By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, Jared Gillis of All About RVs reviews Flush-Safe, the latest in black tank flushing gear for your RV.
Let’s face it, nobody enjoys flushing out their RV’s black tank. It’s a necessary evil, and stories about mishaps often become campfire legends.
Flush-Safe aims to end all that, promising a safer, more reliable, and accurate way to handle this task. Jared wanted to know if the product lived up to its hype.
What is Flush-Safe?
Flush-Safe (U.S. Patent Pending) is a non-electric, metered water device designed to prevent RV black tank overflows. It features a dial with settings from 5 to 60 gallons, allowing users to select the desired amount of water for flushing. Once the selected gallon amount has been delivered, the device automatically shuts off the water flow.
The unit used in Jared’s review is a pre-production model made with a 3D printer. The company has stated that the final product will be mold-injected, resulting in higher quality and fewer issues. It was mentioned that the pre-production unit might leak slightly due to imperfect threads from the 3D printing process.
The overflow problem
Overflowing a black tank can lead to unpleasant and messy situations. Black tank water can back up into the RV through the toilet or other openings, causing damage and sanitation concerns. Flush-Safe hopes to eliminate this issue by providing an accurate and automatic shut-off system.
To test Flush-Safe’s accuracy, its gallon settings were compared against a “Save a Drop” meter. The Save a Drop meter has been used in the past to help prevent overflows. Many RVers use timers to estimate water usage, but this can be unreliable due to fluctuating water pressure and flow rates. Flush-Safe is designed to provide a more precise measurement.
The testing process involved setting the Flush-Safe dial to a specific gallon amount, turning on the water, and observing the Save a Drop meter to verify the actual amount of water delivered.
In the first test, Flush-Safe was set to deliver 10 gallons. The Save a Drop meter confirmed that it delivered almost exactly 10 gallons.
The next step was to test Flush-Safe in a real-world scenario: flushing the black tank. Two different methods were used to demonstrate Flush-Safe’s versatility.
Method 1: RV tank flush system
The first method utilized the RV’s built-in tank flush system. Flushing the black tank is crucial for maintenance, and it involves filling the tank and emptying it a few times. It’s important to use plenty of water during this process. During this test, Flush-Safe was set to 20 gallons. It shut off at very close to the setting, preventing any potential overflow.
Method 2: External valve and anti-siphon device
The second method is for RVs that don’t have a built-in tank flush system. This involves using an external valve and an anti-siphon device to push water into the tank. The setup includes an elbow, a valve, a drain hose, and an anti-siphon device. The valve is closed to prevent water from flowing out, and then Flush-Safe is used to pump water into the tank. In this test, Flush-Safe was set to around 25 gallons. Again, the device performed accurately, delivering close to the intended amount of water.
Is Flush-Safe worth it?
Flush-Safe performed well in both accuracy tests and real-world flushing scenarios. Its ability to prevent black tank overflows is a significant benefit. The non-electric, mechanical design is another advantage, eliminating the need for batteries or electrical connections.
Here is a summary of possible pros and cons:
Pros:
• Accurate water metering
• Automatic shut-off prevents overflows
• Non-electric design
• Easy to use
Cons:
• Price point
• Requires a manual setup
While alternative methods like timers and water meters exist, Flush-Safe provides a higher level of protection against overflows. It’s a worthwhile investment for RVers who want peace of mind and to avoid the mess of an overflowing black tank.
Flush-Safe is a veteran-owned company, and their products are assembled in America.
Learn more about Flush-Safe here.
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##RVDT2626
Seems to be a product in search of a need. Just add water to the black tank via the commode. Can’t walk away and ignore it with your foot on the pedal.
You’d have to keep your foot on the pedal for a very long time to fill the tank. If you’re just adding water, then you’re not really flushing the tank. Plus, using a flush spins a jet of water around, which washes the sides of the tank. Adding water via the pedal just drops water down to the bottom of the tank—there is no washing action.
Agreed, I’m thinking that this product just fills the black tank. Using the built in black tank flush would do much more. Perhaps I misunderstood the use of the product and it’s designed to regulate how much water through the tank rinse in which case, I guess it makes more sense.
I agree, John! I guess this product is built for people who have VERY short memories and get distracted easily.
I paid $20 for a flow meter. The Flush-Safe sells for $80. I can see the advantage of the Flush-Safe, but question if that advantage is worth an extra $60.
With my flow meter, I do have to stay near the shut-off for my flush hose. I use the flush at the same time as the initial dump. Then note the meter reading just as I close the black valve. Do a little arithmetic and open the valve when I hit that number. As I have 2 gray tanks I dump one while the black is filling. I save the other gray for after I finish the black. So my hang time watching the meter isn’t exactly wasted.
Use your phone instead. My tanks are full in about 3 1/2 to 4 minutes apiece using a Flush King.
Thank you for sharing and reviewing the video, Cheri! This looks interesting, but RV #2 came with a flushing system for both gray and black tanks. Have a great day and safe travels!