Leaving black tank filled

[N-Trouble]

Im pretty religious about dumping my tanks after each outing but this last trip pulled a brain fart and forgot to dump and have put the trailer in storage. Contemplating whether I should pull it out and dump or just wait til next outing? Tank is only about 1/4-1/3 full and no sign of odors yet. Pull it out and dump or leave??

[DutchmenSport]

I always dump mine before leaving the campground and take the time to flush it out. I've never had smells.

Over Memorial Day week-end I dumped Sunday night with the Blue Tote to avoid the dump station with the mass exodus on Monday. We continued using the toilet Sunday night and Monday and figured I'd dump once I got home.

Well, when we got home, we've slept in the camper almost every night since, including showers and using the toilet. I've not had to dump the black tank yet (not full).

Well ... !!!!

Yesterday when I went to use the toilet and pushed the peddle .... OH MY.... what a horrid smell radiated out of that little hole! OH MY!....

So, right then, I went ahead and got the Blue Tote out and dumped (I can dump the tote in my septic tank). So I also flushed the tanks real good again and put a cup of laundry soap down the hole. The next time I used the toilet and pushed that peddle .... no smells. Phew!

I learned my lesson.

There are those who say you can leave "stuff" in your black tank for days on end. Well, maybe you can. But I won't be doing it any more ... ever again! One nose full is enough for me!

[B_O__Plenty]

smkettner wrote:
Leave it

I don't know that there are any seals. It's just a sliding plastic blade that slides in and out of a plastic slot.

B.O.

[TurnThePage]

Our trailer occasionally gets used while stored for the winter in the backyard. The black tank has gone 5 or 6 months partially filled more than once with no ill effects. I also don't go out of my way to dump it if it's only partially full after a trip, because I can dump the gray water tank with a garden hose at home easily.

[time2roll]

Leave it

[Traveler_II]

The only thing I would wonder about would be the seals on the tank valves, if they would be damaged with long exposer.

[jplante4]

I dunno, I would think that letting it stew would make it easier to dump and flush out. Gets all those bugs chompin' on the solids. I pump my septic tank at home at 2 year intervals, nothing bad seems to happen with that. Other than the smell from the vent pipe, I don't see what harm it can do. It's just a tank.

[Pipeman]

put some RV-Digest it in the tank and then it will be liquid by the time you use it again

[BB_TX]

I would also say depends on how long. Over time heavy solids will settle to the bottom and may be harder to flush out.

[wildtoad]

Bleach will kill the beneficial bacteria in a holding tank. Just leave it alone till next time, assuming there is plenty of water in the tank.

[Sam_Spade]

Depends on how long it will sit idle.

If it's more than a month, I'd take it out for a dump. The solids can clump together and make big floating island that would be hard to dump later.

And I would also give it an extra dose of "toilet chemical" or bleach and soap if you don't dump it.

[GordonThree]

I empty mine every 2nd or 3rd outing, as a single guy, I don't generate much black water over a short weekend. The gray tank, that's usually after every 2nd, as I waste a lot of water washing hands and dishes.