Why have your tanks cleaned?

What's hiding in your tanks?  More than you probably know.

The black and grey tanks each have their own unique problems, but both can  accumulate  sludge on the walls as well as Struvite in the bottom of the tank, and in the pipes leading out from the tanks over time. Struvite is a crystal made of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate that can become hard like concrete. Sometimes you can’t  tell you have it until you’ve had your tanks professionally cleaned with  hydro-jetting.  It can be a thick, sandy muck, and sometimes they can also come out looking like large rocks. 

The more gunk layers there are, the more problems you could experience:

· your tanks will get heavier

· the tanks will drain less efficiently

· sensors stop working well, if they work at all

· if bad enough, your gate valves can get stuck

· high levels of bacteria and mold can grow, leading to…

· odors coming from your tanks that chemicals and rinsing cannot  eliminate. 

Then there’s the dreaded pyramid. A poop pyramid forms when the solid waste that is flushed down the toilet forms  a pile under the pipe coming down from the toilet and there is  not enough water being  used to break it up. Most of us do not use nearly enough water in our black tank. Being too efficient there in an attempt to not have to dump more often than “necessary”, is the #1 issue that gets RV’ers into trouble with their blank tanks. It’s one of the main issues that creates a CLOG. When the toilet can’t be flushed into the tank because of any kind of blockage, that’s a bad day for everyone.

I use a specially designed pressure washer nozzle on a long hose to go up into your RV tanks from the  dump valves and flush the built up particulates out of the tank. 

Grey tanks can be just as gross and smelly as your black tank. Most people think that because they are just using soap and water, these tanks remain more clean than the black,  but think about what goes in them. Dead skin, hair, soap, conditioner, other hair styling products, toothpaste, shaving cream, pieces 

 of food and certain dish detergents. On top of all this, it is made even worse due to FOG: 

F = Fats (usually from dairy products like butter, milk, sour cream, various cheeses, etc.)

O = Oils (any kind – canola, vegetable, olive, peanut, avocado, etc.)

G = Grease (generally from meats, and even if the excess is drained off into the trash)

All of these can bond together in clumps, stick to the inside of the tanks, and get rancid over time. In the heat, all of this then bakes onto the tank interior. The smell that comes from all that can be much worse than the black tank contents. This turns into an even bigger problem when the grey tank valve is left open, with no water held to keep treatment in and allowing for solids to break down. 

If using proper tank care, your tanks should only need to be cleaned about once per year. If you are not dumping your tanks like you should, or you are in a location with hard water sometimes they need attention more often. 

I do also specialise in removing toilet clogs as well. It can be a lengthy process so expect my visit to take a few hours. This is done with a special tool from inside the RV. Once the clog is free I will use a special camera to look down the pipes to ensure the entire clog has been removed,.