Newbie.... My first camping trip. When to flush black water tank? Wait til full?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Like I said, I'm *not* trying to turn this into a sway thread. I certainly go nuts about things from time to time and very well understand how people get fired up.

Bob

[JoeHTP]

We are new at this too, so I thought I would ask a question.

It sounds like you use the flush fitting with the black water tank valve closed. I was just looking at our "No Fuss Flush" instructions in our dealer packet, and it says the black tank valve must be open when the hose is connected.

Which process is correct?

Joe

[PKI]

Don't add pressurized water to a full black tank. Adding flush water to a full tank can push waste inside the coach. If the black tank is full, open the dump valve to get the waste flowing and then turn on the flush to keep it moving.

As long as there is room in the black tank for more liquid, you can turn on the flush water to dilute the waste that is in the tank. But open the dump valve before the tank approaches full. As you evacuate the tank, keeping the flush running helps clean the tank. Leaving it on to add about 5 gallons after you shut the dump valve helps to dilute remaining solids or anything your use adds to the tank. It also helps to wash down the tank walls as you travel. Pat

[JoeHTP]

Thank you!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Some tank monitors are better than others. If your tank monitor works, you can use it to decide to add water to the black tank. If it does not work you may need to resort to other means. On many trailers that's a look down the toilet thing. Unless you are sure of the state of the black tank, don't randomly start pushing water into it with the valve closed.

Bob

[rmkrum]

And, when looking down the toilet opening with the aid of a nice flashlight, make sure the lanyard is properly around your wrist.

There have been incidents, leading to very hard choices.....

[Docinabox]

when we used to use our black tank, we were concerned about mounding. So we flushed as many times as it took for the flush to be clear. usually two flushes. we wanted as little residue in the tank as possible when stored between trips. It takes a little longer but i think minimizes the residue in the tank. having a clear elbow is key. we then follow with the grey tank.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

. . .
There have been incidents, leading to very hard choices.....

Like the "Fork Fell Into Black Tank" thread!



PS -- Airstream toilets and holding tanks were originally designed to work without any back-flush system, and they still do work fine this way. As long as the tank's contents are agitated by road action into a uniform slurry, and as long as they are dumped shortly after some agitation [from the campsite to the dump station is usually enough], there is no need to worry about having a perfectly clean black tank. Storage at the end of the season can be handled as well, but that is a different topic.

[Mattirs]

As I was looking at my front lawn it dawned on me that I have a sewer line access point right next to the sidewalk. Local ordinace requires two of then so the house line can be accessed from both the house to the sewer and from the sewer to the house. Don't know why...

Is there any reason why I could not use that to dump my tanks other than grossing out the neighbors? Of course it would be in case of an emergency.

[TravlinMan]

Why emergency? If it's on your property and it's an actual sewer line, add a cap so it's a tight connection and dump away. Tons of folks have sewer connections for their trailers on their property unless local ordinance disallows it.

[OTRA15]

We do it regularly FWIW.

[rmkrum]

Typically the two access points are set up so a plumber trying to snake the drain can run it toward the house or toward the street. Typically the one toward the street would be the one you want to dump into, because the fitting at the sewer line is aimed "downstream" toward the sewer main in the street.

That said, my house has an access point fattest away near my RV parking area that allows snaking all the way to the street, plus another in front of the house that is aimed the same direction. Not a clue why it's a duplicate.

[Seagars]

I empty, fill to 80, empty again, then put 15 in for the drive home with a freshener pack to slosh around. Empty that next trip.
Works gr8 for me and everything stays smelling fresh