Black tank chemical

When I bought my first RV, the salesman gave me some chemical for the black tank and I used it and bought the same thing when I ran out. I continued doing this for a while, then I wondered if I really needed any chemicals.

I stopped using the chemicals and never started using them again. Never had any black tank smells.

As long as your toilet holds water so there is a good seal you should not have any smells.

I have had to clean the seal a couple of times over the past several years since I tend to get calcium deposits on the seal.

SoundGuy wrote:

Tvov wrote:
I usually add some bleach to the final rinse.

Which with repeated use is really tough on rubber seals. :(

That's one of those RV myths, SoundGuy . . . unless you own a late 90ish RV that was made with Polybutylene ("PB") plumbing. Chlorine tore up PB plumbing.

However, the PEX, ABS, and polyethylene used in RVs now are not affected by bleach.

The "seals" used in the holding tank waste gate valves are probably made of Santoprene, not rubber, which is also unaffected by bleach.

The only seals that could be affected by bleach are the ones used in the toilet's ball valve. So don't pour bleach into the toilet and let it sit.

2012Coleman wrote:
When formaldehyde is introduced into a septic system, it kills the bacteria that breaks down the waste. t?

years back the CDC did a study and found that any septic tank setback was temporary and it quickly recovered back to normal operation.
bumpy

WILDEBILL308 wrote:
I don't us any chemicals and never have a problem.
By the way formaldehyde based tank treatments are banned now.
Bill

I just bought a bunch of it at a FL Walmart...

Old-Biscuit wrote:
What is the reason for the 'chemicals' -----in other words WHY do you need to use it or want to use it :H


RVs have waste holding tanks....not treatment tanks



I use water and have GREAT results......

My Class B has a Thetford recirculating toilet with no black tank. So I definitely use the chemicals.

When formaldehyde is introduced into a septic system, it kills the bacteria that breaks down the waste. I'm not sure what the benefit is to placing it in an RV holding tank, unless for some reason you want to preserve your poop for a week or so, and then kill beneficial bacteria in the system you dump into. It is a known carcinogen as well, so why expose your self to that?

X2 on Happy Camper!

Tvov wrote:
I usually add some bleach to the final rinse.

Which with repeated use is really tough on rubber seals. :(

I don't use black tank chemicals anymore. We are just "weekenders", so I make sure to rinse the black and grey tanks a couple times after a trip. I usually add some bleach to the final rinse.

If I don't rinse the tanks, the camper can start to smell after a week or two during the hot summer when it is sitting unused.

If I was unable to rinse the tanks, and/or had a seasonal campsite, I could see using chemicals to help control odor.

When we did use chemicals, it was the Campa-Chem stuff from Walmart. Seemed to work well as far as I could tell.

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Not trying to change any ones methods/ideas.......just trying to understand what it is about RV waste system that requires different approach then same waste system in S&B

.

well for starters, sewage from my house immediately leaves the premises for either the septic tank or the city sewer system. I don't store 40 gallons of "stuff" one foot beneath my feet. And the black tank gets emptied about every three days, not instantaneously.
bumpy