How often and how to clean black tank
We have sani flushed the tank only once in 3 years. Recently I read I should be doing this more often. On the other hand some places say not to empty black too often because then there is an inadequat...
Forum Discussion
Lwiddis wrote:
“then there is an inadequate amount to drive biodecomposition.”
RVs have holding tanks. While breaking up “chunks” for easy dumping is a good thing RV tanks are not made for decomposing.
I came here to same the same thing. Your black tank isn't a septic system, its a holding tank until you can dump.
Don't dump your black tank unless its reasonably full. You want sufficient water to help move along the solids. If you empty your black tank without sufficient water, the solids won't be pushed out and will stay behind, leading to smells and potentially other problems. If I have a full hookup site I will hook up my black tank flush and flush for a couple minutes every trip. If I am at the dump station and there isn't a backup, I will flush for a couple minutes as well. I'm probably doing it excessively, but its worked for me.
I usually keep the black tank flush on while dumping the black tank to help move along the solids, then I'll close the black tank for 2 or 3 minutes to build up the water level in the tank, then open the black tank again. That "surge" of water coming out helps to clean up most of the solids. Then I make sure to leave a couple gallons in the tank after I close the black valve again.
You don't want to leave the tank dry.
Also, remember that this is a tank to hold poop. I watch some people at the dump station that are cleaning the tank so they can eat out of it. That's not the point. Clean out as much of the solid waste as you reasonably can and leave a couple gallons so any remains don't get stuck to the bottom.
