Waste tanks --- full or empty?

[Larry Tiner]

I couldn't find a link addressing this. When we leave the RV at the campground and head home, we dump all tanks and flush black tank. I'm hearing a strain of thought that recommends dumping, cleaning, then filling with clean water and letting it sit until we return so the 'stuff' in the tanks don't dry out.
Any thoughts?



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[Mr. Dan]

I never refill my tanks with clean water or anything else after I dump when leaving a campground. I DO add 5 gallons or so of water to my black tank.

[Larry Tiner]

Thanks, Mr. Dan. I never thought about leaving it empty would dry out the residuals. 5 gallons sounds good to me.


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[Terier]

I also do the same as Mr. Dan.


I don't think it would hurt to refill the tanks but it's added weight (not a problem for most people) but then you have full tanks to deal with at the start of your trip.

[NMWildcat]

We always dump, rinse, then add a few gallons with chemicals to the black tank. Also dump a little of the yellow gray tank deodorizer in all the drains.

[Larry Tiner]

Great tips! Thanks!!


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[SkipBest]

We dump rinse and dump.

When the tank is drained we add a few gallons and some Tank Tech RX. All seems good using this method.

[Herk7769]

I always leave a few gallons of water in the black and gray tanks during the season with 1 laundry load of detergent and 1 laundry load of Calgon water Softener.

When I winterize, I add 1/2 quart of RV-Digest-It (by Unique) to each tank and fill them to the top and let them sit for 72 hours or more; then dump and turbo rinse (I installed one on my gray tank, too).

My tanks are link new, don't smell, and (with Horst probes) the tank monitoring systems work flawlessly.

[Flybob]

X2 on dump completely when leaving. Once home I add 3-4gals of water and a an oz of Rid-x to help decompose anything that may be left. When I winterize in the fall, I add 10 gal of water and some Odoban and let sit for a few days before I drain and winterize.

[Dave Lyon]

After dumping at the campground, I dump 5 gallons of water into the black tank with laundry soap and let it slosh around on the trip home. I then drain it and fill it with water and drain it again; and store it with both gray and black tanks empty.

I use the geo method and never had issues with tank smell or dried waste in the black tank.

[johnm1]

We use the Geo Method as well and don't add any extra water to the black tank after dumping. I do this because one of my RV's in the past has had a paltry 23 (or was it 28?) gallon black tank and if I added ~5 gallons I'd have lost almost 20% of my holding capacity before I even started camping.

One of the main reasons we bought a RV in the 1st place was to have our own bathroom so we use the tanks to the max almost every time we go camping. I don't put much thought into the "dummy" light gauges. I turn off the pump, push down on the toilet foot pedal and see how my space is there ... just don't do this right before dinner

my two cents ...

[Herk7769]

Adding a few gallons to start is just good insurance to prevent the dreaded "Tower of Doom" under your drop tube into the tank.

A dry tank will allow that first flush to stick to the bottom starting the tower.

Subsequent uses will keep the tower going and at dump time, the push from the water might not completely clean the floor allowing it to dry out and build a solid base for future troubles.

Ounce (or gallon) of prevention...

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by Terier

I don't think it would hurt to refill the tanks but it's added weight (not a problem for most people) but then you have full tanks to deal with at the start of your trip.

He leaves his RV at the campground. I'm guessing he is seasonal.

[moff34]

To aid in keeping our tanks clean, I installed a sewer drain connection next to my storage pad at home. It has been a great investment. A clear sewer connection elbow is also a critical part of the process as I know how many refill / flushes of the black tank it takes before the water runs clear.

When camping, prior to what I know will be our final dump before leaving, I add Calgon water softener. On moving day, I dump the black tank, refill / flush five times, then dump the grey tank. I then fill both tanks to 1/3 full and add Calgon water softener and three Tide laundry pods to each tank for the drive home.

During the drive home both tanks get a thorough cleaning from the agitated water, water softener, and laundry detergent mix.

Upon arrival at home I immediately hook up to my sewer connection and drain the black tank. I am always amazed at how much more crud flows out even though I flushed the tank 5 times immediately before leaving the campground. I turn on the tank flushing hose and continue refilling and dumping until the water runs clear, usually about 3 more times. I then dump the grey tank and run water in the sinks refilling and dumping until the water runs clear. I leave the drain hose attached for an hour or more with both dump valves open to make sure they are thoroughly drained then close everything up until the next trip.

After 25 years of motor homes and trailers this method, continually modified over the years, has served us well.

[TandSH]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

We always dump, rinse, then add a few gallons with chemicals to the black tank. Also dump a little of the yellow gray tank deodorizer in all the drains.

X2

[RollingDownTheHighway]

If we're going out again soon, I'll dump 5 gallons or so and some cleaner in the black tank. I let it sit and swoosh around to and from the CG's, then dump it at the CG.

[ilmor]

Originally Posted by Larry Tiner

I couldn't find a link addressing this. When we leave the RV at the campground and head home, we dump all tanks and flush black tank. I'm hearing a strain of thought that recommends dumping, cleaning, then filling with clean water and letting it sit until we return so the 'stuff' in the tanks don't dry out.
Any thoughts?



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Black tank should never be empty. Even after draining, you should be adding the chemical and a gallon or so of water (whatever the chemical instructions state). Even during the winter I have RV antifreeze in there.

[Larry Tiner]

Thank y'all for the input. Took notes.


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[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by awellis3

He leaves his RV at the campground. I'm guessing he is seasonal.

Seams like most missed that ???

[wildwoodtraveler]

Originally Posted by moff34

To aid in keeping our tanks clean, I installed a sewer drain connection next to my storage pad at home. It has been a great investment. A clear sewer connection elbow is also a critical part of the process as I know how many refill / flushes of the black tank it takes before the water runs clear.

When camping, prior to what I know will be our final dump before leaving, I add Calgon water softener. On moving day, I dump the black tank, refill / flush five times, then dump the grey tank. I then fill both tanks to 1/3 full and add Calgon water softener and three Tide laundry pods to each tank for the drive home.

During the drive home both tanks get a thorough cleaning from the agitated water, water softener, and laundry detergent mix.

Upon arrival at home I immediately hook up to my sewer connection and drain the black tank. I am always amazed at how much more crud flows out even though I flushed the tank 5 times immediately before leaving the campground. I turn on the tank flushing hose and continue refilling and dumping until the water runs clear, usually about 3 more times. I then dump the grey tank and run water in the sinks refilling and dumping until the water runs clear. I leave the drain hose attached for an hour or more with both dump valves open to make sure they are thoroughly drained then close everything up until the next trip.

After 25 years of motor homes and trailers this method, continually modified over the years, has served us well.

How much Calgon water softener do you add? Liquid? What size are your tanks? I keep mine pretty clean but the sensors are off so must be some crud on them. I do have the clear connectors for the drain hose and luckily have a built in tank flush system which I use.