There are certain subjects we all like to avoid talking about in life- things that make us uncomfortable or cause controversy, like Mayonnaise or Salad Dressing, which President is the best or worst, having to watch personal care product commercials, Ford vs. Chevy, whose child or grandchild is smarter-but when is the last time you remember having a conversation about RV Holding Tanks, at least in polite company?
Recreational Vehicle Holding Tanks may not be the most glamorous topics, but without them your RV would be, well, a big stinkin' mess. For the purpose of this article, we will address holding tanks for vehicles that have shower and toilet facilities, as well as running water.
Your RV should have 3 separate and distinct holding tanks-
A 'white' tank for fresh water supply;
A 'gray' water holding tank for waste water from sinks and showers; and
A 'black' water holding tank for the commode waste products.
Every effort was made at the factory to keep these systems separate to avoid cross contamination and problems, and you should do the same. The following contains some specific information for each tank and the maintenance and care of that tank.
Whitewater (Fresh Water) tank: As you travel you may or may not keep fresh water in this tank-remember that a gallon of water weighs 8lbs so even a half filled tank can add extra weight to your vehicle, not mention the sloshing back and forth my cause some havoc with the way the RV handles. If you arrive at a campsite with a water supply bib, fill your tank then. If you leave home without water and the supply is no good when you get there, you will have another problem. A good idea is to use a water filter inline before filling your tank- it will catch most of the sediment that might be in the water supply. If your white tank begins to smell, follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to clean the tank.
'Gray-Black' Water Holding Tanks- the use and care of each of these tanks is much the same, even if the material inside is, well, different. Upon arriving at a site with an onsite dump capacity, hook up your sewer hose to the main drain valve. Make sure there are no kinks, holes and that the hose is all downhill- you might want to have some wooden blocks and/or an adjustable hose tray to position the hose correctly. Keep the drain valve to the black water closed and open the gray water. The generally accepted rule of thumb concerning the black tank is let it get 2/3 full before emptying.
The night before your departure, close the valve to the gray tank. When it is time for the tank dump, always start with the 'darkest' water first, so first dump the black tank (by keeping the valve closed in camp the liquids have stayed in the tank, so when the dump begins they will help flush the solids out); next dump your 'gray' water- this soapy mixture will help clean the sewer hose out; if needed or wanted, next dump your fresh water- it will again help clean the system. If needed, wash the hose out starting from inside with the toilet-some vehicles have a built in cleaning hose for this purpose. Always remember to use a separate hose for the water intake, and the cleaning of your system-keep them packed away from each other, and make them separate colors for easy identification. The following are some additional helps to make 'loving' your holding tanks easier-
Install a clear 45deg. Angled elbow pipe just before the drain valve- this allows you to see the change in the waste water color so you will know when your dump is almost over
Before traveling drop some water softener into your tank. If you have ever taken a shower in a soft water shower, you know how slick your skin feels afterward, this is because the soft water allows the soap scum to just slide away. The same principle can work with the walls of your tanks- dump a couple of gallons of dry softener in a water solution -2 cups to a gallon of water- and the travel bumps will let the solution cover the walls of your tanks- you will be surprised at how much more waste is completely removed and it will add greatly to removing the stink.
Always use Toilet Paper designed for RV or Septic Tanks- this paper will dissolve better and it will avoid getting wrapped around the valve sensors within the tank, giving false readings.
Before dumping the 'Black' tank, dump a cup of laundry detergent to aid in cleaning.
Whatever dump facility you use only dump waste products and waste water- never garbage or toxic chemicals. Many public park dump facilities are disappearing because of abuse.
Have plenty of supplies on hand- disposable gloves (duh); anti-bacterial wipes; paper towels; tools to aid in obstinate connectors.
Maintain your system at all times. If you have a problem with any part of your system and it needs to be fixed by a qualified RV mechanic, they will probably require that the system be cleaned and sanitized before working on it- but if your problem prevents sanitizing and cleaning, well, you can see the problem. Proper maintenance beforehand could be a lifesaver.
So, the proper 'care and feeding ' of your holding tank system can save you money, make your travel more enjoyable, keep your kids and spouse talking to you, and make your RV neighbors more likely to stay near you instead of as far away as can be had to avoid the ugly 'green' cloud over your RV.
Happy RV'ing!
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