Best way to clean black tank

[Redhawk 26M]

What's the best / easiest / preferred way to clean the black tank after each trip?
My MO upon draining the gray and black tanks is to first let some gray out to ensure no leaks and then drain the black tank completely.
With valves closed, I then fill and flush the toilet multiple (~5) times and then open the black valve again to flush the tank. I repeat this a second time. I then open and fully drain the gray tank.
No issues to date, but should I be doing something different?
Thanks...

 

[spoon059]

You probably have a black tank flush. You can use that to fill your black tank quicker. If you have a FHU site, the morning you leave fill the black tank up and dump, then fill it again and dump again. I have a clear 22.5 degree elbow so I can see the condition of the water leaving my tank. Remember that at the end of the day, it's a black tank. There is no sense making it spotless. You aren't preparing a meal in there.

If you are using a dump site and people are waiting, don't do any of this. Dump your tanks, and a little water in your black tank, clean up and leave.

 

[Kevin Cooper]

Buy a Flush King. With it, you drain the tank, close the valve, partially refill your tank, let her rip, and do again until it is clean. Same for both tanks.

 

[dvspl]

Use the installed black tank flush system. It's explained in your owner's manual. Don't use your potable water hose to connect to the flush tank inlet, use a separate dedicated garden hose. The owner's manual says to always leave the black tank drain valve open when you're using the tank flush and that's the safest way to prevent overfilling your black tank. However, I find I get the black tank more empty if I first dump it, then refill (carefully) using the black tank flush. When it's full I dump it again and leave the flush system running until I get good clear water from the sewer connection. If you use a clear elbow connector it's easier to tell when the water is clear. When it runs clear, shut off the tank flush and let the rest of the water drain out before closing the tank drain valve.

 

[pconroy]

Like others, I use the built in black tank flush. I dump, then spray/dump 2x more times. At the start of the season, I go >ape< on the black tank and really clean, sanitize etc. So far, 6ish years and no issues/odors.

 

[JFlightRisk]

Our TT doesn't have an on board flusher, so we use a straight flushing wand that I drilled three more opposing holes in the tip. Gets our tank clean for 12 years now.

 

[Redhawk 26M]

Many thanks to all for the responses. I finally had some time to read them and look things over. I do have an onboard system. The owners manual is very generic but after reading the experienced info. provided in the replies it all came together.
I'm a newbie and was schooled to leave my valve settings at 1 and 6 and never use the upper hose connection or else I could flood the unit (we to date only do FHU sites). Doing the black tank cleaning the way the woman (wife) and I have been doing takes too long. It does help as I can see the difference upon pulling the valve, but it could certainly be better.
I'll learn the valves and buy a second hose. And an H2O flow meter.
Thanks again to all, very much appreciated...

 

[Kim Gass]

Drive fast on Newfoundland roads
Nothing can stick to the tank sides

 

[Redhawk 26M]

drive fast on newfoundland roads
nothing can stick to the tank sides

lol!!

 

[pconroy]

I'm a newbie and was schooled to leave my valve settings at 1 and 6 and never use the upper hose connection or else I could flood the unit (we to date only do FHU sites).

Post a picture of your wet-bay area if you can. For example, 1 and 6 on my valves would not accomplish much other than a full tank. And water on the ground.

And it's the bottom hose connection that would flood mine.
I'm sure yours are different.

At least, I hope so.

 

[Redhawk 26M]

Post a picture of your wet-bay area if you can. For example, 1 and 6 on my valves would not accomplish much other than a full tank.

Attached...

 

[TowPro]

empty black tank, but about 2-3" of water back in it, add a bag of ice, then drive around for an hour. before the ice melts it will break up stuff pretty well.

 

[pconroy]

Attached...

Interesting! I have the same valves but my fresh and black water flush inlets are reversed, my fresh is on top.

Yeah - never walk away from your unit with the hose attached and on to the black tank flush.

I did >>just<< that about a month ago but, thankfully, caught my mistake with just seconds to spare. Catastrophe averted.


In the picture, your valves are at 2 and 6 which would be correct for having full hookups. The one thing you might want to add, if you haven't already, is a pressure regulator to the spigot.

Some campgrounds have water pressures that exceed the ratings of your plumbing.


For a couple of unrelated reasons, when we have full hookups, I still just use the campground water to fill the fresh tank. Then flip the valves to 3 & 5 and pump from the tank.

 

[Smeel]

We use one of these wands.

We use it after getting home.

On sight we carry a 5 gal bucket and fill it while packing up. Then empty the black tank, dump the bucket down the toilet, empty the tank again. Then empty the grey tank so we can flush the pipe.

 

[War Eagle 1]

Clean Black Water Tanks

For me I have a place to dump at my home and I also have a commercial ice machine. After dumping I put about 2 gallons of water back in along with the orange water treatment chemical. As I am leaving to take my RV back to storage I add two bags of ice to the toilet and flush it down. As I drive back to storage the ice scrubs the tank and hopefully removes any remnants of whatever is stuck inside. You could also buy ice if you don’t have access to an ice machine. I don’t know if this really helps but it sure doesn’t hurt. I have never had any black tank issues.

 

[Taftcoach]

And another warning about closing the valve. My neighbor this week came over to help me get into a tight camp site. He forgot he was flushing his tank and about thirty minutes later his wet bay was leaking water. Fortunately his toilet seal held.

 

[Kim Gass]

"Some campgrounds have water pressures that exceed the ratings of your plumbing."
and whilecwe didnt blow out fittings we were dismayed that our grey tank filled in three days
Water only serviced site and we were in the site for four days. aargh

 

[Bluesky46]

I only camp with FHU so dump stations and all that are not an issue. 1. Never leave your tank valves open. Pull the lever and let them all dump when needed. 2. Dump black tank first. Like someone said. I use a clear section of pipe so I can see how clean the water is that is coming out. 3. Dump gray tank last. 4. Fill and rinse the black tank several times. Hook up to the black tank flush connection. I use a flow meter (Amazon) so I know exactly how much I put in the black tank and not over fill it. Fill it up and drain.. fill it and drain.. until you see just clear water coming out the hose. I have been doing it that way for 12 years now. Never an issue and the tank gages still work.

 

[RPR]

Our 2018 Jayco Class C has a sprayer built in to the black tank and a separate inlet in the wet bay just below the fresh water inlet to hook up a water hose. Water pressure spins the sprayer and does a great job.

 

[DonLegg]

When rinse my "empty" black tank I fill it completely with the black tank flush hose connection by holding the toilet valve open (with a small block of wood wedged above the foot pedal) so I can see when the water starts coming up into the toilet before turning off the hose.