cleaning tank sensors

[fedrive]

Does anyone have a good method or formula for cleaning sensors..I have one of those spinng flush hoses and that doesn not work on my RV..I have a Jayco 351RLTS and the grey tank sensors are not working very good either...I'm thinking maybe 5 gallons of water and 1 gallon of vinegar might work well...I've tried baking soda which I was told would work..

[iawoody2]

Doesn't always work, but I have had success with dumping about 20lbs of ice down the drains and toliet just as I am ready to leave. The travel motions help to break things loose.

[tinlizzie23]

I use a concoction dubbed "sewer juice". Made in a gallon jug from 8oz fabric softener, 8oz PineSol, 8oz ammonia, and 1 cup baking soda. Mix together, then fill rest of jug with water. Pour 1 cup down each drain, then the rest down the toilet. Add 20lb ice to toilet just before leaving for the CG, and dump when you get to site. Keeps my tanks very clean, no odors ever, and sensors work just fine.

[Scott 101]

I have used Calgon water softener powder (not bath oil beads). Hard to find in some parts of the country, but it seemed to work well and also took care or odors.

[Happy Jack]

Reading about RV sewage holding tanks I find many sites that warn about potential damage from HOME brewed concoctions for holding tanks. They also warn that you have to use chemicals that will enhance bacterial growth rather than kill it as well as lubricate the valves and seals. It's difficult to find the perfect solution but let's face it, if you make your own it probably won't be as good as the products that companies have spent thousands of dollars on research to develop it.
Another cause of sewer odors is when people stay for a while at a camp site and leave the gray sewer valve open. When other campers on the sewer line do a dump, the odor can travel into your gray tank and out your roof vent leaving you thinking your trailer stinks.
A major cause for odors is trying to skimp on flush water and ending up with a lot of sewage and very little flush water. Apparently after dumping and rinsing, you should add a few gallons of water to your holding tanks with the waste water chemical.
Many people notice a horrible smell and think it's the black water tank but apparently the gray water tank can smell as bad. It deserves a regular chemical treatment as well.
There are some treatments that claim to clean the sensors such as "RV-BOSS™"

[Jagiven]

I would agree with most of the things HappyJack stated. Especially the part about encouraging the bacteria growth. I have experienced odor issues a few times. They have always been after about the third trip of the season. I think that is when it warms up outside and we get a rapid bacteria growth/boom. Once that happens my tanks do not make any odor. I never add anything that will kill the bacteria or potentially damage the sensors (ie an acid such as vinegar or bleach). I like pinsol and liquid fabric softener. I actually only add official toilet chemicals half of the time. When I do it is at home right before a trip. I to add a few gallons of water to the black tank after dumping along with my additive of choice. We also do not place paper down the toilet which I think helps a lot too. I fully trust my tank sensors.

[BlueHaul]

I too tend to agree with Happy Jack. Though I've heard some very good things about home-made black tank cleaners and I know some folks who have used them for years without any issues at all, I usually use Thetford's Aqua Kem and the ice method. That and making use of the black tank flush with a clear sewer elbow. Wonder what Mark Polk thinks about holding tanks?

[video=youtube;Jqe1DpdwtJA]

[tinlizzie23]

Maybe the reason that my Home brewed concoction has worked so well for me is that none of the ingredients kill the good bacteria . . . . just my thoughts.

[BlueHaul]

I will say that tinlizzie's "sewer juice" seems to be a lot less expensive than the Aqua-Kem I'd been using. I'm thinking I'll give it a try, ya convinced me!

[edatlanta]

I think I have tried most every suggestion I have ever read to clean black tank sensors. None of them worked for me so I gave up a long time ago. I don't need the sensors anyway.

I now worry about other things, when I'm worrying at all.

[troutslayer]

Originally Posted by edatlanta

I think I have tried most every suggestion I have ever read to clean black tank sensors. None of them worked for me so I gave up a long time ago. I don't need the sensors anyway.

I now worry about other things, when I'm worrying at all.

Ditto! Sometimes they're clean and work, then sometimes not. That's just the way it is (for me)

[mlumia]

After rinsing out my tanks at the campsite. I have been using a cup of Simple Green concentrate in each of my Black and Gray tanks and then add 5 gallons of water and then drive home. There is a dump station on the highway prior to my house that I perform the last rinse. Been doing this for 7 years and have not had any issues. Nice thing is that Simple Green is biodegradable and it leaves the tanks dare I say smelling decent.

[bad99ram]

Who cares if my black tank " smells Decent"

[tinlizzie23]

Well, if your black tank smells bad, chances are, sooner or later, your camper will smell bad, too. I speak from experience, back when all I used was the expensive chemical stuff sold in RV stores, and it didn't work worth a squat. Since using my "sewer juice" and ice - no further problems. If I've damaged anything by using the homemade mixture, it sure hasn't shown up yet after 3 years or so.

[troutslayer]

Originally Posted by bad99ram

Who cares if my black tank " smells Decent"

I do...I know, call me crazy!

[UpstateNYRecon]

Ok this may sound like a dumb question but are there traps for the sinks and showers? And if so how do ya'll do the ice trick for the gray tank. I've never had a grey tank smell until I got this trailer.

[tinlizzie23]

Good question. I, too, have never had a bad smell from either of the gray tanks. And there are traps for both sinks and the shower. But I do pour about a cup full of "sewer juice" down the kitchen and bathroom sinks every time I pour it down the toilet. Don't think you really need to have ice down the sinks, as there should be no solids to break up in the gray tanks - everything should be liquid. Therefore your problem might be bacteria, and will have to be treated chemically to get rid of the odor. JMHO

[hollis]

I agree with Edatlanta.

[chas111]

I have been successful in using Dawn dishwashing liquid. I add water to the black tank before leaving campsite and a few squirts of Dawn. It agitates on way to dump station. After dumping, I put a little water back in the black tank with a couple drops of Dawn. Have used that method for 3 seasons and have never had any issue with odor.

[Macrosill]

Last week my sensors in the black tank were readin 3/4 after I dumped. I have a tank tornado installed and use it regularly. I also utilize a clear elbow at the connection to the trailer. You would be suprised what comes out when rinsing. Anyway, after rinsing the tank the sensors still showed 3/4 full. I decided to use the tank tornado to fill the black tank completely. This added enough water to have whatever was on the sensors to float off along with the agitation from the tank tornado. The sensors were reading properly after the 1st rinse but I did a second rinse just for the heck of it.