Black Tank Flush

[Bayley]

Hope someone can set my mind at ease. I have a 2014 Arctic Fox 5'er and have had it out a couple of times. When I use the Black Tank Flush I'm not sure if it's working. I can hear the water running in the tank but it doesn't sound like it's spraying the tank.
I'm not sure how it works so maybe everything is OK?

Tony, Darlene and Bentley
2013 Ram 2500 CTD
2014 Arctic Fox 29-5K

[GregK]

True enough, but I'm also having issues with the level sensors. I believe the previous owner left the black tank drain open full time because we've had lots of issues that I'm slowly sorting out.

I'm hoping that the flusher, if working correctly, will help clean off the sensors.

[bpounds]

That might be a tough one to prove, Greg. First, do you know what it is supposed to do? Is it supposed to spin? Is it supposed to have a certain spray head? If you can find a brand name on the flush system then you might be able to answer those questions.

Then how do you know if it is doing whatever it is supposed to do? You could try an inspection camera I suppose.

A lot of supposition going on here. And if it were me, I simply would not care enough to investigate. If water goes in, and comes out clean, I'm done supposing.

[GregK]

I have the clear fitting. If I don't use the flusher and just have someone let the toilet run I get clear water after a while too, so that doesn't tell me if the flusher is actually flushing or if it's just dumping water.

[goducks10]

GregK wrote:
The question of how to tell if the flusher is actually working or if it's stuck and just dumping water hasn't been answered.

As I posted earlier, I can hear a "WHOOSH WHOOSH" for maybe 2 seconds and then just the sound of running water after that. I have warranty, but the fiver is on a seasonal site. If the flusher is not working warranty will cover the on-site visit and repair. However, if it IS working and they come out I get to pay $400 for the visit.

So, how can I tell for sure that it is or isn't working properly? I suspect that the initial whooshing sound is what it's supposed to sound like the entire time it's on, but maybe I'm wrong?

Get a clear fitting to go on the units dump pipe. That way you'll see the brown water turn mostly clear which means the system is working. Mine makes a jet wooshing sound but then goes quiet also.

[GregK]

The question of how to tell if the flusher is actually working or if it's stuck and just dumping water hasn't been answered.

As I posted earlier, I can hear a "WHOOSH WHOOSH" for maybe 2 seconds and then just the sound of running water after that. I have warranty, but the fiver is on a seasonal site. If the flusher is not working warranty will cover the on-site visit and repair. However, if it IS working and they come out I get to pay $400 for the visit.

So, how can I tell for sure that it is or isn't working properly? I suspect that the initial whooshing sound is what it's supposed to sound like the entire time it's on, but maybe I'm wrong?

[Veebyes]

Not sure what is going on inside the tank. Sounds like water is hitting the sides. What I feel is very important is to run a few gallons into the tank after closing the valve & leave it there.

Let it slosh around as you drive home or to 'prime the tank' if you will, so that you don't get the dreaded cone.

[avvidclif1]

saddleup wrote:

Some of you multiple flushers seem to be spending an awful long time parked at the dump station...that has to cause a traffic jam on those Sunday mornings when almost everyone is pulling out. Not trying to be a wise guy, but is it really necessary to get the black tank so clean? Just trying to understand and learn here.

There is no line at my campsite which is where I dump most of the time. If at a park without sewer hookups we leave on Mon or Tues, no line.

Once finished I mix up abt 3 gal of GOES solution and dump it into the tank until next time.

[saddleup]

Thanks so much to everyone for shedding some light on this subject for me :-)...this is very helpful.

[bpounds]

saddleup wrote:
Ok, my new rig has a black tank flush, which is my first. I am a bit confused by some of the posts. So those of you who leave some water in the black tank to slosh around until you get home, where exactly are you dumping it then?

It gets dumped after the next outing. You should not leave your black tank dry. If you do, the mud dries out, clumps, and sticks. Just like any other mud. After you dump the BT, run at least a gallon or two of water down the toilet, plus whatever chemical if you choose to use one.

If people thought of their black tank contents as mud, there would be a lot less mystery and hysteria over the whole process. That's all it is really, with some additives that make it smell really bad to us. Other than the smell, it acts just like mud. You don't want dried mud in your tank.

[titleman]

Just a little reminder to you guys that may not be aware. If you have the San-T-Flush system in your trailer, be sure that you open the water faucet all the way and close it all the way when using the system. According to the instructions for flushing tanks, failure to open and close the faucets all the way and/or low water pressure could result in possible fresh water leakage from the vacuum breaker.I experienced the results personally and can tell you first hand its not a pleasant event.

I had used the Flush several times before with good results, but had never read the little brochure that came with trailer. ( I'm pretty good at not reading the instructions) At an RV park in North Carolina last fall, I dumped the black tank as usual, closed the black valve and turned the Flush on to do a rinse. While waiting for the tank to fill some, I heard my wife scream that water was running all over the hall and bedroom floors. About the same instant I noticed water coming from under the trailer. Turned the water off as quick as possible, but the damage was done. Water water every where. It even leaked down on my electric valve switches and knocked them out of commission, so I could not open the black tanks. At the time I had no idea what was going on and where all the water was coming from.

After several hours of mopping, drying the switches and searching for the leak I read the instructions. Then I opened the access panel in the bedroom wall to the back of the shower and found the check valve and the vacuum breaker in the Flush system. That was the source of the water leakage. Apparently, I just had not opened the faucet enough and all the water was running out into the wall and floors instead of the tank. Learned my lesson well. Of course I left the access of for a couple of days used fans and dryers to dry everything up. Tested it several times and have never had it happen again.

Jut be sure and open and close your faucet wide open.

[goducks10]

saddleup wrote:
Ok, my new rig has a black tank flush, which is my first. I am a bit confused by some of the posts. So those of you who leave some water in the black tank to slosh around until you get home, where exactly are you dumping it then?

Do dump stations have a water hose with a standard threaded connection that you attach to your tank flush connection? Or do you use your own hose and attach it to a water spigot near the dump station?

Some of you multiple flushers seem to be spending an awful long time parked at the dump station...that has to cause a traffic jam on those Sunday mornings when almost everyone is pulling out. Not trying to be a wise guy, but is it really necessary to get the black tank so clean? Just trying to understand and learn here.

Not all dump stations have threaded ends on the rinse hose. My experience is about 1/2 do where I dump. If I can I will unscrew the hose and screw mine on. I won't mess with it if I'm in a line of RV's dumping. I feel that I flush the tank enough and keep plenty of water in it while using it that missing a few flushes once in awhile won't hurt anything.

I only flush mine for as long as it takes the grey tank to dump. I don't have a clear end so I'm just flushing it blind. We have never had any stinky smells coming from the black tank and don't use chemicals or scented tablet stuff. So it seems to be working.

As far as leaving water in it. I'm guessing that they don't dump it, but leave it like that till the next trip. What that does is keep any solids from sticking to the bottom of the tank. We actually have about 1/3 of a black tank full of stuff. We spent the weekend at my wifes BIL's and parked in front of their house. We didn't dump on the way home and are just leaving it all in there till we go again this weekend. We will be staying at an RV park and will dump there.

[garyp4951]

saddleup wrote:
Ok, my new rig has a black tank flush, which is my first. I am a bit confused by some of the posts. So those of you who leave some water in the black tank to slosh around until you get home, where exactly are you dumping it then?

Do dump stations have a water hose with a standard threaded connection that you attach to your tank flush connection? Or do you use your own hose and attach it to a water spigot near the dump station?

Some of you multiple flushers seem to be spending an awful long time parked at the dump station...that has to cause a traffic jam on those Sunday mornings when almost everyone is pulling out. Not trying to be a wise guy, but is it really necessary to get the black tank so clean? Just trying to understand and learn here.

A lot of people who rv extend a sewer line at home, near their rv to make dumping, and flushing tanks convienient.
If I had to use a dump station, I would not want to hold up other people if there was a line, so I would only run black tank flush while dumping.

[saddleup]

Ok, my new rig has a black tank flush, which is my first. I am a bit confused by some of the posts. So those of you who leave some water in the black tank to slosh around until you get home, where exactly are you dumping it then?

Do dump stations have a water hose with a standard threaded connection that you attach to your tank flush connection? Or do you use your own hose and attach it to a water spigot near the dump station?

Some of you multiple flushers seem to be spending an awful long time parked at the dump station...that has to cause a traffic jam on those Sunday mornings when almost everyone is pulling out. Not trying to be a wise guy, but is it really necessary to get the black tank so clean? Just trying to understand and learn here.

[C_Schomer]

Do your draining and flushing then open the potty flush valve and smell. If it stinks... flush some more. I always leave the contents in the tanks til I get home so the waste can break down as much as possible. I have a clear connector on the drain pipe and I drain and flush til the water is clear plus about one more minute. My tank has NO smell when I'm done. Craig