Gray Water Drainage

[lucytravel12]

Our Gray Water doesn't dump very well. We have to drive back and forth to "shake" it out to get it to empty completely. Is there anything (vinegar??) that we could safely pour down the drain to help it drain better?

[lucytravel12]

We've only owned the camper for a couple of months, but it's 14 years old. Don't know for sure if the gauge is accurate, but it seems to be. I did a "test" last week, tried putting two bucketfuls of hot water down the sink and then measuring what came out. All the hot water didn't come out, and the gauge said it was still half full, so I left the gray water valve partially open while driving. The gauge now says it's empty, so I assume it emptied completely during the drive. How would I know if there's any blockage in the system?

[Old-Biscuit]

lucytravel12 wrote:
We've only owned the camper for a couple of months, but it's 14 years old. Don't know for sure if the gauge is accurate, but it seems to be. I did a "test" last week, tried putting two bucketfuls of hot water down the sink and then measuring what came out. All the hot water didn't come out, and the gauge said it was still half full, so I left the gray water valve partially open while driving. The gauge now says it's empty, so I assume it emptied completely during the drive. How would I know if there's any blockage in the system?

Oh good lord...

You don't have a problem.
Drain lines come out the side of tanks so some liquid is always left when normally draining them.
Tanks also can sag a bit. Nothing abnormal about how your tank(s) are draining.

Waste tank level indicators/monitors are notoriously inaccurate when new let alone 14 yrs old.

And please don't drive down the roadways/highways with dump valve open----even grey water.
No one behind you appreciates that stuff blowing on their vehicles besides dumping grey is illegal in many states.
And grey can be just as nasty as black water.

[lucytravel12]

We've only owned the camper for a couple of months, but it's 14 years old. Don't know for sure if the gauge is accurate, but it seems to be. I did a "test" last week, tried putting two bucketfuls of hot water down the sink and then measuring what came out. All the hot water didn't come out, and the gauge said it was still half full, so I left the gray water valve partially open while driving. The gauge now says it's empty, so I assume it emptied completely during the drive. How would I know if there's any blockage in the system?

[TexasShadow]

yes you can put vinegar in the tank. we use cheap liquid detergent and borax, with a little water, a half cup each after we dump to keep the smells away.

[Old-Biscuit]

lanerd wrote:
Check you AAV under the sink. It may be stuck closed and not allowing air to go into the tank to replace the water that's going out.

Ron

That would mean roof vent is blocked

AAVs are downstream of sink/shower 'P traps so that when dumping grey tank 'P' traps don't get sucked dry

A non opening AAV would not slow/stop grey tank from draining properly.

OP........

Has grey tank always been a problem draining or is this issue new?

[lanerd]

Check you AAV under the sink. It may be stuck closed and not allowing air to go into the tank to replace the water that's going out.

Ron

[cyntdon2010]

Empty completely? I gave up years ago , when it slows to a dribble i shut it off and roll on.

[downtheroad]

Has it always been this way or is this something new?
Maybe park on a slope or block up the wheels on one side or another to get a better down angle for draining.

[gbopp]

Usually gray tanks don't get blocked.
Are you sure the drain valve is opening all the way and, there are no kinks or bends in the drain line?


Consider trying The Geo Method to clean the tank.