RV Black Water Maintenance | Episode 2

posted on : August 13, 2020 posted by : Melina 0 Comment

The Scoop on Poop

Black water maintenance is the elephant in the room when it comes to the RV lifestyle. Absolutely everyone in the RV community has to deal with it, but no one wants to talk about it.

So, sound the homemade toilet paper roll horns because we’re here to tell you everything we’ve learned about tank maintenance so you can camp worry-free and avoid a (literal) mountain of trouble. In this episode you’ll hear about:

A man in flip-flops rocking his trailer at the dump station like he was looking for loose change (we’ve seen this happen twice now)
That time in New York State where we learned the hard way about knowing your tank inside and out (literally)
All the RV Black Water maintenance tips we’ve compiled over the years so you can travel stress-free
A list of our favourite RV essentials for keeping everything *ahem* running smoothly
And to end on a high note, we talk about our recent trip to Selkirk Provincial Park and give you all the details you want to know

Let’s go!!

The Essential Info on RV Holding Tanks

As we’re all for brevity, especially when it comes to toilet-talk, if you take anything away from this list, it would be these top tips (but still listen to the episode anyway…and maybe subscribe) 🙂

RV Holding Tanks are NOT like residential sewers
Keep the gate valves closed until your tank is AT LEAST 2/3 full
Empty the Greywater AFTER the Blackwater
*Don’t* put gobs of TP down the toilet (we put ours in a trash can)
DO make sure you treat your tank when you use it, AND at the end of your trip along with at least 1 gallon of water
DO get a clear elbow to attach to your outlet to *see* that everything comes out when you flush
If you have a black water wash – use it – if not, buy an attachment that lets you do it
If you camp without full hookups, consider a portable dump tank, they are a lifesaver!!
NO flip-flops at the dump station!
WEAR PPE (protective gloves) – otherwise, EW…
Take your time and don’t rush (good advice for both episode #2 and the regular #2)

Does Ice Work to Clean Your Tank?

This has been a hotly debated subject for a long time. Some people swear by it. We have tried it and it didn’t work for us. In the episode, we talk about The Fit RV who debunked the myth. You can see the video below:

Just Give Me The Goods!

Alright! Here are the actual products we use in our own rig. As mentioned on the show:

No one pays us to review or test products and we don’t get them for free.
We mention products on our show because we LOVE how they work or they may make our life better in some way.
As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small commission from Amazon for your purchase. You do not pay more for any product purchased through our website. Happy shopping!