Tank guage lies
When I empty the waste water tank, the guage indicates it is still full. Obviously the contacts inside the tank have got gummed up ? Our trailer never moves, it is on a fixed site. What can I do ? ...
Forum Discussion
If you don't have false readings, something is VERY wrong! IOW, it's normal. There are some really annoying things about RVs and this is one of them.
Give up now - resistance is futile... :M
Thing is, even if you could clean it to brand new, factory original condition, false readings will return pdq. We use Liquid Drano (as per our factory manual) once or twice a year and the sensors quickly get gummed again. Chemicals, ice or the Geo method aren't going to work without motion to make the tank contents slosh around.
The only real & permanent solution is See Level sensors which go on the exterior of a tank. Not easy to install if you have an enclosed underbelly. An in-tank wand or back-flush elbow may or may not help depending on the particular tank dimensions, configuration, outlet & inlet pipe locations and sensors locations. There are many many different tanks.
Tank sensors have even been known to have been installed at the wrong elevations or mis-wired.
You should be filling your tank to full or near full before each time you dump. And don't skimp on water when you flush in an effort to conserve water and/or make the tank last longer - it won't and can make things a lot worse. TP type may or may not matter much. You want one that disintegrates quickly. "RV" TP prices are a rip-off and some don't even disintegrate anyway. Some ordinary brands work great like one that Costco sells.
Chemical treatments that you put in a black tank before each use of the tank are no help. Water is your friend.
Easiest thing is to just get to know about when your tank will be full based on days and no. of people using the tank. You can also look down a toilet to see where "stuff" is at, but this may be quite inaccurate if you have a pyramid of poo. Regardless, when your tank really is full to the brim and can't take any more, you will def. know.
Give up now - resistance is futile... :M
Thing is, even if you could clean it to brand new, factory original condition, false readings will return pdq. We use Liquid Drano (as per our factory manual) once or twice a year and the sensors quickly get gummed again. Chemicals, ice or the Geo method aren't going to work without motion to make the tank contents slosh around.
The only real & permanent solution is See Level sensors which go on the exterior of a tank. Not easy to install if you have an enclosed underbelly. An in-tank wand or back-flush elbow may or may not help depending on the particular tank dimensions, configuration, outlet & inlet pipe locations and sensors locations. There are many many different tanks.
Tank sensors have even been known to have been installed at the wrong elevations or mis-wired.
You should be filling your tank to full or near full before each time you dump. And don't skimp on water when you flush in an effort to conserve water and/or make the tank last longer - it won't and can make things a lot worse. TP type may or may not matter much. You want one that disintegrates quickly. "RV" TP prices are a rip-off and some don't even disintegrate anyway. Some ordinary brands work great like one that Costco sells.
Chemical treatments that you put in a black tank before each use of the tank are no help. Water is your friend.
Easiest thing is to just get to know about when your tank will be full based on days and no. of people using the tank. You can also look down a toilet to see where "stuff" is at, but this may be quite inaccurate if you have a pyramid of poo. Regardless, when your tank really is full to the brim and can't take any more, you will def. know.
