Should you leave your black tank valves open?

It’s not a question we get asked a lot, but some RVers wonder whether they can — and should — leave their black tank’s valve open. Everyone’s gut reaction is “yuck,” and here’s a tale of what happens when you do it.

To be direct, no. Absolutely not. We were called the other day by an RV owner at a local RV resort. The customer couldn’t get their toilet to flush. “The stuff won’t go down,” she said. We knew exactly what the problem was.

What did we find?

We got the RV and took a look. All three gate valves were open and we knew exactly what to expect. The owner said she had her son “go and flush some water up into the tanks” but all that happened was the toilet overflowed and there was a gurgling sound from the shower and galley drains.

Long story short, the customer had a clog in the waste drain pipes from the holding tank to the flexible sewer hose. A big one. A monumental one. One that required we suit up in Tyvek. You get the picture.

So what happened?

Think about it. By leaving the black tank’s valve open, water and liquid waste seeps out. What’s left is a concentrated mix of solid waste and toilet paper. The more liquid that seeps out, the more compacted and dried out the solids become.

It took us nearly an hour just to clear the clog, plus another half hour to clean the insides of the tank with our hydrojetter. Eleven back flushes (one away from our record!) and the tank was finally clean.

The final word.

Many RVers leave their gray tank valves open. We’re not big fans of that either. Your RV’s holding tanks work best when there’s at least a 50:50 ratio of waste to water. Leaving the release valves open removes the water from equation. It’s not so bad in gray tanks, but those too can have solids drop out and accumulate in tank corners and other areas that don’t benefit from the rush of water when emptying the tanks.

Keeping the black tank valve open is just asking for trouble. Don’t do it and remember that your RV’s holding tanks are not a septic system, they are a holding system. Waste and water is intended to be retained in the tanks (essentially, large plastic boxes) until they are full and ready to be empties periodically.

Jim Tome, Owner

Jim Tome, Owner

Hi, I'm Jim Tome and, along with my wife, Debbie, the owners of Kleen Tank LLC, the national leader in RV holding tank cleaning service. We've been RVers like you since 2004 and have traveled all over the U.S. in our Airstream travel trailer. We started the business about twelve years ago and have cleaned tens of thousands holding tanks in thousands of RVs. From tiny weekend travel trailers to monstrous fifth wheels to luxurious motorhomes, I've seen just about every situation there is with RV holding tanks and waste systems. I hope you enjoy our articles; I try to post at least one per week and we've got a great library of them to cover just about every problem. Enjoy!

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Ben & Patty ZastrowCORPORATE OR "PARENT" COMPANY

Kleen Tank LLC ("Parent" corporation)
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ALABAMA

Kleen Tank of Northern Alabama Mark & Christy Olson • Hazel Green, Alabama
256-508-6383MarkAndChristy@kleentank.com
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Servicing the Alabama cities of Birmingham, Huntsville, Gunterville, Scottsboro, Muscle Shoals, and other communities in Northern Alabama. In Tennessee, serving the cities of Nashville, Tims Ford Lake area, Winchester, and other communities.

Kleen Tank of the Alabama Gulf Coast
Matthew & April Weitz • Saraland, Alabama 251-510-9248MatthewAndApril@kleentank.com
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Servicing the Alabama cities of Mobile, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Foley, Theodore, and surrounding communities. In Florida, the cities of Destin, Ft Walton Beach, Pensacola, and surrounding communities. In Mississippi, the cities of Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport, and surrounding communities.

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 6
Greg & Tammy Cash • Full-time RVers
256-668-0766Greg.Cash@kleentank.com
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Currently located in Birmingham, Alabama and serving the nearby cities and communities of Montgomery, Auburn, Prattville, Opelika, and Tuscaloosa.
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ARIZONA

Kleen Tank of Central Arizona Stephen & Sarah Stoller • Laveen, Arizona
480-231-2684Stephen.Stoller@kleentank.com
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Servicing the Greater Phoenix area

Kleen Tank of Eastern Arizona
David & Laura Lamb • Mesa, Arizona
602-617-3501DavidAndLaura@kleentank.com
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Servicing Mesa, Apache Junction, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale, Gold Canyon, and Queen Creek

Kleen Tank of Northern Arizona
Brian & Wendy Ellison • Camp Verde, Arizona
602-397-0239BrianAndWendy@kleentank.com
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Servicing Cottonwood, Sedona, Prescott, Payson, Flagstaff, Pine, and Chino Valley

Kleen Tank of Tucson
Jenifer Crabtree • Chandler, Arizona
520-627-0125Jenifer.Crabtree@kleentank.com
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Servicing Tucson and the surrounding communities of Benson, Green Valley, Sonoita, Oro Valley, Marana, San Manuel, Sierra Vista, Casa Grande, Maricopa, Florence, Coolidge, Welton, and Yuma

Kleen Tank of Western Arizona
Joffre & Kelly Sechier • Bullhead City, Arizona
360-719-0450JoffreAndKelly@kleentank.com
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Servicing Parker, Lake Havasu, Kingman, Golden Valley, and Quartzsite

CALIFORNIA

Kleen Tank of Southern California
Joel & Jennifer Hagan • Long Beach, California
562-307-1696JoelAndJen@kleentank.com
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Servicing Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seal Beach, Anaheim, San Dimas, Oceanside, San Diego, Temecula, Murrieta, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio, Hemet, and San Bernardino
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COLORADO

Kleen Tank of Central Colorado Everett Manson • Colorado Springs, Colorado
970-589-7677Everett.Manson@kleentank.com
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Currently servicing the cities and surrounding communities of Pueblo, Canyon City, Southern Denver, Founten, Woodland Park, Walsenburg, Castle rock, Salida, Alamosa, Calhan, Trinidad.

Kleen Tank of Northern Colorado
Jay & Jan Campbell • Ft. Collins, Colorado
970-803-8275Jay.Campbell@kleentank.com
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Currently servicing the cities and surrounding communities of Denver, Thorton, Loveland, Fort Collins, Fort Morgan, and Greeley.

FLORIDA

Kleen Tank of Daytona Beach
Bill & Un Jung Brody • Daytona Beach, Florida
813-807-1881BillAndUnJung@kleentank.com
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Servicing from just north of the Orlando city limits, I-75 east to the ocean, north to and including Jacksonville

Kleen Tank of Eastern Florida
Jeff & Tina Arnold • Vero Beach, Florida
772-216-9243Jeff.Arnold@kleentank.com
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Servicing Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Stuart, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Sebastian, Melbourne, Titusville, Cape Canaveral, New Smyrna Beach, Daytona, Orlando, Sorrento, Ocala, Clermont, Apopka, Okeechobee, and Lake Wales

Kleen Tank of Southwestern Florida
Nick & Katrina Schafer • Bradenton, Florida
941-725-4419Nick.Schafer@kleentank.com
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Servicing Bradenton, Arcadia, Sarasota, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, Naples, and Cape Coral

Kleen Tank of Western Florida
Jerry & Merrie Nott • Zephyrhills, Florida
941-274-8035JerryAndMerrie@kleentank.com
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Servicing Greater Tampa/St. Pete, Clearwater, Port Richey, Crystal River, Brooksville, Floral City, Bushnell, Ocala, The Villages, Gainesville, Eustis, Orlando, Kissimmee, Lake Wales, Lakeland, Bowling Green, Wauchula, Bradenton, Palmetto, Ruskin, Wesley Chapel, and Zephyrhills
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Please check out our On the Road dealers, at the bottom of the page. Some are servicing areas in Florida over the winter season.

GEORGIA

Kleen Tank of Northern Georgia
Tom Mordaunt • Canton, Georgia
678-503-4566Tom.Mordaunt@kleentank.com
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Currently servicing Chattanooga, Blairsville, Hiawassee, Gainesville, Atlanta, Canton

IDAHO

Kleen Tank of Southeastern Idaho
Dino & Tammy Church • Rupert, Idaho
208-870-6830DinoAndTammy@kleentank.com
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Servicing Pocatello, Twin Falls, Jerome, American Falls, Idaho Falls, Kimberly, Gooding, Hagerman, Filer, Bulh, Ketchum, Sun Valley, Logan, and Ogden

Kleen Tank of Southwestern Idaho
Jeff & Debbie Young • Emmett, Idaho
208-412-0560Jeff.Young@kleentank.com
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Servicing Harrah, Oklahoma.
Returns to southwestern Idaho in the spring of 2024.

ILLINOIS

Kleen Tank of Northern Illinois
Jim & Debbie Tome • Sycamore, Illinois
815-508-3878Jim.Tome@kleentank.com
Servicing Greater Chicagoland, Rockford/Belvidere, Joliet, Chicagoland suburbs, Ottawa, Marseilles, and Lake, Cook, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, DeKalb, Lee, Boone, Winnebago, and LaSalle counties.

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 1
Jim & Debbie Tome • Full-time RVers
815-508-3878Jim.Tome@kleentank.com
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Typically servicing Northern and Central Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Other areas throughout the year. Call to find their current and upcoming locations
Currently located in Sycamore, Illinois and servicing Greater Chicagoland, Cook, DuPage, Kane, DeKalb, McHenry, and Lake Counties and all cities and communities in the area

MICHIGAN

Kleen Tank of Michigan
Wendy & Joe Bruce • Fenton, Michigan
810-207-5355Wendy.Bruce@kleentank.com
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Servicing Detroit, Traverse City, and Grand Rapids, as well as Elkhart, Goshen, and Shipshewana in Indiana

MINNESOTA

Kleen Tank of Eastern Minnesota
Kevin & Kelly Carlson • Pine City, Minnesota
320-364-3448Kevin.Carlson@kleentank.com
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Servicing the Minnesota communities of Alexandria, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Duluth, Two Harbors, Stillwater, Rochester, and St. Cloud. In Wisconsin, servicing the communities of Superior, Hayward, Rice Lake, and Hudson.

MISSOURI

Kleen Tank of Southwestern Missouri
Mike & Betty Pomante • Bolivar, Missouri 989-277-6914Mike.Pomante@kleentank.com
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Servicing Springfield, Branson, Kansas City, and St. Louis

NEVADA

Kleen Tank of Las Vegas Michael Shanks • Las Vegas, Nevada
725-260-5779Michael.Shanks@kleentank.com
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Servicing Pahrump, Boulder City, Laughlin, Mesquite Henderson, Moapa Valley, and Lake Mead

NEW YORK

Kleen Tank of Upstate New York Chad & Jeanine Cadwallader
518-414-3624ChadAndJeanine@kleentank.com
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Currently servicing the cities and communities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Suffolk, and surrounding areas.
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NORTH CAROLINA

Kleen Tank of North Carolina
Jack & Wendy Pate • Wilson, North Carolina
252-236-1023Jack.Pate@kleentank.com
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OHIO

Kleen Tank of Eastern Ohio
Rana & Chuck Murzda • Wooster, Ohio
330-464-6085Rana.Murzda@kleentank.com
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Servicing Sandusky, Medina, Millersburg, Cleveland, Canton, Akron, Boardman, Kent, Niles, and Mentor

Kleen Tank of Southern Ohio
Sam & Lori Lohrer • Fairfield Township, Ohio
513-708-5391Sam.Lohrer@kleentank.com
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Servicing Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and cities and communities in Northern, Kentucky

TEXAS

Kleen Tank of Central Texas
Danny & Teresa McLane • Abilene, Texas
325-812-8161Danny.McLane@kleentank.com
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Kleen Tank on the Road No. 10
Matt & Jennifer Wood
832-691-0281Matt.Wood@kleentank.com
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Currently located in Houston, Texas and serving the cities and communities of Pearland, Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenburg, Friendswood, Khema, Glaveston, Richmond, and Seabrook

UTAH

Kleen Tank of Southern Texas
Eric & Susan Grimm • New Harmony, Utah
435-590-1853EricAndSusan@KleenTank.com
Servicing St. George, New Harmony, Cedar City, and surrounding communities

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 9
Korey & Michelle Seeba • Full-time RVers
605-305-0861Korey.Seeba@kleentank.com
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Current location: Cedar City, Utah (serving surrounding cities and communities)

VIRGINIA

Kleen Tank of Eastern Virginia
David & Charlcie Hathaway • North Chesterfield, Virginia
804-921-0875David.Hathaway@kleentank.com
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Servicing Fredericksburg, Williamsburg, Petersburg, and Charlottesville

WASHINGTON

Kleen Tank of Northwestern Washington
Kevin Kings • Full-time RVer 406-260-0649Kevin.Kings@kleentank.com
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Servicing cities within 100 miles of Seattle in all directions

WISCONSIN

Kleen Tank of Northern Wisconsin
Ben & Patty Zastrow • Oshkosh, Wisconsin
920-913-0320ScottAndJanice@kleentank.com
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Servicing Oshkosh, Green Bay, Door County, Algoma, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Beloit, Janesville, Madison, Wisconsin Dells, Montello, Tomah, Necedah, Marshfield, Wausau, Keshena, Tomahawk, Marinette, Waupaca, Shawano, and surrounding communities

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 7
Chris & Kansas Dakin • Full-time RVers
256-295-3707Chris.Dakin@kleentank.com
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Currently based out of Madison, Wisconsin and serve the nearby cities and communities of Middleton, Fitchburg, McFarland, Sun Prairie, and Stoughton
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"ON THE ROAD" AUTHORIZED DEALERS

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 1
Jim & Debbie Tome • Full-time RVers
815-508-3878Jim.Tome@kleentank.com
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Typically servicing Northern and Central Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Other areas throughout the year.
Currently located in Sycamore, Illinois and servicing Greater Chicagoland, Cook, DuPage, Kane, DeKalb, McHenry, and Lake Counties and all cities and communities in the area
Call to find their current and upcoming locations

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 2
Paul & Jennifer Clark • Full-time RVers
910-849-7707Paul.Clark@kleentank.com
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Currently servicing the Florida cities of Orlando, Ocala, Titusville, Clermont, The Villages, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Port Charlotte, Sebring, and surrounding communities.
Call to find their current and upcoming locations.

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 3
Wendy & Joe Bruce • Part-time RVers
810-207-5355Wendy.Bruce@kleentank.com
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Servicing Michigan and upper Indiana spring through fall. Texas Coast, Lousiana, and some parts of Florida in the winter.
Call to find their current and upcoming locations.

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 4
Steve & Kate Joerger • Full-time RVers
470-538-0104Steve.Joerger@kleentank.com
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Call to find their current and upcoming locations.
Learn more about this dealer, ask for a quote, or schedule a service appointment

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 5
Tim & Brenda Branstiter • Full-time RVers
308-227-9506TimAndBrenda@kleentank.com
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Call to find their current and upcoming locations

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 6
Greg & Tammy Cash • Full-time RVers
256-668-0766Greg.Cash@kleentank.com
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Currently located in Birmingham, Alabama and serving the nearby cities and communities of Montgomery, Auburn, Prattville, Opelika, and Tuscaloosa.
Call to find their current and upcoming locations

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 7
Chris & Kansas Dakin • Full-time RVers
256-295-3707Chris.Dakin@kleentank.com
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Currently based out of Madison, Wisconsin and serve the nearby cities and communities of Middleton, Fitchburg, McFarland, Sun Prairie, and Stoughton
Call to find their current and upcoming locations

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 8
Jack & Wendy Pate • Part-time RVers
252-236-1023Jack.Pate@kleentank.com
Call to find their current and upcoming locations

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 9
Korey & Michelle Seeba • Full-time RVers
605-305-0861Korey.Seeba@kleentank.com
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Current location: Cedar City, Utah (serving surrounding cities and communities)
Call to find their current and upcoming locations

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 10
Matt & Jennifer Wood
832-691-0281Matt.Wood@kleentank.com
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Currently located in Houston, Texas and serving the cities and communities of Pearland, Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenburg, Friendswood, Khema, Glaveston, Richmond, and Seabrook
Call to find their current and upcoming locations

Kleen Tank on the Road No. 11
Anthony & Patricia McDermott
613-404-3474AnthonyAndPatricia@kleentank.com
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Servicing Ottawa, Aurora, Barrie, Belleville, the Blue Mountains, Bracebridge, Bradford East/West Gwillimbury, Brantford, Brockville, Caledon, Cambridge, Carleton Place, Central Frontenac, Cornwall, Fort Erie, Georgian Bay, Gravenhurst, Gananoque, Guelph, Hamilton, Kawartha Lakes, Kincardine, Kingston, Leeds and The Thousand Islands,, Midland, Muskoka Lakes, Niagara Falls area, North Bay, Oshawa, Owen Sound, Perth, Petawawa, Peterborough, Quinte West, Sarnia, Sault Ste. Marie, Smiths Falls, St. Catherines, Stratford, Sudbury, Wasaga Beach, Waterloo, Whitewater Region, Windsor, Woodstock and surrounding areas.
Call to find their current and upcoming locations.