Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Easy methods to Clear RV Holding Tank Sensors

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The unlucky actuality is that RV holding tank sensors get clogged or gunked up for those who don’t preserve your holding tanks correctly. This causes the sensors to learn inaccurately, which is why many skilled RVers create a timeline for emptying their tanks fairly than counting on their tank sensor readings. 

The excellent news is that there are a number of strategies for cleansing RV holding tank sensors if yours not reads precisely. However first, let’s discuss why these sensors get clogged. 

Why Do RV Holding Tank Sensors Get Clogged?

RV sewer hose connected to campsite hookup
Picture by Tenting World

To place it bluntly, tank sensors get clogged as a result of your “stuff” impairs their skill to get an correct studying. In your waste water holding tank (WWHT), physique waste and bathroom paper generally turn into caked on the sensors. Within the grey water holding tank (GWHT), layers of grease and oil can construct up on the sensors. 

You’ll typically discover that your sensors are studying inaccurately for those who’ve been utilizing your RV for a day or two and their degree readings haven’t modified. Or, they might nonetheless register full tanks once you go to the dump station and are sure you’ve emptied your holding tanks.

In case your sensors are studying inaccurately or aren’t studying in any respect, there are two normal causes: 

  1. The sensors are caked or layered with “stuff”
  2. The sensors are damaged

Let’s establish find out how to forestall that build-up within the first place, then find out how to clear it, and lastly, find out how to decide in case your sensors are malfunctioning. 

Easy methods to Forestall Blocked RV Holding Tank Sensors

Man dropping RV septic chemicals into RV toilet
Picture by Tenting World

Listed below are some strategies for preserving your sensors clear in order that they proceed delivering correct readings.

  • Solely use RV rest room paper. It breaks down extra rapidly and fully than family rest room paper. Keep away from two-ply in any respect prices. Female hygiene and contraception merchandise ought to go within the trash and by no means down the bathroom.
  • Repeatedly use tank chemical substances. Add them to your grey and black tanks earlier than every use to maintain oils and solids digested and suspended.
  • Keep away from placing rest room paper down the bathroom. Get a small trash can to get rid of TP to eradicate the potential for it to clog your tank sensors. 
  • Use your black tank flush, in that case geared up. End every journey (or every go to to the dump station) with a holding tank cleanse to take away any remaining tank waste.
  • Keep away from placing cooking oils and grease down the drain. Empty cooking oils and grease into disposable containers and trash them as an alternative of placing them into your grey water holding tank (GWHT). Strong meals waste needs to be scraped into the trash bin and by no means put down your RV sink.

Easy methods to Clear RV Holding Tank Sensors

When you suspect your holding tank sensors to be clogged, listed here are a couple of strategies you should use to wash them: 

Technique #1: Tank Chemical compounds

RV holding tank chemicals
Picture by Tenting World

Utilizing chemical substances is the best of those 5 strategies, so begin right here. The are a number of kinds of chemical-based tank cleaners,, however we’re large followers of drop-in tablets. Comply with the producer’s directions for a way a lot water to fill your tank with earlier than dropping the advisable variety of tablets down your RV’s rest room. 

Chances are you’ll have to fill your WWHT fully with water earlier than dropping in tablets and ready the advisable interval. After they’ve carried out their job breaking down waste, empty your tanks and verify that your sensors register empty. You’ll then have to fill your tank once more to verify that the sensors register their ascribed ranges accordingly. 

Technique #2: Dishwasher Detergent

Top of dish soap container
Picture by Tara Lynn Sparks through Shutterstock

Relevant to each GWHTs and WWHTs, utilizing dishwasher detergent is best if employed earlier than you begin your subsequent RV journey. To make use of it, empty your holding tanks fully after which fill them with a cup of dishwater detergent and sufficient water to fill them midway. 

This methodology requires dishwashing detergent that’s designed for automated dishwashers, however it’s efficient for 2 causes. 

  1. These detergents don’t foam as a lot as others. 
  2. Dishwashing detergents include softening brokers which might be very efficient at breaking down greases and oils. 

With every tank crammed at the least midway and a cup of dishwasher detergent in every, the next move is straightforward: simply drive. Your RV’s motion serves as agitation to interrupt down greases, oils, and stable waste and clear your tank sensors. 

This methodology is best once you’re heading to a campground with full hookups. Whenever you arrive, join your sewer hose and empty your tanks as regular. Use this methodology together with your black tank flush and/or a tank cleansing wand, as expanded upon beneath. 

Technician Tip: Some dishwasher detergents include bleach or alkali detergents. When you additionally use enzyme-based tank chemical substances, these detergents could kill the microbes and stop them from working. If utilizing the blue formaldehyde tank chemical, the mix of chemical substances could generate dangerous fumes. All the time learn the labels and rinse totally after therapies.

Technique #3: Black Tank Flush

Your black tank flush can forestall clogs and assist clear your tank sensors when clogged. It’s finest to make use of this methodology each time you empty your holding tanks for max effectiveness (and to scale back the period of time it must run). 

As soon as flushing, the water will first run darkish and chunky. Then, it turns into murky. Lastly, it would run clear, indicating the cycle is full. Add a transparent becoming between the termination outlet and the dump hose to precisely assess the situation of the tank water. By doing this each time, the tank is stored extraordinarily clear, and solids won’t ever have the chance to build up and create points. 

Right here’s our full tutorial on find out how to use your RV’s black tank flush.

In fact, this methodology requires that your RV is supplied with a black tank flush, which isn’t true for all RVs. In case your motorhome or towable RV doesn’t have one, discover the subsequent methodology for an alternate.

Technique #4: Tank Cleansing Wand

RV holding tank cleaning wand
Picture by Tenting World

A tank cleansing wand is one of the best different to a black tank flush in case your RV isn’t geared up with one. However they work slightly in another way than the method for utilizing a black tank flush. 

This RV accent connects to a regular backyard hose – not the identical potable water hose you employ to fill your freshwater tank or join your RV to metropolis water. Why? Since you don’t wish to danger contaminating your potable consuming water hose. 

As soon as related to a backyard hose, the tank cleansing wand inserts into your WWHT through your RV’s rest room. Guarantee your sewer hose is related to a drain outlet and your WWHT termination valve is open earlier than continuing. 

Then, activate the water supply and use the wand to wash waste remnants out of your tank. This implies you’ll have to run a backyard hose from a water supply, inside your RV, and into your WWHT through the cleansing wand. 

And sure, there’s a danger of working water into your RV, which results in a enjoyable alternative for a narrative of non-public mishap: 

My first RV was a 1987 Tioga Class C. It didn’t have a black tank flush, and it hadn’t precisely been properly cared for after we purchased it. Staying at an RV resort in Palm Springs for a household New 12 months’s reunion, we determined to wash the holding tanks. 

We ran the sewer hose to the campsite hookup and related a backyard hose to metropolis water. We then threaded the backyard hose by means of the emergency exit, into the toilet, and down the bathroom. Then, we turned on the water supply to fill the tank with contemporary water with a view to flush it. 

And…any person misplaced focus or just bought distracted. We overfilled the WWHT, overflowing water into the RV by means of the bathroom. Happily, we had already emptied the tank as soon as, and the implications have been primarily water injury. 

I share this expertise to nurture the purpose that there’s a greater manner. In case your RV doesn’t have a black tank flush, it’s well worth the funding in having a protected, efficient technique to clear your holding tanks and clear the sensors. 

Technique #5: Energy Cleansing

If the above strategies have proved ineffective, there’s yet one more methodology price making an attempt earlier than you discover the potential for damaged tank sensors. Skilled tank cleansing providers will come to your location to supply what some name an “RV colonoscopy.”

This service typically requires a location with full RV hookups. The technician makes use of a specifically designed strain washer that cleans your tank’s inside partitions and removes residue out of your sensors. 

Technique #6: Substitute the Sensors

Couple meeting Camping World RV Technician
Picture by Tenting World

If all strategies fail to revive the anticipated sensor operation, Tenting World’s crew of licensed RV technicians can present a tank sensor analysis. If deemed obligatory, they will additionally change defective tank sensors. 

Contact your native service middle for extra particulars.


The excellent news is that there’s a lot you are able to do to keep away from clogged RV holding tank sensors. But when yours are clogged, we hope these strategies present loads of choices so that you can get them again to full service once more. 

Do you might have questions on cleansing RV holding tank sensors? Tell us within the feedback beneath. 


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