Black/Grey Tank Professionally Cleaned, is it worth it?

[run2smile]

If you have had your black/grey tanks cleaned professionally, is it worth the cost? We purchased a 2020 Flying Cloud recently and are considering having the tanks cleaned. We just don't know if it's necessary or worth the $300. What are your experiences?

[etojeo]

It wouldn't be worth the cost. I'd suggest using a Walex Commando tablet, filling the blank tank at least 50% full with water, and then taking a camping trip at least 100 miles from your house to give the tank a "shake and bake". In my experience, these tablets do a wonderful job.

[TomW]

After emptying/rinsing my Airstream's tank, I fill it with water and a cup of Clorox, then empty that. The tank has no appreciable odor between trips.

TomW

[Bill M.]

I had it done a long while ago. Far enough back so that it cost $200. I did it before taking the valves out for replacement. I thought it was worth it for that function. And the trailer I did it too had been used without moving for a number of years. Probably not necessary but there are probably worse ways to spend the $300 too if getting the tanks cleaned gives you peace of mind.

[CRH]

I don't see the need unless a trailer had years of improper tank use.

I replaced both my tank valves when my trailer was just over 20 years old. I peeked in the opening of both tanks from the bottom. They were clean. A few years later, I was replacing the toilet and dropped a flashlight in the black tank. I scratched around bicep deep in the tank for a good while trying to get the flashlight. My hands came out clean.

[LilPeanut]

Does it clean them? Yes. Does it help with smells that are hard to get out another way (mild or mildew)? Yes. Big difference in my 2005 that had never had it done.

Isn’t worth it? Value is in the eye of the beholder. Some people don’t use diesel additives. Some people do and wouldn’t fill a tank without it. Some people cut their own hair, others need professional pedicures.

If you have a problem you want to solve, it might be part of your solution. If you are the kind of person who likes to do whatever it takes to keep their rig in tip top shape, this might be part of your routine when you put it away for the winter. Value is onto you to decide.

[dsatwork]

We removed our toilet three years ago and installed a composting toilet, so we use both tanks for gray water. Recently we had our tanks cleaned for the first time on our 2015 30RB. The technician said we had lots of crystals coming out and explained the situation below as a likely outcome.

A common issue in RV grey tanks: a combination of mineral buildup (often called struvite) and a drain fly infestation.

Causes:
Struvite buildup: This crystalline substance forms from magnesium, ammonia, and phosphate and can coat tank walls, clog valves, and cause sensors to malfunction.

Drain Flies: These flies are attracted to and breed in moist organic waste, like the debris and slimy film that can accumulate in drains and holding tanks.

[nadrad314]

I was struck by the word, "professionally". I'm sorry, but the people I've had the luck (misfortune) to get to work on my trailer (and house for that matter) always leave a bad taste in my mouth. So many times I've had to do the work over again myself, or clean up after them, that is not worth the money to hire them!

Believe me, I'd happily pay someone to do the work for me, IF THEY WOULD DO A professional job. Then, around here, you have to schedule the work out 6-10 weeks and always drop your trailer off for a week, after which they will tell you they need to order the parts, then after another two weeks they tell you the wrong part came in.... etc.

So now, I pretty much do everything myself.

[Andy543]

Professional cleaning is not necessary. The Airstteam manual tells you how to disinfect the tanks with a bleach solution. Whe it comes to sanitation, bleach is man's best friend.

[AlbertF]

It doesn’t seem worth the money to me, unless you have a constant odour issue or plan to have the valves replaced.

We’ve never used any kind of product in our waste tanks, and we rarely smell anything. Of course, we live in a cooler climate, but I think normal use shouldn’t create problems. Towing some distance to a dump station seems to help stir everything up and avoid clogs.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by run2smile

If you have had your black/grey tanks cleaned professionally, is it worth the cost? We purchased a 2020 Flying Cloud recently and are considering having the tanks cleaned. We just don't know if it's necessary or worth the $300. What are your experiences?

Not to me it wouldn't be.
I never empty a partialy filled black tank. I always fill the tank completley before dumping .
Afterwards I throw in cleaner deodorizer with 5gl. water.
No odor problems.

[1963tradewin]

Originally Posted by run2smile

If you have had your black/grey tanks cleaned professionally, is it worth the cost? We purchased a 2020 Flying Cloud recently and are considering having the tanks cleaned. We just don't know if it's necessary or worth the $300. What are your experiences?

No, its not worth it. Buy yourself a box of calgone in a box with a small bottle of pinesol at Walmart. Dump the 32 ounces down your toilet, then add 5 gallons of water. Drive to your campsite. We drove approximately 3 hours letting that stuff slosh around. Got to the site, dumped it out. Major crud comes out. Flush with a full tank. Now you have a clean tank, and it's deodorized. Learned this trick from an old timer years ago. Will cost you around 10 bucks.

[1963tradewin]

For fresh water tank, do this.

[JohnTF]

I have been living full time in MN , through the winters also .
Haven't been able to be on the road for over 20yrs.
In that time I had the tank plug up once after winter was over .

So what I came up with was having some 1/4 copper tubing [ tubing is bendable / pipe is not ] - I put as large of an arc in the tubing as possible - to be able to get through the toilet and into the tank - the length is to feel for the drain opening .

Once finding the opening - poke the plug of sludge to drain tank .

Now with this same copper tubing [ but I made another tool out of PEX with a 90 deg. elbow and a 1/4 turn valve , with a adapter for garden hose - all about 4' long ] the copper also need right angle into tank - from toilet and hose adapter & valve .
Now with between at least a couple inches in tank , move the - NEW FLUSH TOOL , up and down and also spin around to cover all of tank .
To help keep messing up , I hold the foot valve of toilet open just enough to not bind on tool , then also use like the small plastic shopping bags in toilet above foot-valve [ to help keep any splashing coming out ] .

Major cost is hose , valve

I did have one of those back-flush clear plastic - connect at dump outside - I will never use it - but not throwing away either .

[ricjones]

Just had the first instance of the black tank smelling really bad. Not sure if it was build up or what. Took some advice from this forum and filled tank halfway with water, some dawn, some odoban soap sanitizer and some bleach. Let it slosh around.


Then drained it and used the black flush for a long time.

Tank water is (for now) clear and clean and there is no odor whatsoever and looking into tank with flashlight, it appears spotless.

[BillTex]

Hahaha! April 1 already?

Have them change the air in the tires too!

[BHChieftain]

I never clean my tanks— just empty the black first followed by the grey. We don’t put any paper down the toilet. I use my rig about once a month so nothing is sitting too long. We also don’t drink our fresh water — we pack water. Going on year 5.

[SoupStream]

Yes‼️

[WestieHouse]

Originally Posted by nadrad314

I was struck by the word, "professionally". I'm sorry, but the people I've had the luck (misfortune) to get to work on my trailer (and house for that matter) always leave a bad taste in my mouth. So many times I've had to do the work over again myself, or clean up after them, that is not worth the money to hire them!

Believe me, I'd happily pay someone to do the work for me, IF THEY WOULD DO A professional job. Then, around here, you have to schedule the work out 6-10 weeks and always drop your trailer off for a week, after which they will tell you they need to order the parts, then after another two weeks they tell you the wrong part came in.... etc.

So now, I pretty much do everything myself.

My sentiments, experience and practice, too!

[Redbarron55]

I bought a 3" curved drain fitting with a flush tap that I drilled out to 5/8" so that a small diameter pressure wash hose would go through. (I had to build up the area where I cut through the plastic with some epoxy, but it works).
I bought a drain cleaning kit from an Amazon seller and a $20 electric pressure washer to complete the setup.
With this I can non=professionally pressure wash my tanks.
It is handy to get a shut off valve on the end of the hose next to the pressure washer so you can completely shut off the dribble with the pump off.
The drain cleaner kit came with several cleaning heads to run into the tanks and one that has a bearing and a more powerful spinning action that blows more water in a stream that may clean better.
The drain cleaning kit was about $30.00 as was the clean-out fitting.
I left the hose fitting on the drain fitting so that I could put a plug on it and use it for a strain relief for normal use.
The "local" cleaning Professionals offered a deal at $250 so I think I came out fairly good and can clean anytime I think it needs it.
I still have to work on the technique as the black sensors on my 1985 seem to be in a difficult to clean spot and need a retreatment it would seem.