A Layered Approach

Our approach to tank treatments is a little different from other companies in that we recommend a layered approach. Read on to learn what we recommend and why.

Water Is The Key

First, always remember that your RV’s waste tanks are holding tanks, not septic systems. The main ingredient for your waste holding tanks is water. Always start with water, then add more water. Water is what carries the waste out of your tanks when you pull the gate valve at the dump station. The more water you have in your tanks when you dump them the better and faster waste will be removed. Aim to dump with tanks at least 75-80% full, even if you have to add water to get there.

Tank Slipperiness

The second layer to our approach is making your tank walls slippery. The key ingredient here is Calgon, which is used to cut the surface tension of the water and makes things feel slippery. The idea here is simple: if the tank walls are slippery, then “stuff” won’t stick to them as easily.

For Calgon, we recommend the Calgon Bath Beads product commonly found in the bath and body section at Walmart. Either the pink or blue cardboard box version will work just fine. You can dilute the Calgon into a container with water to make it easier to add to your grey tanks, or sprinkle the powder directly into the toilet and flush.

What’s That Smell?

The last layer in our approach is handling tank odors. This is the part that most people notice and consider to be the most troublesome. There are a few approaches that can be taken to combat tank odors:

Odor-masking chemicals

There are many products on the market that can be used for their odor-masking properties. The one we commonly recommend to use with Calgon is the Pine-Sol brand cleaning product. Pine-Sol can be an effective odor-control agent when used correctly. Bear in mind that you are using Pine-Sol for the odor-control, not for its disinfecting aspect.

Odor-encapsulating chemicals

There is a newer class of chemicals on the market whose job it is to encapsulate foul odor-causing molecules. At this point we don’t have a recommendation on a specific product to use but we are actively seeking to find one that is RV and septic system safe. Stay tuned!

Environment controls

Lastly, we have environment controls, by which we mean how you flush the toilet and the use of vent fans. When using your typical gravity-flush RV toilet you can half-press the pedal to add water to the bowl (always a good idea) or full-press the pedal to dump the bowl contents. Many RVers tend to hold the pedal down and let the water run to add some additional water to the holding tank. While holding the pedal down odors have a tendency to come up through the open ball valve in the toilet. A better approach is to full press the pedal to dump the bowl contents, let the ball valve close and then half press to fill the bowl and dump the contents into the tank again. This keeps the ball valve closed keeping the odors where they belong while still adding the needed water to the tank.

When you combine this hold-the-pedal-down approach with the use of the bathroom ventilation fan to move air out of the RV, you unintentionally create an open path from the RV roof vent through the black tank, up through the toilet and then out the vent fan. This pulls tank odors right to you. Using the approach outlined above, and keeping the toilet ball valve open as short a period of time as reasonably possible, drastically cuts down on the amount of air that can be pulled up from the holding tank.

Putting It All Together

The beauty of the layered approach is that no single product or habit carries all the weight. Water does the heavy lifting. Calgon keeps things moving. Odor control keeps the experience pleasant. And smart flushing habits keep the whole system working in your favor.

None of these layers are complicated or expensive, but together they make a meaningful difference in how your tanks perform and how long they stay in good shape between professional cleanings. Start with water, stay consistent, and your holding tanks will give you far less trouble on the road.

If you have questions about your specific setup or want a professional assessment of your tanks, we’re happy to help — get in touch or schedule a service.

RV Tank Treatment: The Fresh Tank's Layered Approach