I'm new to rving, though I grew up rving, but my father took care of everything and all I did was have fun.
My basic question is this: What can I do to make the waste in my holding tanks safe to dump into my septic system? I don't want to accidentally put in some toxic chemicals that will mess up the delicate gross biological balance of the household septic tank.
I recently bought a small used trailer. It has a 25 gallon black tank. At my home, I have a septic tank with easy access. I'd like to know if I can dump my rv tanks into a tote and then directly into my septic system and, if so, what additives I can safely use.
I read about some magical poop-chewer that will send it from the rv to the sewer cleanout, but my cleanout is well up a steep hill from where I can park the camper, so I'm thinking I'd rather haul a blue tank up to the septic system with my lawn tractor. Are some blue/holding tanks better than others? The initial expense would be worth it to me to avoid dump station lines (but not if I foul up my septic at home).
If I've missed a thread that explains this, I apologize.
* This post was
edited 08/31/12 11:20am by Really *
A woman, a dog, an old truck, and an even older camper.
A macerator pump will chew up everything and send it down a garden hose to your septic tank, depending on the distance. I dump straight from my tanks into the septic tank at home. I never put any deoderizer or stuff in the TT tanks as I have never had an issue. I clean out and rinse and the job is done. Been doing this for years and never had an issue in the septic field.
If you use only water in the Black tank and make sure that it is full before dumping it will clean out most of the stuff in the tank. You might have to make two trips with your portable tank.
If your new portable tank has plastic wheels change them out to wheels with rubber tires. Your tank will tow better and you will not have to worry about a wheel breaking.
Bob
2001 2500 Silverado LS 4x4 6.0, 4.10
2007 Jayco Eagle 288RLS
Cocktails for 6, Dinner for 4, Sleeps 2
--------------------
End of dirt road, no signs in sight, sun going down: I am not lost, just getting ready to go camping.
make that solid rubber tires, not air filled. I recently changed out my portable generator tires, hand truck, and pressure washer tires all for solid rubber ones from harbor freight. I got tired of always coming out to a flat tire when I needed to use any of them. As for dumping tanks, if you are close enough to the septic at home you don't need to dump first into a portable tank. Just run the hose to your septic and pull the valve. Only thing is make sure you are not running hose uphill, it must have a gradual downslope to dump tank properly. You are fortunate- at my house the septic port isn't in the ground, it's in my pipeline horizontally under my crawlspace so I can't do it.
30 yrs of camping in an RV (all kinds), and have NEVER used those chemicals. Never had an odor issue, either. If you clean out and maintain, you don't need the chemicals. And we do as SWD does....
Papa Bob
1* DW "Granny"
1* 2008 Brookside by Sunnybrook 32'
1* 2002 F250 Super Duty 7.3L PSD
Husky 16K hitch, Tekonsha P3,
Firestone Ride Rite Air Springs, Trailair Equa-Flex, Champion C46540
"A bad day camping is better than a good day at work!"
Unfortunately, my cleanout is up a steep grade so dumping into it directly won't work, but I can get a haul-able tank and use the tractor. (Any excuse to use the tractor!)
Sounds like no chemicals at all, rinse with water, and put better wheels on the cart I buy and I'll be in business.
* This post was
edited 08/31/12 11:20am by Really *
You really don't need any chemicals in your holding tanks. That idea is basically for the RV dealers to make money. Just use plenty of water at the site, and flush the tank well when dumping. Always add some water to the tank after dumping to keep any solids from setting up.
The traps in your drains, the water & seal on the toilet, and the vents on the tanks are normally adequate to prevent odors in the camper.
You should be able to dump at most places you camp before leaving. But if you want to dump at home, the tote will work fine. The Barker totes are generally good, and should work well with your lawn tractor.
If you feel the need for more cleaning, you can search for info on the "geo method" of tank cleaning, which basically involves water softeners to help remove solids, and is safe for your septic system.
2006 Toyota Sienna
Single empty-nester in Middle TN
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