🦨 Smelly RV Tanks! (RV Tank Cleaning) (Full Time RV)
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- Опубликовано: 22 май 2021
- That horrible black tank smell 🦨 might just be your GREY tank! And, the fix is super easy!
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In high winds I put blow up beach ball in the middle of each slide topper. You can control the pressure by how full you inflate the ball. Keeps it from flapping, light weight, stores anywhere, lengthens the life of the topper, it works. Try it.
In the yacht world we add white vinegar to tanks. A mild form of acetic acid, cheap and seems to do the trick when a good clean is needed. Fill tank with clean water add a good dose of acid and let it sit for a while. Not sure how this could affect in tank sensors though but we have had zero issues for many years.
I use ZEP brand heavy duty degreaser to clean my grey tank. It will clean out food debris and grease. Add to your empty grey tank and use as normal. The degreaser will eat away at the debris and grease and you just dump next time the tank is full. I use ZEP acidic toilet cleaner for the black tank. Add to an empty black tank and use as normal. Dump and flush when it's full. Works every time.
We've been RVing and boating for 30+ years and have no smells for the past 5 years and our sensors work also! We use Tank Teck and add 1/4 Borax soap on travel days. Simple but very effective!
@@thomashubbert4753 1/8 to 1/4. If the tank has an odor and it's a travel day we use a heaping 1/4-1/3 and fill the tank to 1/3 full and let it clean away.
For both grey and black tanks ?
@@wcitro1 Nope just the black tanks. But borax works great on the grey tank.
Borax is GOD & KING!!! It cleans better than any product on the market hands-down. NO INSECTS (including any species of roaches) for the past 10 years. My husband turned off our power, opened every outlet, and sprinkled borax inside left and right, then restored power. To date, we have experienced an insect free home. BORAX changed our lives.
That is the longest Low Rider I have ever watched!
I live in my motorhome full time and it’s been stationary for about 9 months. When I first got it I was watching about every rv tip video I could, one said to use a heavy dose of dawn or similar dish soap to clean tanks. I’ve done that several times now and the sensors do start working better for a time. This time I used some off brand soap from sams, it was around $6.50 for a gallon. I put about 1/3 of the bottle in each of my 2 tanks mixed into a gallon of really hot water. After a few days the sensors became semi accurate again.
Great video! Yours are by far the best!
Amazing episode guys.... Love all the maintenance videos... Keep up the great work....
Thanks again for some good info, will be cleaning tanks more often. Take care and safe travels.
Great job that little flow meter is cool I usually stand at my black tank flush with my cellphone with the timer on and guess 😮
Oh yes! Always set a timer! 👍🏼
Great video. Just a tip from my own RV experience and grey tanks. The spatula - silicone is the one item I use most daily when RVing. Every plate/bowl is scraped clean as I can get it and disposed of in the trash prior to being washed up at the kitchen sink. I even so far as creating several small strips from a paper towel to use individually to wipe spoons/forks/knives or utensils of food debris prior to washing in the sink.
Another great video! You guys are very informative, and presented in such a fun way too!
To clean my sink traps I put 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the trap pour 1 cup of white vinegar. It will fizz like alka selzer. After sitting about 15 minutes flush with hot water. Trap will be clean and no smell.
and if you do this, you take care of the tank in process. thats thinking right there.
Tara seemed so happy with the jacks moving around to mix the tank! Stay safe guys.
That’s a really cool product! I’m glad you found it I’ll add it to my list thanks !👍
Great video!! We appreciate your advice and experience in these matters. We are not full time but maintaining our tanks is a priority. Thank!
I really appreciate your thoroughness & approach in info sharing. Thanks so much
Good video. Well explained and the shots were great. Happy Camper has good and reliable products. Smile and be HAPPY.
Awesome video!
You guys are the best I enjoy all your videos. Thank you so much I can't wait to try this on my system.
Great info!
(Loved the jet fuel line.. GO NAVY)
Thanks again for the invite. Quite the ride while shaking up things. Glad to see it all worked out fine. Cleaning up your act is not always easy.
Great video! Robert from Citi told me about your page! I just recently ran into the stinky tank issue myself, and after watching this I am going to try out the extreme cleaner! Thanks and happy camping!
Great video on the tanks. Glad you figured out stinky smell. Glad you fixed it too! That’s a lot of work clean those tanks. Chad you are great at cleaning the tanks too! Tara I know is glad to have you around. I wouldn’t like the smell either Tara. Glad it’s all good. Have a great rest of the week and see you both soon!
I had the same problem last year. I filled the galley tank half full of white vinegar and the rest of the tank with water and let it sit for 24 hours. When I drained the tank I thought I had opened the black tank by mistake, because of the odor. There was solidified grease balls from washing the dishes. Now the galley tank is clean with no odors and white vinegar is pretty inexpensive and I don't have to worry about any chemical dust making me sneeze. I also did this to the other gray and black tank. Just another idea that worked for me. Thanks
Funny! Wish we'd seen this video when you posted it. We just had this happen the other day and couldn't figure out where the smell was coming from. We ended up doing the same thing with Happy Camper in all of our grey tanks and it solved the problem. Thank you for sharing this :)
I like these videos because it gives me a heads up on potential issues. Nice job.
We are full time RV'ers and we have a simple solution to holding tank smells.
Don't use unknown chemicals. They simply benefit the manufacturers.
Don't radically flush tanks. This benefits the company's that do the flush and it may make you happy for a short time.
Do use straight Borax, yep, the 20 mule team stuff. Dump in either tank every time you empty the tanks. Approximately 1 cup treats most tanks and costs very little. American people discovered this all natural mineral way before you were on this earth and it works to improve the cleaning power of clothes detergents AND control odors in our holding tanks. Just give it a try!
I always dump the kitchen dish water down the toilet.. problem is.. I accidently didn't see a knife and.. Down it went. I don't think Happy Camper makes a product for utensil retrieval.. I think our gray tank P trap is the major offender too. We just use Boraxo and a few drops of Dawn and it's helped a lot.
Bad sensors fixed. We had sensors that were giving false readings all the time. What we did was the method that uses borax and dawn dish soap. It was mainly or grey tank but our black tank started giving false levels sometimes no matter how much flushing I did to either tank. Desperate for a fix, I was considering a professional crew to do the task and at the time, I had an estimate of $135. I held off for one more experimental try with borax and dawn dish soap on a travel day. Well, we were extremely surprised. After we got to the next site, I almost forgot to flush the two tanks. I filled both tanks to the top (we drove with ~15 gallons) and didn't notice much more or darker water coming out. The black tank did have some TP come out that shouldn't been there. When we were done, I treated both tanks with Happy Camper, as usual and went to the meter to check the levels and it was fixed. I now load up the black and grey with borax and dawn dish soap about every 3rd time we travel but I don't bother with the flush when I get set up. I just fill the tanks normally and no more sensor problems.
EXCELLENT VID. We appreciate your demonstrations and look forward to joining the full-timeRVers lifestyle next year. Our interest to go tiny has changed our perspective of home buying, so we are doing our homework before making the transisition. I always wondered how RV ppl managed sewage and now I know. Foul odors are a deal breaker for me and knowing this information is very very helpful. I can say with certainty that RVlife will be a pleasure. TYSM 🕊
The comments on this video have been just as helpful as the actual video. Love the Changing Lanes community!
Y'all are hilarious and I absolutely love your realness! Thank you for being so willing to be transparent with all your experiences! I am a newbie and your videos are very helpful!
Thanks! 😊
I use Calgon water softener cap full and dawn 1/4 cup in both gray and black tanks when I move the camper, works great, keeps the tanks clean.
When I had my Teton fifth wheel I used a product for my black tank that helped to basically disintegrate/break down the contents of the holding tank. Didn't really have a problem with smells. Have to say the manual agitation part of the video was great, I got a great chuckle out of that just imagining what must your neighbors be wondering what was going on over there. Great video as usual. Safe travels guys.
Thank you so much for this info! I tried to order from multiple sites but it’s back ordered everywhere. You started a rush on the product 😂.
Ha!
I just started using Happy Camper this morning.
I had to use up my orange Camco stuff first, since that is what I bought before I watched your other video about black tank maintenance a while back.
Thank you so much! My wife and I are new to RVing and we are about to start our adventures! Bought the RV in November in Pennsylvania! It has been and continues to be the LONGEST 5 months!!! I have been researching for months (two+ years) and your videos have really helped me to feel confident moving forward! Safe and happy travels to you two!
We actually had good results on the sensors using 1 cup dishwasher soap, 1/2 - 3/4 full tank (clean water) and a travel day. Dump at destination and rinse. Dishwasher soap is designed to cut grease and grime on your dishes, so will clean the tanks the same way. Also cheaper to use multiple times (dollar store brands work as well as any)...😉
We use calgon liquid dishwasher soap works decent
I do this but also add a cup of borax. Works awesome!
@@chertweck Also use the exact same recipe and it works extremely well!
@@chertweck I'm seeing borax is the way to go with a cup of dawn,
@@georgematos1086 I personally wouldn’t use dawn. Suds too much, but if the dawn is working for you go for it! I use a cheap dishwasher liquid, doesnt get sudsy and does a good job on still cleaning
So glad I subscribe to your channel; my wife complained of the exact same thing 2 weeks ago, I checked the black tank and it was empty, I always drain and flush it anyway. Now I feel that my kitchen grey is the problem as it is the same exact place she and I experienced the sewer smell. And great follow up with the toilet seal grease, didn't know it existed, so glad to have you folks as RUclips friends. We're not full-time yet but soon. Thanks again from Vegas....
We love Happy Camper! We have gave it to friends and family when they got their new rigs. Ordering now the cleaner.
It seems many sources are out of stock... You might try contacting them to see when it will be in stock (www.happycampersworld.com/contact-us/). We've also tried with no response, but maybe if we all contact them... 😀
People walking by while you were doing the agitation with the level system must have thought you guys were on you honeymoon.😳❤️🤣
If the trailers rockin’ don’t come knockin’ 🤭
Happy Campers!
😂😂😂
Happy Camper user myself. If you can only empty the gray about 2/3's full will help keep a lot of the scum from getting on the walls and bottom. Usually do Calgon water softner along with Cascade dishwasher gel (avoid phosphates) and 5-10 gallons on a travel day to help with odor and cleaning. Safe travels
I have been putting Happy Camper in the grey tanks for years, never had smell problem.
I've only had my camper for a year and i only have used rv digest it since new and my tank sensors still work fine for now.
Great video I have to get some of that product, we did have a big stinky smell coming out of the tanks. Family was blaming it on me lol
Pine sol does a nice job cleaning things out. Went on a 4 HR drive to campground the tanks where good and cleaned.
Boy! Talking about tanks can bring to mind some pretty twisted thoughts 💭
Anyhow, great video. I’ve used the toilet product in the sinks and shower drains but not the tank. I must run out and get only 2 containers. The plumbers grease is something that I never thought of.
Again awesome and thanks for some perverse chuckles 🤭
The Great Carnak sees a leveler repair video in the near future. I hope you didn't break anything. Keep the good stuff coming guys.
We’ll be buying some of that for our rig! Great video and thanks for the info. 👍👍
Great info, thank you.
I installed SeeLevel gages on my tanks and they work great. They are on the outside of the tank.
I had the same problem with my gray tank. Drove me crazy. I always cleaned my black tank really well, so I was like what the heck... lol. I’ll have to check out happy camper products. Thank you!
A stinkin good episode!
I'm glad to see that while adding the powder you are off to the side and not directly over the toilet plus you sprinkle it in.. From recent experience I will be following your technique or wearing Safety glasses as when I was adding treatment to the toilet the water went Plop and shot a bullet into my eye. Direct hit! Trip to the local ER was needed. I'll have to try the Extreme cleaner when it's back in Stock.
Safe travels
Watched this, got back from a trip, cleaned out the trailer, next day I walk in and WHAM... not a good smell. Pumped water in to fill sink p-traps, smell gone. Great timing on this video! Our trailer is only a few months old, so good tip for any RV.
You guys are great! Loving your videos!
Great stuff, as always! Thanks.
So Chad, it irritates the eyes, nose, throat, wife, dog, neighbors, but it works!? Glad there’s something out there that does. Tara, you probably didn’t think that particular day editing you’d have to take a Dramamine and strap in, did ya? No telling what the neighbors thought. But this is another great example of why your vids are so valuable. You do helpful tips and pass along your experiences, something much different for full timers to do. You see situations faster than part timers and can help prevent tons of probs. So, as usual, thanks for another great vid. And, Tara, you ALWAYS make me laugh. 😉 Troy
Good video. Liquid dishwasher detergent applied on travel days has made a lot of difference for us, with a good amount of water added for agitation. It helped our sensors as well. I get black “gunk” water from the grey tank - so I know it helps remove grease and grime!!
One of the best ways I found to clean the sensors was after dumping and leaving a campground, was to dump a couple of bags of ice in the tank and it going down the road took care of it. More than one application depending on may be needed. Stay safe!
Good video-Thank You! I used a black tank rinsing wand which shoots a strong narrow stream of water. It cleaned our sensors. These wands are made by Cambro. :)
Great Video, I would like to let you all know, the tank sensors are a ground based diode system.. No voltage is in the tanks.
Looks like a great product.
You are right, lots of people don't know the grey tank can smell as bad as the black tank.
When this RV is rockin... Don"t come knockin...It"s only Chad scaring Tara and Daisy cleaning the waste tanks.
🤣
I'm about to buy a Class A motor home for full time rv'ing. I've watched many of your videos and appreciate your knowledge and information. Thank you. Maybe I'll see you on the road one day. Take care.
I've used Calgon water softener and laundry detergent mix in both black and gray tanks. Capful of each into each tank (40g capacity). That has helped a lot. Water softener IMO is a key ingredient as it helps the water and soap do their jobs.
Looks like Chad's arms are starting to get a bit short, as he was holding the happy camper way out to read the instructions :)
Looks like you guys are in New Mexico with those winds. Great video, thank you for sharing this!!!
Great video guys as always.
Great video thank you I learned a lot for our RV. 😁✌🏽❣️
Thanks for your content, i like it. Greets from Germany.
Replace your P traps with Hepvo valves, remove the air admittance valves and you won't have to worry about the smell backing up thru the pipes.
Our Durango Gold 356RLT is 5 months old, first two months were at the same campground,. We use RV Digest It in all of our tanks. We would flush our black tank every third dump. We always flush day before a travel day. Our sensors work perfectly.
When doing our fresh tank sanitizing we pump the bleach water into all of the holding tanks, each getting 10-15 gallons. We do this right before the 1st trip of the year. We then dump the bleach water at the camp site. Get double duty out of the water.
Very cool video! Glad for the disclaimers. Damn fine job! 🖖🏻🙏🏻😘👍🏻
Great tip with the plumbers grease on the flap! I clean our tanks with Borax and Dawn soap after Memorial weekend trip, and noticed the bathroom stinking!
We used three large scoops of water softener pellets along with a cup of dish soap and about 20 gallons of water, in both black tanks, on our travel day. We drained and flushed our tanks after about six hours of driving. Both of our sensors now work properly. We have added this process to our yearly list of things to do.
Great video. Thank you.
2005 Holiday Rambler DP and with a good dose brand name tank chemical along with 4 to 6 oz of high quality dish liquid then adding several gallons of water before travel, we've been able to clean the black tank sensors to the point that they give us reliable readings. Same process with gray tank and although it wasn't horrible to begin with it seems to be much more reliable now.
Great ideal I would not have thought of that. One thumbs up
Aqua Kem in black tank after each dump with 4 gallons of water works for me on our sensors. Helps with smell and keeps it cleans and it splashes around while traveling.
Hey, Y’all… After you chemically cleaned the tanks, I would flush them once with fresh water and then use an enzyme digester to clean your sensors.
I used a product called UNIQUE, which is an RV and Marine holding tank treatment that liquifies all the waste around the sensors, including toilet paper (one of the side benefits is that you don’t need RV TP). It says it maintains working sensors, but it got my non-working sensors working. I use it in black & gray tanks… Good Luck and keep up the Great Videos… OBTW, You won’t need any Happy Camper if you use UNIQUE…👍
I think IYO mentioned using dish soap to clean a tank and sensors. Our grey tank sensor works well so far (just completed our 4th weekend) but the black tank sensor reads mostly full when empty but then drops down after some use.
I buy the large Dawn dishwashing jug, after camping for a week, and tanks all drained, I will pour 1 cup of dawn down the sink and down the toilet. I'll pour 5 gallons of hot water down into the tanks, and drive home. I'll leave that in my grey and black tank until next camping trip. It helps clean, bubbling action when sloshed around from driving. Also in the black tank, I'll put a capful of fabric softener into the black tank. My tanks always smell good when doing that procedure lol.
Chad,
You might want to check out a product called Unique.
I've used this on my tanks & only requires 2 to 4 oz. per treatment.
I normally put about 20 gallons of water in tanks on travel days then 6 to 8 oz. of the product & have had very good success cleaning both tanks & sensors.
Keep up the Great Video's
great info guys thanks so so much!
👍
You have a faulty air admittance valve under the sink. Had the same problem, but now it's fixed💯👍 no more bad smells.
I got a black tank smell only when flushing toilet. Found the vent line to the roof came apart in the basement. Put it back together and put screws in it to make sure it stayed together.
TR Bowlin on RUclips suggests using 1/2 cup Boraxo and 1/2 cup Dawn into the black tank (2/3 full) and drive for one travel day. I followed his directions and my tank sensors began working right away. Give his video a look.
Hope you guys are well, missed you over the Holiday. Head North kind of warm in the South. We are about to head North just as soon as we can.
Wow that wind good video!!
What an awesome video. Shaking trailer was hilarious. Thanks for the tip on the toilet seal never knew that.
Great video! I wouldn’t have been able to stay in the camper while you were manually agitating!
I've had pretty good luck with the Zep Heavy Duty Cleaner/Degreaser for my greywater tank
Dang OOS everywhere right now. Thanks for sharing this for sure will pick some up ASAP.
When I clean the sensors in my tanks I use dishwasher soap. I dump 1 cup down sink and toilet and then fill the tanks to just above where the sensors are saying level is. I let it splash around in the tanks for at least a good hour or two just depends on how long of a drive to the campground. ( Don't use regular dish soap it will Sud up more then you will like)
Wow guys! You literally drove them to sell out of the product! Not available any longer, even on Amazon! 😊 I hope Happy Camper takes notice.....great work as always! Hope to meet you on the road one day!
You two have the best videos that are always pertinent, comprehensive, thoughtful, and useful! Like you, I used Happy Campers and I was very happy not to have any odors from either the Black or Gray tanks. But I noticed over time that I was dumping more frequently and so I dropped a camera into the tanks to see what was going on. A thick layer of sludge had built up on the bottom of the tanks. I tried something new to me... Unique RV Digest-It. Initially I was not too happy because some odors returned but the frequency of dumping began to get longer. After 6 weeks the odors are gone and I've gone from dumping every 6 days to 12 days and my sensors are perfectly accurate. I've tried everything over the years and settled on Happy Campers until using this RV Digest-It. Give it a try, stick with it for 90 days and see if it works for you.
Had similar build up problems with Happy Camper
Happy Camper is for odor. Must use a cleaner regiment as well.
nice video, I did read on the Happy camper you are using for the black tank that it covers using some in the grey tank. Also Thetford RV Toilet Seal Lube and Conditioner works great on the seals so you don't have to use plumbers grease and a glove. Also there is a Sea Level Tank Monitor for the tanks that goes on the outside of the tanks and reads in percent that is supposed to work great without messing up.
Do you know the name of the outside monitor?
When you asked about fixing the sensors, using the bio-Geo method, (putting 2 cups borax and 2 cups dawn ultra ***NON-ANTIBACTERIAL*** every time we dumped for two months brought the sensors back to life in our old 2016 Momentum. Highly recommend it and still do it now in our Riverstone!! It has also worked for three of our friends that tried it. Hope it works well for you!
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