Tip on Cleaning the GRAY tanks to improve sensor readings

[danemayer]

RV Geek tip on using liquid dishwasher detergent to clean GRAY tank sensors.

To clean your grey tank, simply choose a day when you're about to take a long road trip to a full hook-up RV park. Just start off with about a half-full grey tank, pour about one cup of automatic dishwashing detergent gel into one of the sinks, and wash it down the drain with plenty of hot water. Then spend a few hours on the road, allowing the sloshing action in the tank to work with the detergent to break up any nasty gunk that's accumulated. The longer and twistier the road the better, but a few hours of agitation should be plenty.

Once you arrive at your full hook-up campground (a dump station will of course work fine as well), simply pull the grey valve and dump the tank. All of the greasy gunk that was stuck to the tank will get flushed out with the water.

 

[Ray LeTourneau]

This is a great idea! I use this method (no hot water though) for our black tank as well. The problem with our grey tank is the fitting that adapts the outlet to 1-1/2" pipe allows about an inch of "gunk" to remain in the tank. I think newer model have an offset adapter that allows better, more complete, drainage.

 

[Nabo]

Cool idea. We use a little Grease Lightning into both of our grey tanks and the black tank while traveling. Does a great job cleaning but still haven't help cure the problem with the black tank sensor which has shown 2/3 full from day one. Think the sensor had dropped from the off it's brackets during transporting from factory.

 

[Heckya]

I use a bag of ice in the black tank ;-)

 

[wdk450]

Nabo and all:
Re: " Think the sensor had dropped from the off it's brackets during transporting from factory."
The tank sensors are screwed into threaded holes in the tank plastic. There is no bracket for them to drop off. These sensors complete a sensitive electrical circuit when tank fluid touches the sensor. Unfortunately moist tank residue deposits on the side of the tank will also conduct the measuring current up to the dry sensor and give us (all) false tank level readings.

 

[aatauses]

I have used calgon water softner---works well.
al
currently in Kenai, AK

 

[hawkman54]

Hey AATauses, you didn't say how much Calgon to use. I finished the Everpure filter project. Still have brown water, but not as much. Hawk

 

[szewczyk_john]

I use calgon liquid water softner also. I put a cap full of calgon and a triple load of powder clothes detergent and 3 gallons of water in through the toilet after each dump for the black water tank. I also do both of my grey water tanks every other dump. I have been using the "Geo Method" since this trailer was new and my tank lights still work as they did when new. Calgon water softner is extremely herd to find anymore, so when you do find it, buy a couple bottles at a time.

 

[Lynn1130]

You can find both Calgon liquid and powder at Amazon.com. I use the powder and the Geo formula.

 

[RoadJunkie]

I have tried various methods to restore functionality to the sensors. With none of them working, I simply ignore the gauge. The ice idea is a good one, however, because the mass of the ice will help to push material off the tank walls, although it would take a lot of ice.