RV Black Tanks: The Throne Zone You Can’t Ignore!
The Number Two Concern I hear the most...Poop Pyramids
RV life is all about freedom, adventure, and… dealing with your own …problems. Your RV black tank, the dark secret under the throne room. This dirty little secret (I call the glamorous part of RVing) can turn your road trip into a nightmare if not handled properly.
Let’s dive into the doo-doo of proper care and how to avoid the dreaded “poop pyramid” — a other situation no RVer wants to face!
What is a Poop Pyramid and Why Should I Fear It
This throne of terror can clog your system, cause backups, and leave your RV smelling like a porta-potty at a chili cook-off. To avoid this catastrophe, you’ve got to treat your black tank like the king of the RV—it deserves respect, or there’ll be another stinking rebellion.
Step 1: Flush Like You Mean It—Water Is Your Best Friend
When it comes to black tanks, grey too for that matter, water is the MVP of your RV bathroom game. After every “deposit,” give your toilet a good flush with plenty of water.
If you skimp on the H2O. If you do, you’re basically inviting solids to stick around and party.
Aim for a full tank flush every time you dump, and never skimp on how much water you flush the comode with.
Also, I want to be delicate here for some reason. This is men – when imbibing in the golden elixer of life, will sometimes be inclined to recycle said brew near the treeline, thinking this will extend the stay before having to dump the tanks. In reality, this is keeping the tank abnormally out of balance towards the dry side. This recycled beer will help keep the ratio of wet/dry correct. You may need to dump slightly sooner, but you won’t have as many problems.
Step 2: Use the Right Tank Treatments
Tank treatments are like the hero’s of the black tank. But you’ve got to use the right one. Enzymatic are your best bet.
I’ll surely get some feedback here. But, It is my experience that the ‘natural’ solutions proposed by many online experts (borax, detergent, and calgon) are ineffective. You can try it – but I’ve just not been impressed when I did. Also, avoid the cheap discount store “pods” and powders. It is my experience these make things smell better but don’t really do anything to the doodoo.
Look for treatments that are enzyme-based; they digest the solids and paper without turning your tank into a toxic waste dump. Make sure you add treatment after every dump, and let it work very well.
I have had very good luck with Liquified brand treatment. This is not an affiliate link; I just think they have a very good product.
Step 3: The “No TP in the Tank” Debate—Pick a Side!
Some RVers swear by the “no toilet paper in the tank” rule, claiming it’s the best way to avoid clogs and pyramids. Others say, “Flush away!” and rely on RV-safe TP that breaks down easily.
I’m a flusher. There are just things I do not want to contend with.
If you’re a TP flusher, make sure you’re using the good stuff. The best is to test it yourself. Test it by putting a sheet in a jar of water and shaking it. If it dissolves faster than your dreams of lottery riches, you’re golden. If not, you might a different brand. I found that the TP we have at home actually broke down as well if not slightly better than so called “RV Toilet Paper” — your mileage may vary, try this yourself to see how your brand compares.
Step 4: Don't Rush the Royal Flush - Don't dump too soon.
When it comes to your RV black tank, timing is everything. Even with full hookups, never leave the black tank open. I recommend the same for gray, but there is some ‘wiggle room’ there.
Don’t be too eager to dump—wait until your tank is at least three-quarters full, or more, before you empty it.
Why? A fuller tank creates a more substantial flow, ensuring all the gunk gets flushed out properly. If you empty too often when the tank’s barely got anything in it, the solids will stick around, plotting their revenge. Experts agree (as much as they ever do on anything) that waiting for a fuller tank—typically every 3-5 days during a trip or after each camping adventure. This helps maintain a cleaner tank.
We will time our dump with departure time – stopping either at the dump station, or dumping at the full hook up just before you leave to minimize weight. The night before we take long showers to ensure the grey tank is full as well.
When you’re ready to dump, make sure the tank has enough volume for a good flow. If not, flush as much water down as you can. Full is good.
When ready dump (look for a tutorial on that soon!) make sure the connections are solid, then pull the black tank drain first. Let it finish, then close the valve.
Then, and only then, pull the gray tank. This is a cleaner water chase that will rinse out the slinky.
When finished dumping the tank, close the valves, replace the exterior cap, and be sure to add about 10%-15% of your black tank capacity in fresh water to the tank, re-dose it with treatment and you’re done. I usually will add that 10-15% water and treatment after I pull away from the dump station. This frees up the stall for the person behind you. I am sure to save water in my fresh tank to allow me to fill the bowl, and flush it enough times to give the initial fill of water. Then, if traveling I’ll pull the fresh tank dump and be on my way – unless I am choosing to carry that weight with me. That is a topic for another tip.
Final flush - some last minute thoughts
Make sure you know the limits of your camper or RV. If you are over-weight, or even near maximum weight….water is heavy. Get rid of as much as you can…dump. But as much as possible, make sure the black tank is full, even if you need to take a few minutes to flush it continuously with fresh water to get it almost full. That “woosh” rally is your best defence.
Your RV black tank doesn’t have to be the butt of every joke. With proper care, plenty of water, and a sense of humor, you can avoid living like the Egyptians. Next time you hit the road, give your black tank the royal treatment it deserves. After all, nobody wants their vacation to go down the drain.
Stay Where You Are, We’ll Be Right There
As with all of our work, our team will come to you. There is no need to transport your camper or RV to a facility, leave it for days or weeks, only to have to go pick it up again. Whether it is in your driveway, a camp-site, or in storage, we will do our best to accommodate your needs, schedule, and location.
Just contact us, and we’ll take care of the rest.
