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08-11-2019, 12:37 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 83
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When in RV Park - Tank Valves Open?
When doing a longer term stay in an RV park, do you leave your grey and/or black tank valve open or closed? Why for either choice.
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08-11-2019, 12:41 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Charleston County SC
Posts: 767
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Never leave Black tank valve open You can leave the grey- that’s your choice but usually close it sometime before you plan to dump them the black so you can use the grey after dumping the black to flush the line
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08-11-2019, 12:43 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,523
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X2.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mmnsc
Never leave Black tank valve open You can leave the grey- that’s your choice but usually close it sometime before you plan to dump them the black so you can use the grey after dumping the black to flush the line
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Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
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08-11-2019, 12:43 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: New port Richey FL
Posts: 1,464
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If you leave the black tank open you will have a pile of waste that will accumulate. Keep water in the tank with the tabs or liquid additive your rv will thank you.
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08-11-2019, 03:54 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Iowa
Posts: 449
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Don't leave the black or gray open. If you leave the gray open, at times, sewer fumes will rise from the campground sewer into your gray tank and ultimately your rig. Drain the gray every 2-3 days. Leave the black till full. Then when leaving, dump the black and a bunch of gray to clear the hose.
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08-11-2019, 03:59 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: North Port Florida
Posts: 2,050
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mmnsc
Never leave Black tank valve open You can leave the grey- that’s your choice but usually close it sometime before you plan to dump them the black so you can use the grey after dumping the black to flush the line
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x3 ... only open grey if I need to before we leave
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08-11-2019, 05:03 PM
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#7
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Canadian Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Eastern GTA, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,233
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mmnsc
Never leave Black tank valve open You can leave the grey- that’s your choice but usually close it sometime before you plan to dump them the black so you can use the grey after dumping the black to flush the line
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X3
If you choose to leave the grey tank valve(s) open, use a hose support and form a P trap immediately after the dump valve to prevent the possibility of sewer odours coming back into the RV.
https://www.thervgeeks.com/plumbing/...pen-or-closed/
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2011 Rockwood Signature 8293SS (2015 - 2018)
2010 Rockwood Roo 23SS (2012 - 2014)
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08-11-2019, 05:17 PM
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#8
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Coach
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Western PA
Posts: 667
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G Hollingsworth
When doing a longer term stay in an RV park, do you leave your grey and/or black tank valve open or closed? Why for either choice.
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As you can see this is one of those debated/personal preference topics. We tend to use a good bit of water when on full hook ups and have not had issues with leaving the grey tank open. As long as all your plumbing traps within the RV are working properly, there shouldn't be an issue with odor backwash. As has been stated, do not leave the black tank open. Let it get as close to full as possible. Make sure to flush it well when emptying. On your final dump of your stay try to remember to close the grey tank and get it full. After your final black tank dump and flush, chase it with the grey water. That way at least the black tank water wasn't the last thing in your hoses before break down.
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Cut it 3 times and it's still too short...
2017 Sandpiper 381RBOK
2006 Ram 3500 Cummins Dually
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08-11-2019, 05:23 PM
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#9
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Part-Time Campground Host
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 3,181
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Quote:
Originally Posted by valleyduo
As you can see this is one of those debated/personal preference topics. We tend to use a good bit of water when on full hook ups and have not had issues with leaving the grey tank open. As long as all your plumbing traps within the RV are working properly, there shouldn't be an issue with odor backwash. As has been stated, do not leave the black tank open. Let it get as close to full as possible. Make sure to flush it well when emptying. On your final dump of your stay try to remember to close the grey tank and get it full. After your final black tank dump and flush, chase it with the grey water. That way at least the black tank water wasn't the last thing in your hoses before break down.
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X1000
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2018 2902WS Rockwood Ultra Lite (with tons of Mods)
2022 F250 Lariat Super Cab, 7.3 gas w/10 Spd Xmsn
Equalizer Hitch w/4-Point Sway Control
Days camped since 2015(retirement): 1659
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08-11-2019, 08:10 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Calgary
Posts: 994
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I save up the grey water and do a "cross-feed backflush" to the Black Tank.
This takes advantage of the fact that our Grey water valves are 3", the same as the Black. So, I flush the Black first, and use the Black tank spray to get more stuff.
Then, I close the Black valve and open the Grey valve. I have a clear adaptor to watch what is going on. The Grey water in the line backs up, so I open the Black tank valve to let some grey water go into it.
Then I close the Grey valve and watch a bunch of crap come out of the Black tank that I had just flushed. Maybe do this twice.
Leave enough grey water in the tank to do a final flush to clean the hose.
Note that this system runs a jet of water past the Black tank sensors, giving them a cleaning.
–Gordon
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08-11-2019, 09:44 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,499
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Water, Lots of water is your best friend in the black tank. Open valves allow water to run out but solid matter will stack up and then you can't get it out.
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2018 Forester 3011 DS
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08-12-2019, 07:46 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 731
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We only leave the gray open on days we do laundry. Otherwise it’s empty as
needed
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08-12-2019, 01:41 PM
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#13
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jkoenig24
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Box Elder, SD (formerly NY)
Posts: 953
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NO!
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08-12-2019, 01:42 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 74
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We only open those valves when flushing the tanks.
One more thing that we never do when in the park, is leave the black flush water line hooked up even though it's turned off at the hydrant. Why? Because if some well-meaning Park employee, or some kid playing with the water hydrant were to turn the water on and it was hooked up, it would be a disaster inside our unit.
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MicroLite 19fbs _ Ringwood NJ
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08-12-2019, 01:56 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lindsay, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 169
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Never leave black tank valve open . You need lots of water to properly flush out the black tank. If you leave it open you run the risk of sediment building up in the bottom of the black tank and having a hard time getting rid of it later. Better to close the gray valves too so you gave soapy water to flush the lines when you do dump the tanks. For best results dump black waste, flush either by on board system or a bucket full of clean water down the toilet. Close black valve and then open gray valve(s). Also see the "Geo Method" for more info on tanks.
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08-12-2019, 02:08 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 214
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mmnsc
Never leave Black tank valve open You can leave the grey- that’s your choice but usually close it sometime before you plan to dump them the black so you can use the grey after dumping the black to flush the line
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X2
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2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ Z92
2018 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8311WS
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08-12-2019, 02:09 PM
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#17
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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On longer stays with full hook-ups we always connect the sewer hose(s) but only dump when necessary. And when necessary it takes mere minutes.
As mentioned, you'll never want to leave the black drain open all the time, ever!
As you can see, it is a personal preference thing for the grey but there is only one answer for the black... closed always until dumping.
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08-12-2019, 02:11 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Georgia
Posts: 581
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Think like its a canal lock.... raise the water level to transport or carry the ships to the next section. w/out the water in the lock the ship goes nowhere.... Sits on the bottom.
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08-12-2019, 02:18 PM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 83
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Thank you
Good tips, thank you everyone.
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08-12-2019, 04:32 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Southeast
Posts: 1,047
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Only open Black tank valve when dumping. I never dump unless the tank is over 3/4 full. We never have smell. With that full of a tank that is allot of water force when the black valve is opened and really forces anything down. I only dump when ready to leave usually and then the whole tank flush starts. I always leave with water in the black tank so it is ready to use on the road, nothing ever piles up or gets to set up in there.
Grey tank I have left open, but started closing and dumping it about every two days. Why? If there is any sewer gas or smells it can travel up the hose and if there is a burp or gurgle in the p traps you smell it. My sewer hose has good seals and never any drips or smells around the connections so the pressure would go somewhere if left open... if p traps and the vent stacks are all working you shouldn't, but let the wife get a whiff of sewer and the happiness fades! So I keep it closed. But with showers, dishes, sink, etc. the grey tank will fill up much faster than black.
Everyone has their own routine and none is particularly wrong, but some will experience more chance for unpleasant smells, pile ups, clogs, etc.
Happy Dumping
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