Gray/Black Water Tank Cleaning |
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rpodcamper.com
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Location: Reading, Pa Online Status: Offline Posts: 3990 |
Topic: Gray/Black Water Tank Cleaning Posted: 03 Dec 2009 at 3:48pm |
Gray water tanks accumulate soap scum on the sides of the tanks because most of the time people leave the valve open when camping so the tank merely has water pass through it. Old soap scum along with food particles eventually will combine to make some nasty odors. If you have been camping for any length of time you will hear many different ways to freshen the gray water tank and in turn improve the accuracy of your holding tank gauge. Before your next camping trip go to a pool supply store and buy a
32 ounce bottle of de-foamer solution. This is used in spa’s to
eliminate the foam caused by detergent residue in peoples swimming
suits. Stop and pick up 2 lbs of baking soda. Now after your next
camping trip and before you head home fill the gray water tank about a
third of the way. Add 6 ounces of the de-foaming agent down the kitchen
sink and let the faucet run for a few minutes. Okay now drive home. The
sloshing of the tank will neutralize soap scum and wash the tank walls
clean. Leave this solution in the tank until you head out for your next
camping trip or next campground. Before you head out add the 2 lbs of
baking soda through the kitchen sink running water again for a few
minutes. When you get to the campground dump the tank and you have
cleaned out the gray water tank. Black water tanks are cleaned a
little differently but moving the camper sloshing the mix around helps
it get cleaned out also. So you could do both on the same trip. First,
one of the biggest mistakes campers make is keeping the black water
valve open when camping. This is a no no as that allows the liquid to leave the tank and
solids to build up. In the good old days all there was was
a very strong smelling blue liquid that had formaldehyde in it. It did
a very good job on odors but was very hard on campground septic
systems. Today you have dozens of choices and the most environmentally
correct are the enzymatic additives available from any camping supply
store. These do a great job breaking down solids and actually help
septic systems but don’t do as good a job of controlling odors like a
formaldehyde based tank additive. You should wait till the tank is at
least 1/2 full before dumping to allow these chemicals to act and
liquefy wastes. If you have been camping and keeping the black tank
valve open you can still clean the tank. Either way starting with an
empty tank fill balck water tank about 1/3 of the way and add the
recommended amount of black water tank additive. Some people have said
adding a bag of ice will help but I find the tank gets clean enough
from the constant sloshing of the water/additive mix. Drive home or to
the next campground and at the next available hookup dump the tank.
This should be enough to clean the tank and restore accuracy to the
black water tank gauge. |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 03 Dec 2009 at 4:40pm |
I believe the sink is attached to the black water tank - the black water tank gauge rises when I do dishes, and not the gray gauge. Many jurisdictions consider sink waste water to be black due to the food particles and resultant bacteria. So de-foaming agent should go down the shower drain, correct?
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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rpodcamper.com
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Location: Reading, Pa Online Status: Offline Posts: 3990 |
Posted: 03 Dec 2009 at 9:52pm |
They may have changed that in 2010 models but in my 2009 R-pod 171 model I have yet to use the shower but we do wash dishes and I have to empty the gray water also. being 6'4" and the shower being a shoe box just does not work out. So far we have been able to use the State parks or the scout camps we have pulled to.
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Mary and Don
Newbie Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Location: OH & FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 22 |
Posted: 06 Dec 2009 at 3:50pm |
Don & I purchased the Flush King back flush valve which we use to back fill the black water tank after it has been emptied. We back fill until the water runs clear. The Flush King was a great investment.
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cane2
Groupie Joined: 06 Dec 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 92 |
Posted: 06 Dec 2009 at 5:58pm |
Do not know if it is ok to use but i have used --spell check will break on this-- Trisodium phosphate it is used to clean cupboards of grease and grime. It will make a tank look like new and sensors will work again. You put some in tank with water and drive like the rest and you will think you have new tanks. How green it is i do not know.
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