I'm not only new to RVing but have recently gone full time (come November, the actual adventure begins). I'm not having any troubles with my black water system and simply asking to avoid future problems. I have a gauge in the bathroom that tells me when the tank is 1/4-2/4-3/4 and Full. When is the best time to pull the dump gate valve? Should I close the gate valve to the grey water tank while I'm dumping the black water? So far I've been dumping when the system reads 1/2 full, I only thought recently about closing the grey water gate valve to prevent any backup of kaka into the grey water system. I also run the toilet for a minute or two after I've completed the dump and before I reclose the gate valve, is that a good idea or a waste of time.Steve

JMHO WE always keep the valves closed until we are ready to dump even when in an RV Park. WE always dump black first - grey water vale closed and then grey second to help clear the hose. We dump when 3/4 or more full. If we want to really clean the black tank we run the swivel head sprayer in the tank first and then again when it is empty and fill it 1/2 full and then dump again.

Geocritter wrote:I'm not only new to RVing but have recently gone full time (come November, the actual adventure begins). I'm not having any troubles with my black water system and simply asking to avoid future problems. I have a gauge in the bathroom that tells me when the tank is 1/4-2/4-3/4 and Full. When is the best time to pull the dump gate valve? Should I close the gate valve to the grey water tank while I'm dumping the black water? So far I've been dumping when the system reads 1/2 full, I only thought recently about closing the grey water gate valve to prevent any backup of kaka into the grey water system. I also run the toilet for a minute or two after I've completed the dump and before I reclose the gate valve, is that a good idea or a waste of time.Steve Steve, I usually wait until my black tank is full, unless I'm RVing and it's hot outside or whenever I detect an odor, then I dump more frequently. I always leave my gray tank closed because, I need that water to push out anything that is in my hose after I dump the black tank! Good Question

Steve, as mentioned let your tank get full, then dump. Gray closed during the process, then opened to flush hose.

If you are going to be moving, we prefer to let the black tank get full and drive to the next location. This fluid movement on the road seems to break things up and loosen everything so that the tank drains easily and more completely. If you are not going to be moving, empty it when it is full and then flush out the black tank with fresh water. Dumping the gray tank after the black tank insures that all of the debris is pushed out of your drain hose from the black tank.

Based on the last couple of cramped campgrounds (neighbors sewer conection almost under my awning)it seems a lot of folks think the best time to drain the black tank is just when the folks next door have started eating a meal, outside at the picnic table.More on topic, advise here is right on. Keep valves closed until at least 3/4 filled as the rushing water carries away solids.Some people suggest dumping a pound or two of ice cubes down the flush just prior to travel as the ice will beat any build up off the tank walls and bottom and then melt into water that is easy to drain out. I tried it a few times but my head won't fit down the flush so I can't look to see if it made a difference ;-)

Best time to empty black water tank | Good Sam Community

crankshop1000
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fyS5CLBgyM

Sooner than this guy...
afrescopXx
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
I always dump black tanks when full, to the top. I keep our gray valve open all the time as we are in one spot for five months. I do close the gray prior to dumping the black. I run about ten gallons of fresh water into the gray tank then open the valve and leave it open until the black is once again full.
Dukecity426
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
Hello geocritter:

We always keep all of our tanks closed, we have two grey and one black tank. I always wait until the black tank burps back and then I dump the black, followed by the two grey tanks to clean and flush not only the exit pipe but sometimes it will help to clean the black tank. When I am done and water permits, I will refill the black and dump again. Fresh clean water always helps to clean the tanks. JMHO..........
xctraveler
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
When staying in a campground for several days we leave gray open and black closed. Usually we close gray night before departure so wash water and luxurious shower will provide enough flush water to clear the hose after dumping black.

Third valve is a good idea. We have Sanicon pump which enables the same process. After dumping black we open both valves to let gray run into black for purge. Then dump black again before dumping gray. Putting a clear connection section in line lets you see when the black is running clean.
Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Aug 19, 2013
zman-az wrote:
Keep the valves closed at all times. I dump our black anytime the grey water is full. I don't have a black tank rinse so I put on a third valve at the tee of the black and grey, its a valve with the quick couplings on each side that you can get at RV stores. After I dump the black I shut the valve and force some grey water into the black tank. Close the grey off and dump the black again as a rinse. Then shut the black and rinse the hose out with the grey water.
I do the same. The in rush from the gray get's a lot of stuff the second time around.
zman-az
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
Keep the valves closed at all times. I dump our black anytime the grey water is full. I don't have a black tank rinse so I put on a third valve at the tee of the black and grey, its a valve with the quick couplings on each side that you can get at RV stores. After I dump the black I shut the valve and force some grey water into the black tank. Close the grey off and dump the black again as a rinse. Then shut the black and rinse the hose out with the grey water.
Wrong_Lane
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
Based on the last couple of cramped campgrounds (neighbors sewer conection almost under my awning)it seems a lot of folks think the best time to drain the black tank is just when the folks next door have started eating a meal, outside at the picnic table.

More on topic, advise here is right on. Keep valves closed until at least 3/4 filled as the rushing water carries away solids.

Some people suggest dumping a pound or two of ice cubes down the flush just prior to travel as the ice will beat any build up off the tank walls and bottom and then melt into water that is easy to drain out. I tried it a few times but my head won't fit down the flush so I can't look to see if it made a difference ;-)
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Aug 19, 2013
If you are going to be moving, we prefer to let the black tank get full and drive to the next location. This fluid movement on the road seems to break things up and loosen everything so that the tank drains easily and more completely.
If you are not going to be moving, empty it when it is full and then flush out the black tank with fresh water.
Dumping the gray tank after the black tank insures that all of the debris is pushed out of your drain hose from the black tank.
Sundance07
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
Steve, as mentioned let your tank get full, then dump. Gray closed during the process, then opened to flush hose.
J-Rooster
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
Geocritter wrote:
I'm not only new to RVing but have recently gone full time (come November, the actual adventure begins). I'm not having any troubles with my black water system and simply asking to avoid future problems. I have a gauge in the bathroom that tells me when the tank is 1/4-2/4-3/4 and Full. When is the best time to pull the dump gate valve? Should I close the gate valve to the grey water tank while I'm dumping the black water? So far I've been dumping when the system reads 1/2 full, I only thought recently about closing the grey water gate valve to prevent any backup of kaka into the grey water system. I also run the toilet for a minute or two after I've completed the dump and before I reclose the gate valve, is that a good idea or a waste of time.
Steve
Steve, I usually wait until my black tank is full, unless I'm RVing and it's hot outside or whenever I detect an odor, then I dump more frequently. I always leave my gray tank closed because, I need that water to push out anything that is in my hose after I dump the black tank! Good Question