This isn't our first RV but it is the first one with the black water back flush connection standard. I just thought I'd pass along the procedure I'm using to insure minimal black water problems.
Every time I set up camp, I hook up two water feed lines - a blue/white hose to the fresh water intake and a black rubber hose to the black water back flush input. In campgrounds that provide two water bibs, this is easy but for those with one bib, I use a heavy duty splitter to provide two bibs. I, of course, run the potable water and leave the black water shut off.
When I break camp (or every few days if I'm set up for the long haul) I switch off the fresh water and switch over to the black water flush line. Before flushing out, I usually allow the gray tank to partially fill also (usually a couple of morning showers do this). I drain the black tank and follow that with the gray. I then close the black and fill it to at least 2/3 through the back flush. I leave the back flush water run as I drain the black tank a second time and then let the water run for another 5 minutes or so.
This seems to keep the tank very clean and running trouble free. It cleans the sensors, gets rid of more solid waste than just a single dump (you can see how much a single drain misses just by looking at the clear pipe in your drain line) and so far, I haven't been plagued with any foul odors in the coach. I, of course, also use a liberal amount of the "blue stuff" once I close the black valve. It's an easy procedure made possible by the very convenient built in back flush in my Bighorn.
Every time I set up camp, I hook up two water feed lines - a blue/white hose to the fresh water intake and a black rubber hose to the black water back flush input. In campgrounds that provide two water bibs, this is easy but for those with one bib, I use a heavy duty splitter to provide two bibs. I, of course, run the potable water and leave the black water shut off.
When I break camp (or every few days if I'm set up for the long haul) I switch off the fresh water and switch over to the black water flush line. Before flushing out, I usually allow the gray tank to partially fill also (usually a couple of morning showers do this). I drain the black tank and follow that with the gray. I then close the black and fill it to at least 2/3 through the back flush. I leave the back flush water run as I drain the black tank a second time and then let the water run for another 5 minutes or so.
This seems to keep the tank very clean and running trouble free. It cleans the sensors, gets rid of more solid waste than just a single dump (you can see how much a single drain misses just by looking at the clear pipe in your drain line) and so far, I haven't been plagued with any foul odors in the coach. I, of course, also use a liberal amount of the "blue stuff" once I close the black valve. It's an easy procedure made possible by the very convenient built in back flush in my Bighorn.