Our trailer is parked on a seasonal site this year and after the long weekend our black tank read full right before leaving. I shut off the water, looked down the toilet and sure enough the "water" was just below the bottom of the drain. My question is... is it ok to leave it full for 2 weeks until we come back up so as to let the chemicals do their work (break down waste and tissue etc.) or should I empty it?

You're fine, but whether chemicals do much more than water itself is another issue.

I sure wouldn't leave it for two weeks. I bet you'll come back to a real stinky trailer.Drain and flush (fill) it out a couple of times and then leave a few gallons of fresh water in it.Those chemicals are just basically deodorants...waste of money in my opinion.Now if you put rid-x or something like that in there and leave it for two weeks, you will definitely have nothing but liquid when you get back......but the smell will still be there.Ron

It won't hurt anything to leave it, but it won't help either. It's a HOLDING tank, not a septic system. There's no benefit of leaving it over dumping before you leave the CG.

paulcardoza wrote:It won't hurt anything to leave it, but it won't help either. It's a HOLDING tank, not a septic system. There's no benefit of leaving it over dumping before you leave the CG.Yep. And if the trailer stinks you have other problems. Full or empty you shouldn't smell anything.

powderman426 wrote:Yep. And if the trailer stinks you have other problems. Full or empty you shouldn't smell anything.That is what I was thinking. As long as there is water to cover the toilet seal and the vent pipe is working he shouldn't smell anything. You might want to leave more water in the bowl than normal due to evaporation.

leaving black tank full | Good Sam Community

opnspaces
Navigator II
May 29, 2013
Leave it until you get back and then dump it. If it smells after dumping it, then flush the tank.

I wouldn't worry about the weight of the full tank, especially since it's not bouncing down the road.
silvercorvette
Explorer
May 29, 2013
It probably will not harm anything but I would dump it
dcmac214
Explorer
May 29, 2013
yeabuddy wrote:

One more thing... don't put RID X in an RV holding tank

Rid-X won't hurt anything in the RV or in wherever you dump your blackwater. But it's a waste of money using it anyplace other than a septic system.
yeabuddy
Explorer
May 29, 2013
3 dog nights wrote:
1st question is "why would you keep it?"
2nd question is "Did you flush before you left the house?"
3rd question is "why would you tell everyone you did it?"

I'm glad you're having fun with this lol
I bet you still giggle when you fart don't you?
If you're being serious though... make sure you read and comprehend the original post before you reply.

Should I leave the black tank full (not the toilet) so as to allow the chemicals to break down the waste and tissue?
3_dog_nights
Explorer
May 29, 2013
1st question is "why would you keep it?"
2nd question is "Did you flush before you left the house?"
3rd question is "why would you tell everyone you did it?"
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
May 29, 2013
whatever the circumstances I routinely go 30 days at time before going to the dump station.

No biggie

I don't process doo doo, I hold it in tank until I dump.
Aridon
Explorer
May 28, 2013
There really isn't any advantage to leaving it 2 weeks. The more important thing is to leave it with water when sitting because that is when the leavings will turn to concrete. Not when its full and wet.
rondeb
Explorer
May 28, 2013
Why would you NOT empty it. It is a simple thing to do. Either do it now or later. Why risk any reason to leave it full. You would have to empty it before it could even be used when you get back, so I would empty it. We never go home with black tanks not emptied and cleaned out.
hershey
Explorer
May 28, 2013
It takes three weeks for me to fill our black tank so don't worry about it. Drain it when it gets full and always add 4 or 5 gallons of water in it to start the new batch of sludge.
Chemicals if you like that process or none, your choice.
Terryallan
Explorer II
May 28, 2013
Honestly. Empting the black tank wouldn't be the first thing I'd want to do when I get to my camper. I'd go ahead and empty it, and get it over with. Life will be easier when you get back.

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