Eeew! Gnats coming from black tank??

Whenever there is a black tank problem '352' posts the same cure....reach in and squish it. It's his signature cure-all. Seems to work for him. Course catching and squishing sewer flies could be an all day/night job. They're fast and small.

Others will probably choose to use a less involved method.

As suggested......dump the black tank/do a good flush/rinse then close dump valve.
Turn off water supply, open toilet bowl ball/blade and spray down into toilet to black tank line with an insecticide. Any brand for flying insects. Spray the whole can. Then close the toilet ball/blade valve and let it sit. Depending on severity of infestation you may have to repeat after rinsing/flushing tank.

When spraying..........bathroom exhaust fan OFF

352 posts his instructions often for this problem. It must work because nobody says his method doesn't work. I haven't followed his instructions I'm a visual learner and want to make sure I'm doing it right, so waiting for video link.

If you ever re-build your toilet you're going to see a hole new world of things under your toilet and the importance of keeping your black water tank valve closed unless actually draining.

Yes, Drain/Rinse Tank - forgot that one ---- thanks Old Biscuit!

I wouldn't think a whole can of insecticide is necessary. A couple of small bursts of spray in my garage kills everything. The black tank is very small, in comparison. If it was me, I'd throw a cup of diluted bleach in the drained tank and not use the toilet for a couple of hours.

westend wrote:
I wouldn't think a whole can of insecticide is necessary. A couple of small bursts of spray in my garage kills everything. The black tank is very small, in comparison. If it was me, I'd throw a cup of diluted bleach in the drained tank and not use the toilet for a couple of hours.

Got to kill the eggs/larvae that are on toilet pipe, under toilet, top of tank. the sewer flies die off pretty easily it's their brood and future offspring that are tough.

westend wrote:
I wouldn't think a whole can of insecticide is necessary. A couple of small bursts of spray in my garage kills everything. The black tank is very small, in comparison. If it was me, I'd throw a cup of diluted bleach in the drained tank and not use the toilet for a couple of hours.

These are not gnats. Sewer flies are very determined. They thrive in sewers! A couple of squirts won't do it. The idea is to fumigate/engulf the whole tank including the piping and crevices of the toilet.
Use the whole can,there's no need to save any.

Camped for over 50 years and never had the problem. I do clean my black tank well when I dump. Since we have W/D we leave our grey open.

I'd try to do this first. It should be pretty easy.

1) fill the black tank completely with fresh water until the toilet starts to burp. After the first burp do 2-3 more flushes. Don't worry, you will know when it burps. Go fish, watch tv, go for a golf cart ride, head to outback. Do anything but flush the toilet for a few hours. Let it soak for a while.
2) Dump the black tank, close the black tank valve
3) refill the black tank till it burps
4) dump the black tank, close the black tank valve
5) repeat steps 3 and 4 at least 2-3 times.
6) dump 3-5 full toilet bowls of water into the tank.

Resume normal use. Hopefully bug free.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Since I haven't experienced this phenomenon, I'm guessing a nice long, cold northern winter works too. Of course, I think I'd rather deal with sewer flies.

OMG!! I am waiting on 352 to reply again. Maybe his arm is stuck in the hole?? I want to hear more about this. I guess everyone knows about the Geo Method? We use it and it seems to work to get rid of "things" in the tank.