First Time Flushing Tanks

[NateHTP]

I'd appreciate some advice, I'm scared lol.

This is my first motorhome, and first time flushing the tanks.

I found a free dump station at the Brendan Byrne State Forest on sanidumps.com

I have a grey and black tank of unknown full-ness (I'm adding new sensors soon).

So I'm going to drive to this dump station and... is this the process?

1. Open Black, let it drain.
2. Open Grey, let it drain.
3. If there is water running, I'd fill up the black/grey tanks (with a hose?) and then drain them again?

Thanks, I appreciate the help for a newb!

[ducksface]

That will do just fine.
Make sure the bayonets lock on the outlet.
Close the valves when you're done.

[NateHTP]

I was also just reading about heating pads (I'll need to install some of these!) and RV Digest-It solution, etc. I have no idea what's in my black/grey tanks... I haven't emptied this since I bought it, so maybe pouring this stuff down before doing my first empty would be wise?

[Bob Denman]

If you're going to add chemicals to your tanks: do it now. Driving to the dump station will give them some "sloshing time" in your tanks.
Once you're there: black tank first; then the gray. Close the valves and cap them off. [I]
(And make sure your slinky lugs are fully engaged...)
Good luck!

[Porkchop]

DO NOT add any chemicals to your tank!!!Unless Bob is buying. Him and the chemical companies are the ones supporting flushing money down the drain. It is a holding tank, not a septic system. Nothing is in there long enough to digest in any form. Especially on the short trip to the dump!! Just plain water at each flush of the toilet is all that is needed
20 years doing it with zero problems. Saved enough $$ to buy my last rig!!

Bill

[Bob Denman]

. I'm in for ten bucks...

[Popfla]

Just to clarify:

1. Open Black, let it drain.
1a. Close Black.
2. Open Grey, let it drain.
2a. Close Grey.

You should never have both the black and grey valves open at the same time.

If you are going to rinse out the black tank, either by way of an installed flush system such as San-T-Flush, or by running clean water down the toilet, do it before emptying the grey tank. Use the contents of the grey tank to flush out the sewer hose.

Good Luck!!

[NateHTP]

Originally Posted by Porkchop

DO NOT add any chemicals to your tank!!!Unless Bob is buying. Him and the chemical companies are the ones supporting flushing money down the drain. It is a holding tank, not a septic system. Nothing is in there long enough to digest in any form. Especially on the short trip to the dump!! Just plain water at each flush of the toilet is all that is needed
20 years doing it with zero problems. Saved enough $$ to buy my last rig!!

Bill

Wonderful and logical advice. Thank you!!!

[NateHTP]

Originally Posted by Popfla

Just to clarify:

1. Open Black, let it drain.
1a. Close Black.
2. Open Grey, let it drain.
2a. Close Grey.

You should never have both the black and grey valves open at the same time.

If you are going to rinse out the black tank, either by way of an installed flush system such as San-T-Flush, or by running clean water down the toilet, do it before emptying the grey tank. Use the contents of the grey tank to flush out the sewer hose.

Good Luck!!

I def might have made this mistake. Thank you so much!

Noted your point about using grey tank contents to flush the sewer hose. Thank you.

[Bob Denman]

San-T-Flush...
Everybody has their own routine; and here's mine:
After dumping the tanks: I put about half a cup of dish soap down the toilet. I then hook up the water supply to the system, and leave the valve closed I put what I figure to be about ten gallons of water back in the tank. I then shut off the system, and open the valve. I keep running the system, and draining until I get suds-free water coming out. (Maybe 4 or 5 sequences...)

[NateHTP]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

San-T-Flush...
Everybody has their own routine; and here's mine:
After dumping the tanks: I put about half a cup of dish soap down the toilet. I then hook up the water supply to the system, and leave the valve closed I put what I figure to be about ten gallons of water back in the tank. I then shut off the system, and open the valve. I keep running the system, and draining until I get suds-free water coming out. (Maybe 4 or 5 sequences...)

Thanks a lot! Seems like that would use a lot of water... do the places you dump always have water available, and if they do they don't mind you using so many gallons?

[Papafoos]

Originally Posted by NateHTP

I'd appreciate some advice, I'm scared lol.

...So I'm going to drive to this dump station and... is this the process?

1. Open Black, let it drain.
2. Open Grey, let it drain.
3. If there is water running, I'd fill up the black/grey tanks (with a hose?) and then drain them again?

Thanks, I appreciate the help for a newb!

Practice hooking up the hoses before you go just to get the hang of it. Without draining of course. That's the hardest part, making sure they are locked on. When you finish, make sure the valves are completely closed. Don't ask why I know this. At least it was the grey.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by NateHTP

Thanks a lot! Seems like that would use a lot of water... do the places you dump always have water available, and if they do they don't mind you using so many gallons?

Nobody has ever tried chasing me out of town with a pitchfork yet...
Water intensive: yes!
But your slinky will always be minty fresh!

[paulwadley]

It is really a simple process. Just make sure the slinky hose is fully attached to the motor home dump BEFORE you open the dump valve. Sometimes it feels attached and then once you open the dump valve it lets loose and you now have a big mess to clean up. Also wear rubber gloves for this process.

Paul

[lwmcguir]

Make sure the discharge end has the elbow securely positioned in the opening so it don't jump out of the drain when the slug of waste water hits it

[Travelin' Texans]

Not necessary to "fill" the tanks completely to rinse, 5-10 gallons should be sufficient.
A clear section should be added at the rv end to be able to check when it's running clear.
ALWAYS connect the sewer end of the hose securely 1st gen while holding the rv end as close as possible remove the cap from the rv to try a run the dab that comes will go down the hose.
If you get a cap with the water hose fitting (see below) on it remove that small cap 1st, all the valves tend to leak a bit & there could be several feet of piping that doesn't completely drain that WILL run out 1st.

As mentioned the tank chemicals are not needed, once rinsed & flushed add a couple gallons of water to the black tank then add a good healthy squirt of cheapo dish/laundry detergent, this will work to keep valves lubricated & work as well as the expensive tank chemicals.

[dkoldman]

Couple of questions

For those that don't recommend Tank Chemical treatments.

Doesn't it matter how long you may go in between dumps and the ambient temperatures? In Texas heat, I must have something. I use a few ozs of Thetford (blue stuff) I have tried some others chemicals but found them to be worthless. While it does breaks down toilet tissue etc, it does it quicker than yiu think, but that is not my main reason for using. It is a deodorant and it does help to control the smell from backing up from the toilet; although the plumbed vent helps too. I keep it with thetford with me; but only use it selectively. I can certainly tell when it has been used versus not been used.

On words of wisdom to never open black and gray the same time.

I have never done this; but have read about it on internet so it must be good. I have heard after you have drained your black tank, rinsed or whatever you do, leave the black valve open and then open the gray so the gray backfills the black and then open the main valve?

What say you...

[Lt Keefer]

I always open the gray tank before closing the black. Chemical deodorants are also not required.

[Wandering Woods]

My FIL used this method:
1. Dump black.
2. Lift slinky above bottom of tank level and open grey which then back flushes into black. Wait 10 seconds or so. Close grey and lower slinky to redrain black.
3. Repeat step 2 A couple of times. Then close black valve.
4. Drain the rest of the grey tank. Hose is clean enough to store.

Saves time at dump stations since you don't use the flushing system.

If you have full hookups then just do black, grey, and flush away.

Happy travels!

[kwplot34]

All good advice posted above. Just watch RV with Robin Williams on what not to do when dumping your tanks.