Gray tank sensor cleaner

[Bruce Wray]

The black tank thread reminded me that I had to do a bit of work to get my gray tank sensors cleaned. Mine had been showing false readings from time to time. The commercially available cleaning wands won't fit up the gray tank waste pipe, so I built one out of some 3/4" PVC components. All the parts, including the valve, came from the local True Value hardware store. The only one I needed help finding was the hose-threaded end piece (and, it rotates!), turns out they kept those with the hoses, not the PVC parts. When assembled, I used my drill press to make two 1/8" parallel holes about 1/4" apart in the side of the end cap.

To use the device, I attached a hose, closed the valve, turned the hose full on, opened the gray tank waste gate, stuck the device up the waste pipe and blasted the sensors. They work great now.

 

[Jim Bennett]

That looks great, Bruce. I know the one I bought won't do the grey tank and we are getting some fictitious readings. I might have to build one of these.

 

[JeffZ]

Yep - Excellent idea..good job!

 

[robinwstebbins]

Escape makes one very similar to this. In February I bought one when picking up the trailer. They said that they customized the hole directions so that the spray would do a good job hitting the water level sensers.

 

[gbaglo]

Bruce,

I'm trying to understand why the commercially available wand wouldn't fit up the grey pipe since it is smaller in diameter than yours, but appears to be the same length, and both are straight.

Indeed, on mine, Reace drilled three or four more holes in the nose of the wand at a 45 degree angle so that it would shoot water back toward the hose end. So, it has holes at 90 degrees and also 45 degrees. I have only used it on my black tank, having had no need to clean the grey.
Given that it is firing water back toward you, you don't want to lift it too close to the trap... I can say from experience.

I have some samples of a grey tank treatment that I've not used yet. I'll read the instructions and report, but I can't say if it works or even helps.

baglo

 

[Bruce Wray]

The only commercially available wand I could find had a 1 1/2" conical projection at the end, making the thing too big to get up the gray waste pipe. My end cap holes shoot at 90* to the tube, and since the sensors are right next to the pipe, I had a clear shot. And, after paying over $20 for a black tank cleaner, I figured a little plastic plumbing at home would be quicker and cheaper than an internet search and purchase.

 

[gbaglo]

This is the wand I use on the black tank with Reace's modification.

As it comes it has four holes at 90 degrees. Reace drilled a hole at 45 degrees between two 90 degree holes and then filled the two 90 degree holes on the other side with epoxy.

The 'cone' at the end measures 1 1/4 inches and the wand is a fraction of an inch under two feet.

The Grey Water treatment that I've not yet tried is Elemonate by Exodor, distributed by Walex Products Co. They claim it deodorizes and dissolves grease in lines and the tank. Doesn't claim anything regarding sensors, but it gets rid of grease.

baglo