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Black tank dumping procedure

Yahoo Message Number: 7518
What procedure do you use to flush your black tank? We know that accumulated stool in the black tank can harden like concrete, so we always try to get the tank as clean as possible. We've tried the procedure suggested in our coach manual, but it doesn't seem to get the tank real clean. Here is what we do that seems to work best...
First, we use a clear plastic adapter to attach the dump hose to the coach. In this way, we can see what we are doing. We then dump the black tank when it hits at least 3/4 full. Then we run the water flushing system in the black tank for about an hour. The water exiting the coach is usually clear at that point, BUT the tank is not clean. We then fill the toilet to the brim about 10 times and flush it. This big rush of water pushes out all the poop and the water then runs clean. At this point, I think the tank is really clean because no brown water comes out when we flush. We dump in a good dose of Eco-Save or other enzyme cleaner and we are all set for another week. I then dump the gray tank to flush all the solids from the drain hose.

What procedure do you use to clean your tanks? Have you ever had trouble with accumulated solids in the tank or on the water level sensors?

Re: Black tank dumping procedure

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7519
Quote
What procedure do you use to clean your tanks? Have you ever had > trouble with accumulated solids in the tank or on the water level > sensors?
I bought a swizzle stick at CW. I hook up a garden hose to the unit and after dumping the black tank I run the swizzle stick until all of the indicator lights on the black tank show empty. It is the only thing I have found that cleans the tank sensors and flushes the tank out reasonably well. I then open the gray water tank valve to clean out the sewer hose.

Dave G.

2000 Allure #30491

Re: Black tank dumping procedure

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7520
Hi Folks,

Consider this for cleaning the black tank - a homemade cleaning wand.
Cut a 4 foot length of Sch 40 PVC pipe, glue a cap on one end (secure a small bolt thru the cap at right angles), finally add a female hose connector with intergal ball valve on the other end (again glueing and securing with a bolt at right angles). Now cut almost a 180 deg slot in the end cap at right angle to the pipe with a hack saw. Enlarge as necessary to get a forceful stream of water.
Attach a hose to the outside faucet and wand. Insert the wand into the toilet (pedal down) to reach into the tank, turn the water on and prepare for a blast. Rotate and tilt the wand to get all sides and ceiling. Your tank will be shiny clean. I made an inspection mirror with a light attached to verify the tank is squeeky clean. When not using the MH, I leave the valves open to keep the tanks dry and all smell disappears after a few weeks. I have considered making a flexible hose with a slit tip to push up past the grey tank slide valve to blast it on ocassion when the readout says full but the tank has been drained.
Fred Kovol

[quote author=rvrobert2003" \.\.\>] > What procedure do you use to flush your black tank? We know that > accumulated stool in the black tank can harden like concrete, so we > always try to get the tank as clean as possible. We've tried the > procedure suggested in our coach manual, but it doesn't seem to get > the tank real clean. Here is what we do that seems to work best...
> First, we use a clear plastic adapter to attach the dump hose to the > coach. In this way, we can see what we are doing. We then dump the > black tank when it hits at least 3/4 full. Then we run the water > flushing system in the black tank for about an hour. The water > exiting the coach is usually clear at that point, BUT the tank is [/quote]
not

Re: Black tank dumping procedure

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7521
If you are using echo-save, I can't see why your having to go such extremes. Maybe you need more fibre in your diet. TOM 11731, 30255

Re: Black tank dumping procedure

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7522
Dumping a big bag of ice cubes down the toliet before departing on a trip will also break up the solids and clean off the sensors.

Re: Black tank dumping procedure

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7523
Just wait until you guys see the new coaches with Headhunter tolets, with a 1 3/4 or two inch horizontal drain pipe from the toilet to the black water tank thats about 6' to 8' long. Your depending on water pressure to lft the waist 16" over the trap and force it through a 90 degree turn to the black water tank. There is no odor problem, but if your not careful you can fill your black water tank in a flash. If you execute a full flush the tank puts appox. 1.2 galons through the toilet in 6 seconds. Fortunatly you can message the air switch for three degrees of flush interval. TOM Intrique Ovation 2004 11731

Re: Black tank dumping procedure

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7524
The only way stool is going to harden like concrete, is if there is no water in the tank. We dump the tank, most of the time we rinse it out with the factory-installed system for about five minutes, and then add the chemical. Why go to all that trouble when you're going to put poop back in?

Per 5259 Affinity

Re: Black tank dumping procedure

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7526
"swizzle stick works great"
-------

I have had both and prefer No-Flush nozzle over swizzle stick.

Sincerely

George W Becker

gwb36@... 1999 Country Coach Intrigue #10700

Re: Black tank dumping procedure

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7527
Don't think I want to haul a hose into the coach just to rinse the tank, how nasty. I fill the tank till it is 3/4 full before dumping with water if I have to.I use the in tank flush for 5 minutes or so then shut the valve. I put in 5 or so gallons of water then some chemical. If you keep water in the bottom of the tank nothing will harden. You guys are making this harder than it really is.

Don

'02 Intrigue #11427

Quote from: rvrobert2003
> What procedure do you use to flush your black tank? We know that

flush
'02 Intrigue #11427

Re: Black tank dumping procedure

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7528
Quote from: David G\. Grazier"
> What procedure do you use to clean your tanks? Have you ever had > > trouble with accumulated solids in the tank or on the water level > > sensors?
>I installed tank cleanouts in my black water tank and intend on doing the grey this next spring. They install near the top of the tank
and you hook your black water hose to it from the outside of th coach.

Re: Black tank dumping procedure

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7532
All great ideas! One more that wasn't mentioned. On the boat we use oxalic acid. It comes dry or wet, sometimes sold as wood bleach. We fill the tank with the water, add the proper amount of solution, and let it sit for an hour or more. Then we rinse thoroughly. I plan to do it every fall, but not before checking with CC.
Doug 03 Allure 30929

Re: Black tank dumping procedure

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7542
Hi y'all Black Tank Readers,

Be careful if you use this ice cube technique.
My wife did this about a year ago when we were on the road in Northern Wisconsin with our previous coach (2000 Magna). One of the ice cubes must have stuck when the flapper valve was closing, because immediately thereafter the darn thing was "swinging in the breeze". The "breeze" quickly caught our attention, then it was search and repair time.
The problem was a broken cam wheel that operates the flapper valve. The toilet Mfr (forgot their name) was very helpful over the phone and sent the replacment part along with a set of instructions on how to install it and most importantly, how to adust it for successful opens and closes. (The toilet has to be removed for access to replace the cam.)

Cheers,
Paul