As an RV traveler, you understand the importance of having the right RV sewer hose set up and black water tank set, but may not be aware of how long the waste can stay in the tank.
Black water is the wastewater from your RV’s toilet. If not handled properly, the solids and liquids held in your RV’s black water tanks can become a health hazard.
What is Black Water in an RV Holding Tank?
The wastewater from your camper toilet is known as black water. A black RV holding tank is a sewer-holding tank found in recreational vehicles (RVs).
Black RV tanks are used to store the sewage and wastewater from the toilets in your RV, camper, or motorhome. The black tank is typically made of a durable plastic material that prevents any leakage or odors.
However, these waste storage tanks must be emptied regularly in order to keep your RV’s sewer system functioning without excessive RV sewer smells, “poop pyramids”, or RV sewer hose clogs.
Knowing how long black water can stay in an RV holding tank is one key factor to using your tank correctly and safely.
In this blog post, we’ll cover:
- The basics of black water holding tanks in RVs
- How long black water can stay in your RV tank
- Best practices for managing your RV black tank
Can I Leave Black Water in My Camper’s Black Tank?
Yes, you can leave dirty waste water from your RV toilet in your black tank until your camping trip is over or the tank becomes full. However, your camper should never be stored with dirty water in the tank. So once your RV trip is over it, even if your black tank is not yet full, you will want to dump your black and gray tanks.
What Happens if I Store Dirty Water in the Holding Tanks of my Camper?
A black or grey tank left with dirty water in storage can attract bugs, a build-up of bacteria, mold, and bad odors, as well as potentially damage your RV holding tanks and sewer pipes. If left for too long, residual waste water can start to build up and create a slimy, smelly mess that will be difficult and expensive to clean up.
How Long Can Black Water Stay in Your RV Holding Tank?
When calculating the amount of time black water can stay in your RV’s black tank, there are a few factors to consider.
How often do you need to empty your RV’s black water tank?
In general, it is advisable to empty and clean out the holding tank every three to five days, depending on usage. If camping long-term, your black tank will be easier to empty, flush, and clean if it is only dumped once it is actually full.
Additionally, using RV tank treatment in your black tank will help break down solids, making it easier to empty your tank, and reduce odors. Following these steps will help ensure that black water does not remain in an RV’s holding tank for too long.
3 Signs Your RV Black Tank is Full and it’s Time to Dump
Knowing the signs that indicate a full tank and when to empty it is important to keep your tank from clogging or becoming overfull and causing other RV sewer issues.
RV Toilet Smells Throughout Camper
One of the most common signs of a full black water tank are an unpleasant smell. Though, RV sewer smells can be caused by broken toilet seals too. So, if you’ve already emptied your tanks and you’ve cleaned your RV black tank using a rinser, but are still smelling something stinky, it may a leaking RV toilet seal.
Your RV Toilet Burps When Flushed
If your RV black tank is full, you may notice that your RV toilet “burps” when it is flushed. This is because the black tank, which contains wastewater and toilet waste, has reached its capacity. When the tank is full, air will escape from the toilet as it flushes, creating a burping sound.
RV Tank Sensors Show When
The holding tank monitor panel of your RV can tell you how full your black tank is. This sensor typically uses a light or number system to indicate how full the tank is.
The black tank sensor can give you an idea of how long you can the leave waste water in your RV before it will need to be dumped. However, these sensors are very sensitive, can be difficult to keep clean for a proper reading, and are sometimes unreliable.
H4 Our Experience With RV Holding Tank Sensors
When we first got started RVing, we checked our tank sensors. Now, that we have an idea of our holding tanks capacity and our typical usage, we rarely check the sensors.
We also noticed that a few months in they weren’t very accurate. They began to state that our black tank was full after we had dumped it and used fresh water rinsers to flush the black holding tanks.
It’s important to empty the black tank regularly to ensure proper functioning of your RV’s plumbing system and to avoid any unpleasant smells or overflows due to a full tank.
How to Properly Dump RV Black Water Tanks
Once the capacity of your black water tank is reached, you’ll need to empty it.
To empty your tanks, you’ll need to locate a designated dumping station, utilize the sewer hook-ups at your campsite, or dump your tanks at home as long as it is permitted. You also have the option of using a portable wastewater tote if your campground offers a dump station but doesn’t have sewer hook-ups at your campsite.
Start by parking your RV on level ground, and ensure the park’s dump station is close and easily accessible. Attach the sewer hose to the RV’s black water tank drain valve, then secure it with a hose clamp.
Before and while dumping your tanks, make sure the hose is securely attached to the dump location’s sewer connection, and that the connection is not leaking.
When everything is secure, open the black water tank valve, and all other valves associated with the black water tanks, to allow for a full draining. Once the tank is empty, use your RV’s automatic flush (if you have one) or use a manual black tank flushing system to flush out the tank until the sewer hose adapter runs clear.
Once all black tanks are fully emptied and flushed, close all black tank waste valves and disconnect the sewer hose from the RV and the sewer connection at your dump location. Store all of your RV sewer hoses and accessories in a storage
Lastly, use a garden hose designated only for use with your camper sewer items to rinse the sewer hose and your favorite RV sewer accessories with fresh clean water. Finally, disconnect the sewer hose from the RV and run more water through the hose and down the sewer drain to clear out the hose.
These steps will help you safely and properly dump RV black water.
Tips for Increasing the Time Between Black Tank Dumps
When it comes to RV black water tanks, one of the key goals is to extend the time between smelly tank dumps. To help you do this, here are four tips:
1. Practice proper maintenance. Make sure that the seals and valves of the tank are properly sealed and in good condition. This will prevent the accumulation of odors and waste, allowing you to go longer between tank dumps.
2. Use an RV enzyme treatment. These treatments help break down solids and other organic matter, allowing you to go longer between tank dumps.
3. Regularly add water to the tank. This will dilute the waste and help it to break down more easily.
4. Use an RV tank cleaning service. Have a professional drain and flush your tank once a year for a thorough cleaning that will help you go longer between tank dumps.
5. Keep your tank clean. The fifth way to maintain tank integrity is to keep the tank clean. This means regularly emptying, flushing, and cleaning your RV tank according to your RV black tanks manufacturer.
Benefits of RV Black Water Tank Treatments
RV black water tank treatments offer a wide range of benefits for RV owners. Not only do these treatments help keep the tank clean, but they also help to keep odors under control and reduce build up. Treatment products can help to break down waste and toilet paper, leaving tanks free of clogs and blockages.
RV black water tank treatments also help reduce the growth of harmful bacteria. When used regularly, these treatments can extend the life of the tank, saving RV owners money in the long run. RV black water tank treatments provide a safe and easy way to keep tanks clean, keeping RV owners and their tanks in top condition.
How to Keep Your RV Black Tank From Smelling
If you want to keep your RV black tank from smelling, the first step is to make sure it is cleaned and flushed regularly. This can include using a special RV-friendly black tank cleaner and flushing out the tank with a powerful water hose.
Additionally, be sure to use the right type of RV-safe toilet paper. Using the correct toilet paper for your camper will reduce the change of clogs and make it easier to keep your black tank clean.
You Can’t Leave Dirty RV Water in Your Black Tank for Long
In conclusion, black water in an RV tank can be a source of concern. It is important to ensure that your tank is always emptied and cleaned properly to avoid any potential poop problems.
With proper maintenance and care, RV tanks can remain in perfect working condition and provide a safe and pleasant campground experience for years to come.
