How To Flush & Clean Your RV's Black Tank

[@LuisPerez-vy6bz]

Good stuff and thanks for sharing Todd. Good pointer on giving it a few flushes to ensure everything comes out and dropping that chemical tablet at the end! Thank you Sir!

[@miguellugo3511]

Thank you so much. Just starting camping, very instructional and detailed video.

[@GreatAmericanRV]

Awesome!! Welcome to camping we hope you enjoy. Plenty more info in our helpful hacks playlist! -Todd

[@rogerwerner8013]

Thank You , I was confused about the valve being open.

[@GreatAmericanRV]

You are very welcome! Glad we could help out! Subscribe, we always have more how to videos being posted. -Todd

[@orlandowilliamsjr.7010]

Great tutorial, Todd!! Simple yet very informative.

[@GreatAmericanRV]

@@orlandowilliamsjr.7010 thank you!

[@kellybrady7219]

I can smell this video! Also, thank you for the tips.

[@GreatAmericanRV]

😂 hope you subscribed for more!! - Todd

[@Nat-zr9jq]

To deep clean my black tank, i’ve don’t it while traveling to my next stop. First I empty the black tank, (then gray). I fill the black tank about half full and drop some extra strength tank cleaner enzymes in it then a bag of Ice right before I head out. The ice acts as a scrubber to get gunk off the sides as I’m driving and sloshing it around, then empty the tank when I get to my destination.

[@gerrymatheson4020]

Keep all your holding tanks closed, black tank and grey tank(s), until mostly full and ready to dump. You want that full volume of water flow to help carry out all solids and sediments. Even grey tanks can have "sediments" like food particles or hair etc that can get stuck or hung up if just trickling out. Better to keep closed until 2/3+ full then dump. This will keep everything cleaner. Also when ready to dump black tank, run a bit of your grey water first to check for leaks. Better to discover a leak with grey than black water. But save most of your grey to run out last to flush or clean out the black water from your hoses and fittings...

[@deionford9215]

If your sensors aren’t working or reading incorrectly you can just buy a water flow meter to know how many gallons were put into your tank when flushing.

[@warrenrimmer9407]

Thank you, I was wondering WHY it takes so long to drain a black line. Niw I know.

[@noeleenfalkner4557]

Thanks I am living in a RV from the USA in New Zealand. MY black tank wont empty and it maybe clogged NO toilet paper at all we are going to go up the back of it gently and try to flush it out. MIne is hooked up to the sewer system so all i need to do is pull the pulley and it should empty! you use bio pack that is what i am using hopefully it has worked yours obviously has As i am on my own it takes longer to fill so I have put more of those sachets into the black tank

[@bekesir12]

I like how you messed up the end of the intro but still kept it anyways that shows true character

[@GreatAmericanRV]

@@bekesir12 😂 thanks, hey sometimes the words don’t flow. -Todd

[@thomasforrester370]

Just purchased a flow meter&also use a gate value to put between the clear fitting and the hose.

[@rayhuckle]

Inside the tank, include a high pressure hose system on all 4 sides of the tank, ideally placed on the upper inner sides. This system sprays anti bacterial liquid inside the tank and the solution is feed from a separate tank. This will prevent any sensors giving a inaccurate reading of waste level while keeping the tank hygienic and clean

[@masterblaster5342]

Could I spray it in there from a component like a pressure washer or something? Not sure what my tank has.

[@GreatAmericanRV]

They make attachments for the hose that you can use to spray from the toilet if you don't have a black tank flush. I wouldn't use a pressure washer. -Todd

[@amadensor]

How about hook to city water, step on the flush, and use your shower head on a hose to get up to 2/3?

[@GreatAmericanRV]

@@amadensor that’s an option.

[@Random-user-tu2ez]

So im supposed to leave gray tank free flowing to the septic? At all times?

[@GreatAmericanRV]

@@Random-user-tu2ez it’s a matter of preference. If you don’t want to keep going out to empty it, then you can leave it open. If you prefer to wait until it’s full, you can do that as well. -Todd

[@Random-user-tu2ez]

@ awesome thanks

[@pineychristian]

I dont any of those black tank chemicals. They make the stuff in the black tank turn into a paste or slurry. It becomes sticky and clogs over time especially on seasonal campers. I use calgon bath pearls and pine sol. Bath pearls make everything slick so nothings sticks . Pine sol makes it smell good and disinfectant. Pine sol has over 100 uses for it.

[@tammysmith7480]

Thank you! That makes so much sense! I have a concern if u will...🤔👏 My rigs ranks weren't cleaned out at all so will the Calgon help or shud I blast them 1st? Thanks again very 😎

[@pineychristian]

@tammysmith7480 if you are going to have your tanks cleaned wait to use the tank treatment. The mixture is 40oz of pine-sol with 8oz of calgon bath pearls in a 1 gal container. Then you fill the rest of that gal with water. Shake up good. Use 8oz to 16oz per tank. Add 1gal to 2 gals of straight water after mixture in each tank if your rig is moved from campground to campground. If it's seasonal then just mixture per tank treatment. The ideal is if you tow/ drive your rig down road the treatment will slosh around inside the tank and coat everything to make it slick and smell good.

[@KitKat-kw4ed]

​@pineychristian I'm living full-time in my travel trailer. Do I just make up this mixture and pour it straight down my toilet?

[@pineychristian]

@KitKat-kw4ed yes always pour down toilet and also a little in Grey tank. If your living full time in camper your not moving it around. I would do this after your tanks have been emptied completely then add tank treatment. Then I would add about 2 gallons of straight water. This helps so treatment gets coating on tank. If would work better if you tow your rig . I always add treatment plus 2 gals of water when I'm finished camping now I'm towing either home or to next campground. When you tow it will allow treatment to slosh around and coat everything inside tanks.

[@busaracerx]

What if you don't have a meter

[@GreatAmericanRV]

They make water hose meters you can use on your black tank flush hose, if you know how big your tank is you can use that to monitor the amount you're putting in. If you still have concerns overflowing the tank, I would stick to the regular method or get a wand to put down the toilet. -Todd

[@fred881]

ummm what if that piece of toilet paper is stuck on your sensor and your watching your meter its not reading correctly and it starts coming out of the vent tube on the roof do I shut it off or let it keep going till the roof is clean ?

[@GreatAmericanRV]

@@fred881 absolutely possible, but if you have nothing left in your tank and your sensor is reading full at the start of the process, then that would be a good indicator not to trust your sensor. There is some customer responsibility involved. That’s why we give warning in the tip. -Todd

[@HiImBlunt]

I have a hose connected to my black tank can i use that to flush because my outer wall fitting doesnt have a hose connector it has been lost before we had purchased it thanks for any help

[@GreatAmericanRV]

I am assuming you mean the connection on the wall is missing, So the hose that connection hooked to still goes to the tank and you want to hook a water hose to it in order to flush it? If so then yes you can, but the fitting is going to be different, you will still have to purchase the connection. Or get a RV toilet want and feed the hose to the inside of the unit and flush through the opening of the toilet. -Todd

[@HiImBlunt]

@@GreatAmericanRV thanks todd

[@jesserobertson6383]

How do you do get the water from the hook up to the black tank? I have a 2003 21C hybrid and the only water going to the black tank is the toilet water when flushing? Do i just put the hose down the toilet?

[@GreatAmericanRV]

@@jesserobertson6383 yes if you don’t have a an actual black tank flush connection you would be best to purchase a black tank wand to flush your tank. Copy the link below to your browser or google “black tank flush wand”. -Todd a.co/d/7m6HFzX

[@jesserobertson6383]

@@GreatAmericanRV thank you will give it a try. Appreciate the response 👍

[@GreatAmericanRV]

@@jesserobertson6383 always happy to help

[@tecmacamoyolo]

Where do we dump the waste? In the street?

[@GreatAmericanRV]

@@tecmacamoyolo Rv parks have sewage ports at the sites or a designated dump station at the park. If you are located in a private location, septic companies are also an option. They can come pump it out of the tank. -Todd

[@tecmacamoyolo]

@@GreatAmericanRV thank you

[@KitKat-kw4ed]

You can also Google where to dump black tank waste and it'll give you options of places to go to.

[@masterblaster5342]

I have it parked and hooked up to my house (water, electric, and septic) with someone living long term in the camper. Do you have any tips for me? For instance, since I have plenty of water available someone said I really don't need to worry about what toilet paper I use as long as the toilet is flushed several times after use.

[@GreatAmericanRV]

Nothing changes still need to follow all of the same directions. If the tank was eliminated and the toilet was hard piped to your sewer, that would be a different story. -Todd

[@masterblaster5342]

@@GreatAmericanRV Thank you. Love your vids 👍

[@GreatAmericanRV]

@@masterblaster5342 great! Thanks for the support!

[@bryanmcpherson3576]

Do not flush toilet paper in campers and the flush will be quick and easy

[@GreatAmericanRV]

That’s definitely one way to do it. -Todd

[@devinrudloff]

Yes, don’t flush toilet paper. Collect waste toilet paper in your pockets to avoid troubles.

[@TheSevonne]

I need instructions on the details like what side of the hose do you connect, where does it drain into? What does the sewer pipe look like, how do you connect it? What are those levers? Etc. actual instructions. NOT “how to drain your black water tank!” So what you do is you flush the tank. Close it. And you’re done. Don’t forget to subscribe and like and follow and buy my course and give me money!” Ugh 😑 another useless video.

[@GreatAmericanRV]

@@TheSevonne sorry you found this useless. I appreciate the input and am happy to make a video that describes the hook up for a beginner. It’s a great idea and appreciate the input. Also, there is no course for sale or anything of that nature, our channel and tips are completely free. We aren’t even monetized by KZbin, meaning we don’t make a penny off of our videos. We are here simply to give some tips to help camp and answer any questions or comments. Sorry if there was any confusion about that part. I’ll add your idea to my list of videos to make. -Todd

[@BryceWatson-s3b]

Useful vid for me. I think you weren’t listening

[@FWMjokivity90]

great job. how ever. 🗣WEAR SOME RUBBER GLOVES😮 🤢🤮