JIMNLIN
Oklahoma
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Joined: 09/14/2003
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Quote:The real question is how to you handle potential odors in your system. Some use chemicals and others simply use lots of water and empty tanks regularly. I do believe that both work. If you don't want to use chemicals, use water.
Good point ...goes right over some folks head tho. They think their way is the only way and others that do it differently don't know what their doing.
Lots of variables if you have a stinky tank. Down here where we can have 110+ temps much of the summer months bad bacteria build up in the summer regardless of what system your using.
Also how long those tanks sit before the system is cycled. I've tried the do nothing method.....no chemicals method.... calgon/Dawn detergent method and other methods that others use.
I'm happy with the method I use and glad other have a method to stop the stink.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers
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chops1sc
Sumter, SC
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I certainly appreciate everyone’s comments here and the conversation is very intriguing. Something we all should consider here is the different type of RVer’s. I am very much a weekend warrior (and often months between trips). I can’t help but think a full-timer is going to have a very different approach to black tank use and care vs someone that only uses their camper every other month.
I am 1000% in favor of using as much water as you can while using the camper. But if the camper is in storage mode, I feel like a chemical would help with the smell.
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HappyKayakers
Somewhere in the USA
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Maybe you can tell that to the states who get their water from the Colorado River. The same ones who just had to hammer out a new agreement on water usage with a lot of cuts.
While your claim may or may not be true, this planet has never been host to so many humans who use water without thinking of the consequences.
Cummins12V98 wrote:OMG.......
"After reading about various water shortages across the country, I'm perfectly happy with using a probiotic in the tank and conserving water."
You do understand that the amount of water on this planet has NEVER changed??????
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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HappyKayakers wrote:Maybe you can tell that to the states who get their water from the Colorado River. The same ones who just had to hammer out a new agreement on water usage with a lot of cuts.
While your claim may or may not be true, this planet has never been host to so many humans who use water without thinking of the consequences.
Cummins12V98 wrote:OMG.......
"After reading about various water shortages across the country, I'm perfectly happy with using a probiotic in the tank and conserving water."
You do understand that the amount of water on this planet has NEVER changed??????
Best go back to the Cave.
YES it's true.
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opnspaces
San Diego Ca
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chops1sc wrote:
I am 1000% in favor of using as much water as you can while using the camper. But if the camper is in storage mode, I feel like a chemical would help with the smell.
Are you getting a smell when you first open the door after the trailer has been sitting for a while? Or are you getting the smell when flushing the toilet?
If when first opening the door to the trailer, it's very possible you're getting gray tank smell.
If you only get the smell when flushing definitely make sure any and all vent fans are turned off before using the bathroom. You can always turn the vent back on just after you flush. A fan will pull stink out of the tank when the flush valve opens. Aside from that, if water is not working then yes you might need to look into adding a chemical.
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Reisender
NA
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In cooler weather nothing if we know we can dump within a few days. In Warner weather yes. We use those drop in packets from Canadian tire. Seem to do the job.
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Bionic Man
USA
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Cummins12V98 wrote:HappyKayakers wrote:Maybe you can tell that to the states who get their water from the Colorado River. The same ones who just had to hammer out a new agreement on water usage with a lot of cuts.
While your claim may or may not be true, this planet has never been host to so many humans who use water without thinking of the consequences.
Cummins12V98 wrote:OMG.......
"After reading about various water shortages across the country, I'm perfectly happy with using a probiotic in the tank and conserving water."
You do understand that the amount of water on this planet has NEVER changed??????
Best go back to the Cave.
YES it's true.
Not sure how you can be serious about that statement Cummins. The comment about population growth and drought (especially in the US Southwest and Colorado river drainage) are spot on.
Or you can bury your head in the sand and not acknowledge the fact of a 20 year drought.
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way2roll
Wilmington NC
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Cummins12V98 wrote:HappyKayakers wrote:Maybe you can tell that to the states who get their water from the Colorado River. The same ones who just had to hammer out a new agreement on water usage with a lot of cuts.
While your claim may or may not be true, this planet has never been host to so many humans who use water without thinking of the consequences.
Cummins12V98 wrote:OMG.......
"After reading about various water shortages across the country, I'm perfectly happy with using a probiotic in the tank and conserving water."
You do understand that the amount of water on this planet has NEVER changed??????
Best go back to the Cave.
YES it's true.
LOL. Yes there is a finite amount of water on the planet. It never changes. Might change form and location, but the amount never changes.
Nature gave us all the chemicals we need. The amount of time required for any chemical or probiotic to breakdown waste in an RV holding tank is much longer than I care to let it sit there. And letting it sit that long would simply exacerbate any smells you are trying to get rid of. Anything that covers up smells is a band aid. It's a holding tank. And ideally it shouldn't hold anything longer than a few days.
RV holding tanks are sealed systems with the exception of a roof vent. If you have odors, that's a systemic problem not a waste problem.
Also, many people confuse grey tank odors with the black. I always ensure all my sink drain stoppers are in place when putting it in storage. If the sink traps dry then you can have grey tank smells come into the camper. Easily remedied by adding water to the traps.
And as far as water conservation, I am certain that the amount of water I use when flushing the RV toilet is equal to or less than any household toilet. But it's pretty simple, use less water, have more solids and harder to drain your tanks. No chemical or probiotic is going to magically liquify something when there isn't already enough water.
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willald
NC
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I use chemicals (actually just one specific toilet chemical for a couple reasons), not to help break waste down, but strictly to help contain, control odors.
Yes, it is true that in a perfect world, where nothing goes wrong, you do everything right and never make mistakes, and all systems, components on your RV work as they should all the time....In that world, yes, you should never have odors, even if no chemicals.
However, I don't live in that perfect world. None of us do, if we are honest.
In my world, the real world.....Sometimes things go wrong. Things like:
Sewer hoses sometimes spring small leaks.
Seals sometimes wear out and let sewer odors leak out before the seal can be fixed.
Vent lines can get clogged and allow odors to come out places they aren't supposed to.
Hose clamps can loosen or break and allow a small leak (or a big one).
Sewer hookup or dump stations aren't always such that one can connect to it with a completely airtight seal.
The list goes on and on of what can and does go wrong in the real, imperfect world we all live in.
Because of all those things that can and do go wrong...I use a black tank chemical. It is there to mitigate odors when unfortunate circumstances require that it be mitigated briefly.
Its really a personal choice, and everyone will tell you something different, as this thread has shown. For me personally, I try to do what I can to mitigate odors, just in case they do find a way to escape.
Will and Cheryl
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DancinCampers
Louisiana
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The only time we use Thetford Chemicals is when we are boondocking in hot weather. Which lately has not been very often.
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