How To Maintain Your RV Black Tank!
Four Years of RV Life and only ONE clog!
One of the primary things that full-time RV'ers, and any RVer need to know is that the RV waste tanks are not a septic system! They are just what they're called, Waste holding tanks.
"You Have Better Things to Think About Than Your RV's Waste System!"
Septic System vs Waste Holding Tanks
Tanks collect your waste and, once full, must be emptied. Septic systems leach the liquid waste out into the ground where it gets filtered, continues into a "drain field" and becomes nutrition for the foliage and soil. The solid waste settles to the bottom of the septic tank and becomes sludge. Once that builds up enough, the septic tank must be pumped out.
One of the best tips anyone that is new to RV waste tanks can receive is to ALWAYS KEEP YOUR BLACK TANK VALVE CLOSED when not actively draining the tank. If you leave the valve open, the liquid waste will continually drain leaving the solid waste to build up and dry in the tank. This is how a dreaded "poop pyramid" forms. If that happens, there is little you can do to drain the tank and you might be best served calling a professional.
Chemicals in Your Black Tank
Most people use chemicals in their black tank to break the waste down. This is problematic because the chemicals do, indeed, break the waste down but they turn it into a pancake batter consistency sludge. This coats the inside of the tank and renders your tanks sensors useless. Using just a deodorizer, as found as this link: Kleen Tank Deodorizer, is preferred as it will, in theory anyway, keep your sensors from becoming inoperative.
"When Life Hands You Poop, Flush It Away!!"
Septic safe toilet paper is essential for use in your RV. NOT "RV Toilet Paper"! We have used "Angel Soft" for four years and it is absolutely the best for RV needs in our opinion. The one clog we had, three years ago during the pandemic, was when we could not acquire Angel Soft. We ended up using Cottenelle and, although it is labeled "Septic Safe", it did not break down in the black tank and caused a clog. After much flushing and purchasing the "Flush King" (which can be found in our Amazon Store), we were finally able to clear the clog. I watched in horror as fully formed clumps of toilet paper finally flowed out of the tank.
If you'd like to see our entire process for maintaining our black tank, please watch the video below: