Forum Discussion

BobsYourUncle's avatar
Feb 15, 2014

Gotta thaw my grey tank!!! Here we go again!

Well, I hit the trail Jan. 26 and headed into the wild wild winter....

I know to be careful with my water usage and have learned to wash things with a thimble full of water and all that, but there comes a time when ya just gotta get rid of some grey water!! But what when it is grey ice??

I am there. When I brush my teeth, water comes up into the sink. Maybe it's plugged, but my bet is the grey tank is full.

I don't dare step into the shower. Even a 3 quart shower is too much. I do have access to a bathroom where I am set up at and I use the potty there instead of mine. Why not? I have a key to the place!

And I wander in there before anyone arrives in the morning, armed with a bar of soap, a towel and facecloth! But you can only do so much.

Aside from that, it's baby wipes to the rescue!! Hahaha! Yeah I've gone through a pile of them. They actually work quite well. Do the pits and other essentials - haha!

But why do I want to smell like a cucumber and green tea? Or smell like a babys butt after cleanup? Better ask Huggies about that one - LOL! Better that than smelling like BO I guess.....

All for the sake of saving water. But that and the sponge bath in the shop biffy keep me going until my grey tank stays thawed enough to use the shower regularly.

Hey we actually warmed up in frozen tundra Alberta yesterday - went above freezing for the first time since I got here Jan 26.

My FIRST thought was my grey tank. Heyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!! Maybe it might flow - plus 5C - 38F.... Maybe????

Tried last night - no sale on that one. A little stuff dribbled out.. Wah....

Another warm day today. Maybe????? I get back the the TT after a days work and go back there, get my 5 gallon pail out and stick it under the thingy there and pull the cork. Awwww heck only a dribble again. Heat tape around my dump pipes. Keeps them thawed but after this consistent minus 500 degrees, I know I have a couple tanks of solid ice! Not worried about the black. I used it once for solids and a few liquid deposits. But I open the valve and have a peek - it is liquid right up to the valve. hmmmmm not sure how I managed that one when I only used it a few times. I know the tank is virtually empty. Oh well. grey water is the concern right now.

So it was still above freezing. I'll help it along. Got an old milk crate, got my little 1500W electric heater, the one I use to supplement the furnace, and I lay it on its back to see if it has one of those safety deals to shut it off if knocked over. Nope! Must be made in China! Haha! It runs while laying on its back.

Throw some cardboard in the snow, shove the milk crate under the grey tank, upside down, stick the heater in here at 1500W, and it's right up almost against the grey tank.

Let her rip baby! Lets see if I can get some drainage happening here.

Got my 5 gallon bucket under the drain thingy. An hour of the heater I go out hopefully and pull the cork again. Slight whoosh, got about a pint out.

This could take a while. Gave upon the heat gun.

Maybe I'll let it go all night. I'd really like to wash my dishes in water instead of moistened paper towels and baby wipes!!! Good for salad - tastes like cucumber and I didn't even put any in!!

:B:B:B:B

Ahh winter in the RV at it's finest!

I wouldn't trade this for any fancy hotel!