather I need it or not.
We have been full time for 2 1/2 years without any odor problems or solids building up.
Posted: 8:15 AM – Feb 04, 2013I like to travel with about five gallons of water (more or less) in the black tank. We do not use any drop-in chemicals in the black tank. We do, once a month mix a cup of dish washing soap and fabric softener in a five gallon bucket of water, pour it in the toilet, let it set over night, and then I give the system a good long flush in the morning. I am not sure if this is the best way to do things, but it works for us.
Nate
Posted: 12:46 PM – Feb 04, 2013In previous rigs, some without a black tank flush, we would dump ice cubes down the toilet after dumping, then drive home.Posted: 2:16 PM – Feb 04, 2013Traveler wrote:Use lots of water, which is what keeps an RV system from plugging up. We like to use a bowl full and more each time. We start off by filling the bowl just like our home system has water in it. We use the same clean out procedure as you are, maybe running it a bit longer. We do use chemicals and travel with 3-4 gallons of water in the tank.
We also wait until the tank is about 3/4 full before we dump.
X2
DonPosted: 2:43 PM – Feb 04, 2013One thing we’ve found that helps is after a dump/flush, we run the flush water about 20 seconds or so to make sure their is water before we start the next use cycle. We agree that lots of water is the key. Should also be helpful for the park(s) septic systems.Posted: 5:28 PM – Feb 04, 2013Comeupwithsomething wrote:One thing we’ve found that helps is after a dump/flush, we run the flush water about 20 seconds or so to make sure their is water before we start the next use cycle. We agree that lots of water is the key. Should also be helpful for the park(s) septic systems.X2 and I also used a little RidX about once a month.
Posted: 6:45 PM – Feb 05, 2013We are in one place for six months a year. The trailer never moves. We use the six second rule every time we flush. Hold the pedal down and count to six. We use Costco paper. I also dump every four days and flush the system for thirty minutes minimum. We use Happy Camper chemicals. We have never had a problem using this method.Posted: 5:52 AM – Feb 06, 2013Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate the information. It doesn’t sound to me like we are operating the system improperly. I’m going to have to think about what kind of physical problems in the tank could be causing a problem. Thanks again.Posted: 7:45 AM – Feb 06, 2013Hello,
I keep both of my tanks closed and let them fill up to almost full before I drain them. I have a short clear adapter I place in line of the drain hose so I can see how clean the black tank is while I rinse it out. I use drop in chemicals after every cleaning and we use Scott single sheet paper. When it gets wet it breaks down and almost dissolves and of course it is soft. The procedure I use when I drain my tanks, is to first drain the black tank completely. While leaving the black tank drain valve open, I pick up the drain hose so it is above the tank drain valves and I open the gray water valve, this sends the gray water into the black tank to help flush the waste out of the black tank. When I feel that I have rinsed out the waste, I close both valves and lay the drain hose back down in its craddle. I then open the black tank valve till it drains, then I open the gray water valve till it drains. Then I use the black tank flush to rinse out the black tank. DONE!
This works very well for me.
I think, the key to minimize the build up in the tanks is to keep the tanks closed.Just my $.02!
fred
Posted: 8:07 AM – Feb 06, 2013Zach.
Sounds like your doing everything correctly. Has this just started happening recently? Possibly your black tank valve isn’t closing all the way letting your liquid drain down slowly and letting the tank get too dry. Something stuck or a bad blade seal. Just a thought.
Chip
Posted: 8:10 AM – Feb 06, 2013CAUTION
If you have a “Washing Machine”, keep the Gray Valve “OPEN” during the wash cycle.
Nate
Posted: 8:44 AM – Feb 06, 2013Zach,
Our rigs are the same age, however when we picked ours up we noticed in the camp ground the Gray and Black water tank switches were labeled incorrectly. Gray was really the Black Dump valve and Black was really the Gray. I am sure you would have noticed this after two years, but it is another something to check.
Nate
Posted: 8:54 AM – Feb 06, 2013warthog wrote:Zach,
Our rigs are the same age, however when we picked ours up we noticed in the camp ground the Gray and Black water tank switches were labeled incorrectly. Gray was really the Black Dump valve and Black was really the Gray. I am sure you would have noticed this after two years, but it is another something to check.
Nate
Nate.
We had the same problem you did. When we got the rig home I was testing the valves for any seepage or leaks and discovered the switches were reversed. I unplugged them from behind the panel and reversed them to the correct switch. That could have been a real problem.
The reason I was checking them in the first place was to make sure the black valve was closing all the way. I had a problem with a blade seal on another rig we had and the black tank would drain slowly leaving it dry.
Posted: 12:36 PM – Feb 17, 2013besides doing pretty much what everyone else does, I let my inside tank sprayer sit and spray for a half hour or longer to help flush out anything left in the tank. make sure your dump valve is open while doing this….Posted: 6:18 PM – Feb 17, 2013I do, from time to time close the black tank valve when flushing the tank. It is necessary to closely monitor the time, for the consequences can be unfortunatePosted: 6:53 PM – Feb 18, 2013For 6 years we had a Cedar Creek Fifth Wheel and since 2011 we’ve had our Cameo. We’ve NEVER had a problem with our black tank. It could be luck or it could be that we took our dealer’s advice when we bought our Cedar Creek in 2005 and NEVER put toilet paper in the toilet. We didn’t like the RV paper anyway, so we use our Charmin and have a small, enclosed, plastic-liner can where we put our paper. When we realized how much paper we were using between dumpings, there is no wonder that people who put paper in the toilet have problems with the black tank–even if it is RV paper. There is still a residue that can build up. Steve puts in some chemicals or whatever after each dumping but other than that we do nothing else special.Posted: 9:59 AM – Feb 20, 2013Hey zachlaplante,
It sounds like your doing things right, so it may be that your valve is leaking enough to let the tank dry out, like was mentioned in another post.
We don’t move our rig but a couple times a year right now and use only water and geo method(dish soap and Calgon water softener). We use tank flush and refill tank with flusher and dump twice( 8 to 10 minutes to fill tank again) , then let tank flush run for 10 more minutes with valve open, close valve for 1 minute to put a few gallons back in tank for the next weeks use. I use a clear elbow to view waste water evacuating tank and make sure it’s clear before completing dump.
Regards, Hamshog
zachlaplante wrote:Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate the information. It doesn’t sound to me like we are operating the system improperly. I’m going to have to think about what kind of physical problems in the tank could be causing a problem. Thanks again.Agree with everyone here. Use toilet normally, I hold foot pedal down a few extra seconds at each flush (don’t involve wife as I want her experience as near to “home” as possible), and make sure tanks are as close to full as possible for the extra force to pull things out. I make sure the the black is full by looking at capacity level on the tanks (we use See Level II gagues on our tanks) and during our last day or two, I’ll hold the toilet pedal down longer. Once at the pit, I empty black tank first. When empty, I hook (keep hooked actually) outside shower to the tank clean-out nozzle and turn on the outside shower’s HOT water. I then pull the gray while the black jets run cleaning black tank with hot water. Once gray is done, cap her off, cap off black, and let the outside shower/hot water continue to fill the black tank for a couple minutes so I have a few gallons of water remain in tank. I can feel that the water going in is still hot via the shower hose. After a couple minutes, I turn off the hot water. Every 2nd (or so) pit stop, I go into camper and add shampoo or liquid soap to slosh around with the hot water while we drive off. This is how we ROLL. Couldn’t help the pun.Posted: 2:40 PM – Feb 25, 2013Monty wrote:When empty, I hook (keep hooked actually) outside shower to the tank clean-out nozzle and turn on the outside shower’s HOT water.I’m a newbie, but do something similar. I’ll mention it here just in case it can be improved upon. I have the Sewer Solution and leave it open to drain the gray, letting the black build until nearly fully. While draining the black tank, a lever on the Sewer Solution allows for the water jet to be oriented up the drain to help with flushing. Also, an our fresh water hose, I added two Y valves. The first Y valve splits between the fresh water inlet on one side and fresh water to the sewer on the other. The sewer side is further split between the black tank flush and a line to the Sewer Solution. As the pressure regulator is only on the fresh water inlet connector, the black tank flush and sewer solution get non-regulated pressure for flushing. It’s actually regulated by the Y valve levers so I can put full pressure on the black tank flush if I want. This seems to work well. When we first picked up our Cameo, the black tank level light was stuck on at full. After just a few full tanks and flushes with this setup, the black tank level light now functions as it should. Comments welcome.
Edit: Since a potable water hose isn’t needed for these, I got a cheap hose and some connectors and made custom lengths for the blank tank flush and Sewer Solution water lines. It still looks like half an octopus, but that kept it a bit more compact.
B.W.Gentry
Owner/Admin
2007 Carri-Lite XTRM5
Breckenridge, TX
- Replies
- CLOC-Admin
one thing that was not mentioned and I have a question about is; are you staying in one site for several days at a time and are you leaving your black tank valve closed until it is time to dump? If you are leaving your dump valve open all the liquid will drain out, leaving the solids to pile up making it difficult to flush.
B.W.Gentry
Owner/Admin
2007 Carri-Lite XTRM5
Breckenridge, TX
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.