Motorhome Septic Systems 101:
Maintenance tips for
black and grey water tanks
GUEST POST By
Matt Carr,
EcoSave National Distributer
A proud supporter of the Country Coach Friends Incorporated club and its rallies, this helpful information was shared recently at the 3rd Annual CCFI Friendship Rally. You may learn more about ALL of the services available at Carr Industries at www.carr-industries.com (to learn about the CCFI club, wwwCountryCoachFriendsIncorporated.com)
Today
we're going to talk about RV holding tanks. To start with I wanted to mention
something about RV holding tanks that I don't think a lot of RVers are aware
of. Many of the free dump stations available to RVers are closing because of
chemicals that are harmful to septic systems and because RVers are abusing these
dump stations. If we want to have access to these dump stations it is
absolutely essential that we use septic safe products (no formaldehyde), and
that we clean up after ourselves and do not abuse dump stations. Your RV has what is
referred to as a gray water holding tank and a black water holding tank. The
gray water holding tank collects dirty water from the kitchen sink, bathroom
sink and shower. The black water holding tank is for the toilet. These tanks
terminate into one main outlet used to empty the holding tanks. This is where we connect our sewer hose.
Make sure you have the
required couplings and connectors. It may be necessary to attach two hoses
together to reach the sewer connection. I recommend you only use heavy duty
sewer hoses. They're not that expensive and they hold up much better. Keep a 10
foot hose and a 20 foot hose available. Do not pull or drag the sewer hose on
the ground. This will cause it to tear or get pin holes in it.
To hook up the sewer
hose
make sure both valves are closed and remove the sewer cap. Make the connection
by putting the hose adapter over the outlet and turn it clockwise until it
locks securely in place. Take the other end of the hose over to the campground
sewer connection. Use the necessary adapters to make the connection and get a
good seal. It's a good idea to place some weight over the hose so it doesn't
jump back out when you drain the tanks. It may be necessary to use some type of
sewer hose support to get a good angle from the RV to the campground sewer
connection so the tanks drain properly when you empty them. The small valve is
for the gray water tank and the large valve is for the black water tank.
One golden rule for RV
holding tanks is to never dump the black water tank until it is at least two thirds
full. You
want the tank nearly full so the weight and the gravity will force the contents
of the tank to drain properly. This practice will also ensure that your valves
and sensors will be lubricated. Another golden rule is to never leave the black
tank valve open at the campground and expect the toilet to drain or flush like
the toilet in your home. It won't work.
When
the tanks are full, or nearly full always dump the black tank first, followed
by the gray tank. The gray water tank should also be at least two thirds full.
Dumping the gray water tank last will help to flush the sewer hose out.
When
you're at the campground for an extended period of time you can leave the gray
tank valve partially open so it drains as you use it, but remember to NEVER do
this with the black tank. If it's time to leave the campground and your holding
tanks aren't full you can finish filling them with water and then dump them.
Never use your drinking water hose for holding tank maintenance or cleaning
purposes. RV drinking hoses are normally white. Take a different color hose for
others uses so you can distinguish the difference.
After you dump the
tanks
you need to thoroughly flush the tanks out. Some RVs have a built in system for
flushing the tanks out. If not there are other ways to do it. You can use a
tank wand designed for cleaning and flushing the black tank. The only problem
is you don't know when or if the black tank is really clean and you can't rinse
or clean the gray tank with a wand.
You
can also use a reverse flush valve
that connects directly to your sewer outlet and rinses and cleans both holding
tanks in one simple operation. They are easy to use and I recommend one with a see through barrel so you know when the
tanks are really clean.
Every time you dump the
black tank you need to treat it with holding tank treatment to assist in
controlling odors and to break down solids. You should always use
environmentally safe products. Enzyme based products use the good bacteria to
digest waste and control odors. Formaldehyde based chemicals destroy the
bacteria that's needed to break down waste and they can be dangerous to humans
and pets. The first step is to add enough water to completely cover the bottom
of the tank. Four or five toilet bowls full should be enough depending on the
size of your black tank. Water will assist a great deal with controlling
holding tank odors. You always want the contents of the tank to be covered by
water. Next, fill the toilet bowl and add the proper amount of holding tank
treatment product. For Eco-Save use 1 oz to every 10 gallons usually four
ounces for a full tank. Flush the toilet. Repeat this procedure every time you
empty the black water holding tank. Eco-Save products also contains valve
lubricants to keep the valves operating properly and extend the valve seals
life.
The
Industry advises that you should always use (biodegradable) toilet paper designed for use in RVs.
This toilet paper breaks down and dissolves in the holding tank chemicals
preventing potential problems with the holding tank, the RV sewer system and
the dump station septic system. I’m pretty sure this standard was created by
the makers of biodegradable toilet paper. Eco-Save will safely break down
household toilet paper. Also Scott 1000 toilet paper works great and is less
expensive
False holding tank readings
on
your monitor panel are usually caused by the holding tank probes being covered
by toilet tissue or other debris. If flushing the tank doesn't solve the
problem add some water and a couple bags of ice cubes to the empty holding
tank. Drive so the ice cubes can scrub the sides of the
tank. Proper holding tank products will also keep the holding tank probes
clean.
Over
time, grease and residue builds up in
the gray tank and it causes a foul odor, not to mention how it is affecting the
tank and valve assembly. Periodically
treat the gray tank with environmentally safe holding tank products to
avoid odors from the tank. For Eco-Save use a ½ oz for every 10 gallons.
Following these simple
holding tank tips
can prevent problems and provide you with long lasting trouble free holding
tanks. This is one problem we can all do without!
Closing Notes - In general one must be careful when using any of the
following types of items for cleaning:
1.
Laundry detergents
2.
Disinfectants
3.
Toilet bowl cleaners
4.
Bleach
5.
Acids
6.
Cleansing powders
7.
Polishes
8.
Sink & Tub Cleaners
9.
Caustic Drain Openers
10.
Oven cleaners
11. Antibacterial
soaps and other such products
Reading the label for
ingredients is necessary. Look for laundry soaps that do not contain bleach,
chlorine, phosphates and lots of additives. Cleaning products with citric,
baking soda, vinegar and borax are fine to use. Be wary of labels that proclaim
the product to be poisonous, hazardous. etc. Bleach, acids and caustic drain
openers should never be used. This includes using bleach in the washing
machine.
