Tank Sprayers – the Unglamorous Gadgets

Flat screen TV’s might be sexy, but when you are at the dumping station on Sunday morning with a string of like-minded RV’ers cooling their heels behind you, there is nothing quicker and more efficient than an integrated tank sprayer for getting that waste tank squeaky clean. There are a number of products on the market, but the major players are both from Camco®; the Quickie Flush™ and the Tornado Rotary Tank Rinser™. These products allow you to connect a water hose directly to the black (waste) tank, spraying the inside surfaces of the tank and greatly aiding in the evacuation of waste, without having to wait until the tank is empty, then refill the tank and re-dump (and probably repeat!).

Installing a tank sprayer is straight forward and does not require any special tools, except perhaps a 1 1/8” hole saw. It is important to use an actual hole saw, versus a spade bit, so that you capture the resulting cutout piece of plastic, keeping it from falling inside the tank. Clean the surface around the hole with rubbing alcohol, run a bead of silicone (not included) around the hole, and install the sprayer-head using the included self-tapping screws. It is important to let the silicone cure completely before attempting to install the hose, otherwise you risk breaking the seal by inadvertently moving the part. Each kit includes enough hose to bring the connection out to an easily accessible spot on the RV.

Using a tank sprayer does not require any changes in how you dump your tanks, other than connecting a hose to the sprayer connection. I pull the valve first, then connect the hose and turn on the water. This gives the tank a few seconds to drain, before the sprayer kicks-in. It is important to turn the water on slowly, as a high-pressure blast of water can blow the hose off of the sprayer head – or worse, blow the inside tip of the sprayer head off inside the tank. If you turn the water on slowly, you will start to hear the water spraying the inside of the tank.

If you are still dumping and backfilling, or snaking a hose inside the RV for one of those wand sprayers, you might consider a permanent, integrated tank sprayer. They are easy to install, are not expensive, and really make the dumping process quick and easy.

Happy camping!