Cleaning the Black Water Tank of Your RV

Your RV makes road trips and camping as comfortable and luxurious as a stay at a nice hotel, but there’s some extra maintenance that comes with that convenience. RVs with toilets will, by necessity, have a black water tank that you’ll need to take care of. This isn’t anyone’s favorite chore, so we at Airstream of Utah have put together some tips for taking care of the black water tank easily. If you have any questions, or you want to see the RVs we have for sale, contact us at our dealership in Salt Lake City, UT, today!

What Is a Black Water Tank?

For folks new to the term or to RVs in general, your camper has three water tanks. The freshwater tank is exactly what it sounds like, while the gray water tank is where water used in sinks and showers goes. The black water tank is the RV’s version of a septic tank, and you can imagine how not caring for it properly or frequently enough could lead to a smelly situation. 

The Cleaning Process

You should make sure to empty the black water tank before hitting the road, both before and after a long trip. This means less weight and better fuel efficiency, but it also helps you remember to take care of things before the wastewater sits too long. Most RV parks and campsites have a dump station where you can take care of this pretty efficiently, but sometimes you have to drive away to find a public station. Hook the sewer hose to the bump station to start emptying the tank. Make sure it’s a good-quality hose — you don’t want this leaking.

Flushing the Tank

Emptying the tank gets rid of most of its contents, but not all. Every so often, you’ll need to flush it. Newer models might have an automatic cleaner for their black water tanks, but if not, you’ll need a rinser or wand that you can stick down your toilet. If you’re using the wand, fit it down the toilet drain and turn it on to force clean water through the black water tank. After you’ve finished flushing it to your satisfaction, remember to add a little bit of water and a chemical treatment before your next trip to make sure the tank continues to function as it’s meant to.

As unpleasant as this chore may be, it’s a necessary part of owning an RV with a working toilet. We hope this guide helps you keep things functional and odorless! If you want more tips, or you’re on the market for a new RV, contact us at Airstream of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT. We proudly serve all those in Park City and Provo.