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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> Black Tank....
Post Info TOPIC: Black Tank....
whatzleft


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Black Tank....
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Newbie here on the forum, veteran camper... buying a used camper, parked permanetly and was hoping to get some tips on what I can do as far as telling about the condition of the black tank.   My thoughts so far tell me to first just take a look down the toliet with a flaslight and make sure no cones are down there. lol  Install my King Flush clear elbow, and fill the tank, GEO method, let it sit a few days and flush and see what it looks like.  I don't expect to see a clear water (until I start maintaining it. lol)  but hope I do, that will tell me a lot.  I do have a tank wand which I have never used before (always had tank flusher on mine before)  and figured to give it a try. 

Hoping the sensors will work, lol  Yeah right!     I figure if I keep getting the nasty look through the elbow, just keep flushing.  But then I would wonder if there is any real heavy build up, maybe some paddies. sheew!  Anything I can put in there to beak something like that up???  Of course the best thing would be to drive around with some ice in it, but thats not an option really.   Will just flushing finally break up and flush out any hardend substances there?  I know water is our friend when keeping our tank clean, I've just never had one I didn't know much about how it was taken care of.   I've been told no problems with it, and no smells, and after looking over this rig, I beleive that! 

Just wanna feel really good with what I'm starting with.  I guess that first, and second flush will give me at least an indication of that. 

 Just wondering for some other things to look for, or do... any tips are greatly appreciated. 

Look forward to being a part of what goes on here in the forum.

Thanks,

 



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GENECOP


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Sounds like you have it covered, one thing I would do after I took possession would be to have the black tank professionally cleaned. I have heard about services that can get that tank back to new.

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The Bear II


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Some of the RV Black Tank chemicals contain enzymes to help breakup solids. You could use one of these products and let it sit with a full tank for a few days and then flush the tank to see what you get.

Northern Tool sells a camera on a long lead you could use it to look into the tank through the dump valve and toilet. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200498742_200498742

Edit by moderator: Activated link.  Terry



-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 7th of March 2013 07:07:50 PM

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WestWardHo


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At Guaranty RV in Eugene OR last fall service manager told us about a product called Happy Camper, put it in a full tank let sit 30 minutes, flush and drain. Supposed to even handle the back cone of death. We use it for no odors, never had any because we use it and love it.

Sherry

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Lucky Mike


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I use a half cap of(cheap) dollar store laundry detergent and it works well at keeping the smell down and the tank and sensors clean....

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whatzleft


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just a followup on my tanks.... got the water on finally and flushed about 4 full tanks out of it. Looked as clear as the water that went in. I did order the happy camper extreme cleaner, after 4 tank flushed, it did as the label said and let it sit for 2 days.... my gosh at the stuff that came out!!! I flushed 2 more tank fulls after that, and stuff was still coming out, but not nearly as bad. I filled it back up using the GEO method, (water softner and laundry detergent) and will let it sit about 4 days, and see what happens. I may run the other half of happy camper thru the again, just to make sure. That stuff works!

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GENECOP


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Good job, I have heard good stuff about Happy Camper.....

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