Question about black tank flush

[neveser]

We bought a Premier 19FBPR last year and we're gearing up to start camping. My old RV did not have a flush so I'm not familiar with it. I've watched youtube videos and they all close the black tank and fill it, then release it. The flush port on the back of the Premier has this sticker above it -

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_167057_0_994b3eeda43d4b0c3b61099eebc1455a.jpg

So I'm assuming this system is not like most in that you do not fill the black tank full of water then release?

[hankaye]

neveser, Howdy;

Before you leave you may wish to "test" the flush system.
Pick a hose, NOT one you will be using for your culinary or
kitchen uses, hook it to your flush inlet, turn on the water,
check for leaks, better to find them now and fix before you
need it at the campground. There is a black-flow preventer/
check valve that has a nasty habit of breaking when you
least expect it to.
Everyone has their own system for operating the system.
My personal method is to hook it up, pull the T-handle to dump
the contents of the Black tank. While its dumping I turn on the
water for the flush system and wait until the water color is a
light tan and there are no chunks floating down stream. I'll then
close the T-handle and wait 2 or 3 minutes (I do NOT leave the
immediate area and by that I mean 5 or 10 feet), then open the
T-handle again. Wait for water to become a lighter tan ... repete.
It may be 2 or 3 times and the water should be almost clear.
Turn off water to flush system wait for it to drain from the tank.
While I wait I choose to re-coil the flush system water hose and
put it away. I'll then close the T-handle then go inside and pour 3
caps full of Downey into the bowel and flush it with 3 bowles full of
water.
My simple method for keeping the system clean and I do it every
Saturday, 52 weeks a year (I'm a full-timer).

hankaye

[GaryWT]

The main reason for the sign is you hook up the system and turn it on. If the valve is closed what happens next is your wife asks you to help put something in the truck or a neighbor asks for a hand with hitching up and by the time you remember what you were doing the water is pouting out of your trailer and the entire bathroom or floor is flooded.

That said, the system works on water pressure spray the walls of the tank. If the tank is filling with water then the spray is not reaching anything so you might as well just stand on the pedal inside to fill the tank and not bother getting out a hose etc.

I only use mine once or twice a year. Usually I just dump, refill and dump again.

If I do decide to close the valve for a minute or two I do not take my hand off the handle, that way if I am called away the valve gets opened before I leave.

[{tpc}]

What gary has said is the reason for the sign. Mine has this sign too, but there isn't anything super special about it, other than the potential for disaster if the valve is left shut. At least thats my take on it.

For me, if there is time and I won't hold anyone up, I will use it. If not than I don't. I try my best to get it as clean as possible in there, time permitting. I think there has only been one time where I didn't use it, so we must leave the CG at the right time lol.

[neveser]

Thanks for the info guys. When I saw the sticker it definitely gave me reason to pause.

[MadMax]

neveser, Howdy;

Before you leave you may wish to "test" the flush system.
Pick a hose, NOT one you will be using for your culinary or
kitchen uses, hook it to your flush inlet, turn on the water,
check for leaks, better to find them now and fix before you
need it at the campground. There is a black-flow preventer/
check valve that has a nasty habit of breaking when you
least expect it to.
Everyone has their own system for operating the system.
My personal method is to hook it up, pull the T-handle to dump
the contents of the Black tank. While its dumping I turn on the
water for the flush system and wait until the water color is a
light tan and there are no chunks floating down stream. I'll then
close the T-handle and wait 2 or 3 minutes (I do NOT leave the
immediate area and by that I mean 5 or 10 feet), then open the
T-handle again. Wait for water to become a lighter tan ... repete.
It may be 2 or 3 times and the water should be almost clear.
Turn off water to flush system wait for it to drain from the tank.
While I wait I choose to re-coil the flush system water hose and
put it away. I'll then close the T-handle then go inside and pour 3
caps full of Downey into the bowel and flush it with 3 bowles full of
water.
My simple method for keeping the system clean and I do it every
Saturday, 52 weeks a year (I'm a full-timer).

hankaye

Hello hankaye,
With your system of 3 caps full of Downey and 3 full bowls of water - does your blackwater gauge give proper indications all the time? I would think this might, but don't know. If so, I'll be doing the same.

[hankaye]

MadMax, Howdy;

Hello hankaye,
With your system of 3 caps full of Downey and 3 full bowls of water - does your blackwater gauge give proper indications all the time? I would think this might, but don't know. If so, I'll be doing the same.

Couldn't tell ya one way or the other, I dump mine on a regular basis,
sometimes sooner if the tank tells me to. my idiot lights live behind/under
my raincoat and sweatshirt, so I don't look at them at all. When it's full
the water makes a different sound when draining from the commode, if
my ears are not paying attention the commode will belch back at me to
tell me the bottom of the vent pipe is now underwater. Things one gets
used to when full timing ... I guess...

Ok, took a few moments, decided I was a bit gruff... maybe, anyway,
what I have found is a system that works for ME. It gives ME a clean tank
when I flush it. Yes, it will start to stink again once I use it, why shouldn't it?
Those monitor lights will give false readings as soon as the first piece of
hair or paper or anything gets wrapped around one of the screws that
act as the sensor 'probes' in the tanks. They are so unreliable that they
(in my frank opinion), are only there so the Manufacturer can charge us more $'s
at the closing. Again, my opinion, they are a waste of time, space, and brain energy,
aka worry.
Learn your systems and what it takes to get them to a flushable state then
act accordingly that's all. Know your RV!

hankaye

[MadMax]

MadMax, Howdy;



Couldn't tell ya one way or the other, I dump mine on a regular basis,
sometimes sooner if the tank tells me to. my idiot lights live behind/under
my raincoat and sweatshirt, so I don't look at them at all. When it's full
the water makes a different sound when draining from the commode, if
my ears are not paying attention the commode will belch back at me to
tell me the bottom of the vent pipe is now underwater. Things one gets
used to when full timing ... I guess...

Ok, took a few moments, decided I was a bit gruff... maybe, anyway,
what I have found is a system that works for ME. It gives ME a clean tank
when I flush it. Yes, it will start to stink again once I use it, why shouldn't it?
Those monitor lights will give false readings as soon as the first piece of
hair or paper or anything gets wrapped around one of the screws that
act as the sensor 'probes' in the tanks. They are so unreliable that they
(in my frank opinion), are only there so the Manufacturer can charge us more $'s
at the closing. Again, my opinion, they are a waste of time, space, and brain energy,
aka worry.
Learn your systems and what it takes to get them to a flushable state then
act accordingly that's all. Know your RV!

hankaye

No problem; I didn't think you were gruff. My indicator light panel is also hidden most times by my coats. I was just curious, because you used Downey regularly, that it might help keep the sensors clear. The couple of winters that I spent in mine I did the same - when the commode belched it was time to drain and I drained all the tanks at the same time. Seemed to work out well.
Thanks for your reply Hankaye.

[hankaye]

MadMax, Howdy;

No problem ... Just so ya know, I also have a clear section of pipe so I
can see when the flush water is clear. I have found that using the downey
or whatever solution you choose, shortens the time it takes and utilizes less
water to achieve a clean (as it were), tank. Again, just how I choose to go
about it, you may find a different solution for your needs.

And just so we keep with the OP's question ... I never wander further than
5 or 10 feet from the Operator's area during the dump sequence, especially
when I have the valve shut to accumulate some water to help flush out the tank.

hankaye

[MadMax]

MadMax, Howdy;

No problem ... Just so ya know, I also have a clear section of pipe so I
can see when the flush water is clear. I have found that using the downey
or whatever solution you choose, shortens the time it takes and utilizes less
water to achieve a clean (as it were), tank. Again, just how I choose to go
about it, you may find a different solution for your needs.

And just so we keep with the OP's question ... I never wander further than
5 or 10 feet from the Operator's area during the dump sequence, especially
when I have the valve shut to accumulate some water to help flush out the tank.

hankaye

Hello Hankaye,
I too use a clear drain section and always stay and count for 2 minutes after closing the valve. That is one thing I don't want to ever make a mistake doing.
It's a good thing the OP's question was asked before he discovered the wrong way to to do this. :(

MadMax

[mamawildbear]

Those monitor lights will give false readings as soon as the first piece of
hair or paper or anything gets wrapped around one of the screws that
act as the sensor 'probes' in the tanks. They are so unreliable that they
(in my frank opinion), are only there so the Manufacturer can charge us more $'s
at the closing. Again, my opinion, they are a waste of time, space, and brain energy,

So our sensors are completely off in just a few months of use. 5 trips in, our blank tank reads completely full at all times. We've filled and flushed and sprayed and still reads full. Since the TT is still under warranty we were planning on taking it in and reporting it but I've heard so many people say the same as you that I wonder if it's even worth the trouble. We have discovered through this process that we would actually have to live in the trailer to ever fill our giant black tank so we can safely use it to our heart's content and never even look at a light. What do you think, waste of a trip or worth it to have them look at it?

[Javi]

Pretty much a waste of time.

What works for me is to put a 1/2 - 2/3 cup of Dawn dish detergent into the tank with 5 to 10 gallons of water after dumping and flushing. I pretty much always do this after each outing and before heading home. This seems to keep my sensors working pretty well.

I also do this occasionally in the grey water tanks as it helps keep the odors down as well as the sensors working.

[chuckster57]

I guess I'm the odd man out here, because my sensors work and I keep the tanks clean.

There are products made to clean the sensors, and digest any solid waste. I have found that overdosing the chemicals seems to help. I haven't had to use any cleaners or digester, but I do fill my tank as full as it will go and use the rinser as many times as needed to see clean clear water.

As to your question of taking it in? The dealer will probably fill it with water and one of the products I've talked about, let it sit for a couple of days and drain.

[chuckster57]

Pretty much a waste of time.

What works for me is to put a 1/2 - 2/3 cup of Dawn dish detergent into the tank with 5 to 10 gallons of water after dumping and flushing. I pretty much always do this after each outing and before heading home. This seems to keep my sensors working pretty well.

I also do this occasionally in the grey water tanks as it helps keep the odors down as well as the sensors working.

Looks like he was typing at the same time. This method will work too.

[hankaye]

howdy All;

My responses above are those of a full-timer, my tank levels go up and
down each week, so, I don't have the space to fill it up and let it sit for
a week or more. I pay attention to what my RV says when it "speaks" to
me that's all. So far no major problems (banging the stuffing outta a chunk
of wood right now), ... So what I do with mine ... I do with mine, it works for
me. Others do what they do and it works for them, if not ... they try
something else ... I don't preach a Holy Grail, don't even know where to
fine one ...

hankaye

[chuckster57]

... I don't preach a Holy Grail, don't even know where to

fine one ...



hankaye

There is a fine one in a few movies. I've seen it but never touched it.

[Festus2]

What do you think, waste of a trip or worth it to have them look at it?

If it were me, I wouldn't bother taking it into the dealer to have them look at it. As Chuckster57 indicated, they'll "clean it" using whatever method they employ and return it to you with sensors working --- if you're lucky.

On your next trip, try using one of the methods described here and see if the sensors read correctly. If not, try another method and see what happens. You may find out that you are "back to square one".

The fact that chuckster57 has sensors that work all the time is, IMO, more than of exception rather than the rule. He's one of the lucky ones.

After a while, you'll become used to them not working - don't let that bother you. As long as you're keeping your tanks as clean as you can using whatever method seems to produce the best results, you'll be fine.