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HOW TO CLEAN BLACK WATER TANK IN RV
Most RVs have two types of holding tanks on board: a gray water tank and a black water tank
A gray water tank collects water that goes down the drain of your shower and sinks. The black water tank holds the wastewater from your toilet.
Though it may seem easy to do, you can't just empty your tanks and be on your merry way. Buildup in the black water tank will cause unpleasant odors and potentially disastrous blockages. A clean tank also helps the tank sensors work better, giving you the most accurate readings possible when it comes to the contents and fullness of your tank.
A dump station is ideal for dumping your gray water tank, but dumping a black water tank at a dump station is problematic for two reasons:
Cleaning your black water holding tank is best done when you're fully hooked up and have both a water and sewer connection.
Avoid using bleach or antifreeze for your deep clean, as both of these can dry out rubber seals and ultimately ruin your sewage system. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner doesn't contain the harsh chemicals commonly found in other cleaning products. It also deodorizes, so you can remove stubborn soils and debris while leaving your RV bathroom smelling fresh at the same time.
Emptying and cleaning will vary based on how often your RV bathroom is being used, and how many people are using it. At the very least, you should do a deep clean after each trip, as you won't want to store your RV with wastewater in the tanks. Otherwise, it's recommended that you clean your RV tanks monthly in the summer and every other month in the winter.
Before you begin, you'll need a length of a garden hose that you will always use specifically for cleaning the black water tank. You'll also want to have a backflow preventer on your hose to keep water from coming back into the freshwater system from the black water tank flush. It's recommended that you dump when your tank is ¾ full.
Be sure to protect yourself from any drips, leaks, or splatters by wearing gloves.
If your RV does not have a sewage rinse outlet, use these directions:
Before you begin, you'll need a length of a garden hose that you will always use specifically for cleaning the black tank. It's recommended that you dump when your tank is ¾ full.
TIP: Never leave your black water tank valve open, even when you're fully hooked up. This will lead to what is known as "pyramiding," which is when all the liquid runs out of the tank, leaving the solids to build up and harden.
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