Forum Discussion

dpgerson's avatar
dpgerson
Explorer
May 12, 2017

black water gauge

My Black water tank gauge always says full, even after I empty it and nothing comes out. I empty it into a 35 gallon blue portable tank so I know that most or all of the junk comes out.

My question is this: Is there a way to fix this so I know about how much is in there?
  • It is a common problem. The senors get clogged or covered with TP and become useless. I've had this problem and tried dumping Ice in the tank and going for a drive. Worked a bit. Dumped lots of cleaners into the tank. Worked a bit.
    Finally I installed tank flusher. After you dump you connect the flusher and it sprays and cleans the contacts as well as the tank.

    https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000BUU5TU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2E8YK0LMG31U2&coliid=I1WI01YBZJO3G1&psc=1
  • DPGerson,
    Had the same issue that you are having. Forget the ice, it does very little, you can look that up on the net. Go to Amazon and buy a Valterra A01-0184VP Master Blaster Tank Wand, there cheap.

    When you know that your tank is completely empty fill it with hot water and overdose with dawn dish liquid. Let in tank overnight. Drain you black tank, leave valve open. Stick the wand down the toilet with hose on high and keep twisting the wand at different depths. Look at gauge, it should be working. Fill tank again and flush. Problem solved
  • If you are permanently parked, or parked long term without moving the RV, it is difficult to keep the sensors clean of gunk. If you drain your tank completely, then add 5 - 10 gallons of water drive it around, the sloshing on the sensors will clean them. You can throw some laundry soap or dishwashing soap down the toilet too to help clean the tank too. When you stop, drain the tank. If this does not work, you can try the various chemicals as others will mention. I don't have problems with my sensors, because I keep some water in the tanks (3-4 gallons in each tank) when traveling. I've found this is really the best cleaning method. Simple, and costs nothing. Never a problem with mine.
  • As Dennis said, forget the ice - it melts too quickly. Search the forum(s) for "geo method." There are variances as to the geo approach to cleaning tanks, but they all work pretty well.

    Rob
  • Dawn and Calgon. The ice treatment was debunked in a test video. I think the back flush, several times, worked the best according to that same video.
  • I found that there was no way my tanks would be clean by simply opening the valve. Either install a tank sprayer or use a King Flush and back flush it several times when dumping. Never a problem since doing so.
  • I have the same problem. Been at the same spot for 6 months and my BW tank reads either 3/4 or full. There's also a tank flush system that I use with a clear elbow at the hook up so I know when clear water is flowing. I know when it's getting full by how the toilet water flushes. When empty fluids circle and drains. When its full, there's quick bubble that forms before the fluid drops. It usually can go 7 to 10 days before full with just the two of us