Adding water after dumping black tank

[tcc11tcc]

I just bought a used Jayco 17c & took it for it's first trip. Dumped black water tank & then grey water tank after the weekend was over.

The guy in the camper next to me told me after dumping the tanks, you should put water back in them (didn't specify how much) so the stuff in the tank doesn't harden which causes the smell.

So, my question is...Is this good advice and how much water should I put in? I assume I hook up the hose again & just run the sink water & toilet flush for a bit.

[Helmsey]

I have an empty 1 gallon milk bottle that I originally used to put 2 gallons in the tanks. Now I have a 5 gallon bucket that I use to keep a little more water in the tanks. I'm not sure there is a right or wrong amount as much as a personal preference thing.

[Jim-Linda]

Instead of hooking water hose back up, just keep 1/2 tank of fresh water and use the pump.

Jim

[mlts22]

I squirt some Dawn hand dish soap, then 3-5 gallons of water into my rig's black tank after my usual empty/rinse cycle. This does two things. The water keeps anything remaining from turning to stone and the dish soap dissolves stuff like it does grease.

Grey tank just gets a squirt of Dawn, and a liter of water to ensure that traps stay filled.

It is cheaper than other chemicals, does the job (albeit slower), and seems to help with odors.

[paulcardoza]

We put Campa-Chem and ~~3gal of water in the black tank after dumping. There's really no reason for the campa-chem other than we like doing it and it's $1 per application. Water alone would be just fine.

We do nothing with the gray tank.

[CincyGus]

I put a couple gallons in both the gray and black to help keep the seals on the dump valve moist and to help any remaining food particals or waste from drying out. The black tank also gets about a cup of cheap powder detergent and a cap full of water softner. I leave all this in the tanks and on my next trip to the campground, it sloshes around and coats the tank along with breaking down anything during the sitting period.

[Farm_Camp]

Hey still new around here myself as well but based on what I've been reading its a good idea to add a couple of gallons (I do not think there is actually a exact "right" amount) of water back into the black tank. The intention is to keep anything that does not get dumped down the drain from hardening. Some folks also say that this is good for the health of your dump valves.

Many folks do this even with a tank sprayer. My intention is to put some water back in after dumping. Maybe just enought to cover the bottom of the tank if I can figure out how much will do that - or a couple of gallons, few toilet bowls of water. I don't think it can hurt and is sounds like a good idea to avoid having dried, solid- "solids" in your tanks. Heh...

Side note: OP: I'm spending a great week "next door" over in Gatlinburg doing what I hope is my last round of "cabin camping" before our new TT arrives. I love TN and would live here in the Smokys if I could find a way to make a living!

[Dick_B]

I dump a couple of toiletfills into the black tank along with the chemicals I use. Toiletfills: fill up the toilet then flush.

[RCMAN46]

Good advice. When I am done with the black tank I put about 1/2 cup of liquid dish washer detergent in the toilet fill til full and flush. Then I fill the toilet a second time and flush. Good to go until next time the tank needs to be dumped. A hint while dumping the black tank. I have the DW fill and flush the toilet several times while the black tank valve is open. Helps get all of the solids out of the tank.

[KarenS144]

I add a couple of gallons to the black tank and sometimes squirt in bit of detergent along with the packet of stuff that's supposed to keep the smell down. The grey tank usually gets some added during clean up once we're home.

One thing to note, is that the black tank indicator may not be accurate. Sometimes ours still shows 2/3 full even after dumping. Sometimes it shows empty after dumping. Also, don't forget that water is the black tank's best friend. Make sure to use plenty or you'll wind up with a pyramid of yuck at the bottom.

[harold1946]

Thats sound advise. I do not add water to the grey tank but put about 5 gallons in the black.
I run a hose in the bathroom window and add water directly through the toilet.

[BuckBarker]

I don't have any type of tank rinser so as soon as my black and gray tanks are completely empty, my wife dumps 2-2 gallon containers of water into the toilet to to complete the rinse.