What happens if your gray tank gets too full?

[rudyhehn]

Our gray tank gets to 4 bars after 3 nights of camping. So far we have not exceeded capacity, but I'm wondering- what happens if you push the envelop and overfill the tank? Anyone had this happen? Does the shower floor get flooded?

[m1noel]

Generally, the first indication is water backing up into your shower, as that is the lowest drain.

[cavie]

[16ACE27]

And the problem with water in the bottom of the shower is that it will easily slop over the edge if you move the RV. When you get to that point you gotta drain at least 5 gallons before moving.

[Travelin' Texans]

Backing up in the shower is usual for the bath grey, some RVs have separate greys for bath & kitchen.
In 2-3 days you should be good on the kitchen (galley), but unless you take quick showers turning off the shower head between lather & rinse it could be filled in a couple days.
Just FYI, don't put much faith in the level sensors being any where near accurate, have owned several RVs in the last 40+ years & never had one that the sensors were even close after a couple fills. About the only thing they tell you for certain is they have pretty little red lights.

[GMac]

My guess
While you’re away for a few hrs, Suppose a bottle of shampoo somehow falls off the shelf and bumps the shower faucet handle to a slow on. Water now fills grey tanks, overflows shower and flows into cabin. Hopefully, you are not 100% level and water is able to flow to the wall slide and drain out, some might flow into your storage bins.
Image your surprise when you open the RV door!

[Bob Denman]

If your gray tank overflows: you'll need to wash your feet a second time... AFTER getting out of the shower!

[be happy]

Once the shower pan is full it heads to the floor and spots unknowen. Had a pet (cat) that while we were gone turned the faucet on. Its not fun, now we turn water off when leaving.

You may want to invest in one of the totes for black and grey water.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by GMac

My guess
While you’re away for a few hrs, Suppose a bottle of shampoo somehow falls off the shelf and bumps the shower faucet handle to a slow on. Water now fills grey tanks, overflows shower and flows into cabin. Hopefully, you are not 100% level and water is able to flow to the wall slide and drain out, some might flow into your storage bins.
Image your surprise when you open the RV door!

Oh Boy!! A new game!! Can I play?

What if an asteroid comes zipping through the atmosphere spewing bits and pieces of molten alien material. Then one of those pieces lands on the edge of your motorhome's roof and slowly smolders down into a wall cavity just far enough to burn a small hole in the cold water line. The wall cavity begins to fill with water until it starts leaking out of the hole on the roof. You come back to see a steady drip of water coming from your roof but you didn't leave the air conditioner on. Imagine your surprise when you figure out you now have alien beings hatching in the waterworld in the wall of your motorhome!!

[GMac]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Oh Boy!! A new game!! Can I play?

What if an asteroid comes zipping through the atmosphere spewing bits and pieces of molten alien material. Then one of those pieces lands on the edge of your motorhome's roof and slowly smolders down into a wall cavity just far enough to burn a small hole in the cold water line. The wall cavity begins to fill with water until it starts leaking out of the hole on the roof. You come back to see a steady drip of water coming from your roof but you didn't leave the air conditioner on. Imagine your surprise when you figure out you now have alien beings hatching in the waterworld in the wall of your motorhome!!

Sorry for posting a real life story that answered OP’s question.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Oh Boy!! A new game!! Can I play?

What if an asteroid comes zipping through the atmosphere spewing bits and pieces of molten alien material. Then one of those pieces lands on the edge of your motorhome's roof and slowly smolders down into a wall cavity just far enough to burn a small hole in the cold water line. The wall cavity begins to fill with water until it starts leaking out of the hole on the roof. You come back to see a steady drip of water coming from your roof but you didn't leave the air conditioner on. Imagine your surprise when you figure out you now have alien beings hatching in the waterworld in the wall of your motorhome!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSJkMBMEwPk

[raffaelli]

We noticed the toilet room sink would not drain when our grey tank was full. We ran it full de-winterizing a few weeks ago. We were surprised the shower didn't over flow first.

[abjbrtd]

When we're on full hookups we keep the gray tank valve open.

I close it the day before the black tank needs to be dumped.
Black tank needs dumping maybe once a week.

[saddlesore]

Originally Posted by GMac

Sorry for posting a real life story that answered OP’s question.

Have had a few episodes of gray tank filling the shower myself in our former coach (Thor Infinity).. learned to get serious about dumping the gray tank when the shower started to gurgle.. And every damn time...the DW was taking a shower..
Best "cure" I've found for the tank level indicators is going to the SeeLevel system..

[Bob Denman]

Our gray tank sensor acts a bit wonky at times. We just stay aware of it, and dump when we figure that it's full enough...

[LDK]

Given we like to stay off grid for a week or so at a time, as well as to minimize dumping at parks with no sewer, we combine the grey/black tanks by using the Valterra Waste Valve as per this article:
https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/com...lack-grey-tank

[williamprunty]

Originally Posted by rudyhehn

Our gray tank gets to 4 bars after 3 nights of camping. So far we have not exceeded capacity, but I'm wondering- what happens if you push the envelop and overfill the tank? Anyone had this happen? Does the shower floor get flooded?

1. Smell
2. Gurgling
3. Shower backs up
4. Wife YELLS

[tomwill]

First don't believe the light indicators. Mine have not worked properly since 1 week after I purchased MH. As stated before you will notice a funny smell and it will back up in the shower. When I'm fully hooked up I will leave my gray tank dump valve open. After about a week of use with black tank closed I close the gray tank valve take 2 showers ( wife and I) and then dump black tank and then flush drain tube with gray tank water. If you are dry camping, and you take showers your gray tank will fill up quickly.

[carlgorski]

Originally Posted by rudyhehn

Our gray tank gets to 4 bars after 3 nights of camping. So far we have not exceeded capacity, but I'm wondering- what happens if you push the envelop and overfill the tank? Anyone had this happen? Does the shower floor get flooded?

Shower won't drain. I have an adapter with standard hose bib to hook on to dump valve. I then drain it into a 6 gal container I have and dump that. That is when I am dry camping.

[Paulred]

We tend to dump the tank prior to taking a shower and leave it open while showering. Later we close it. You need some grey water to properly clean the dump hose after running black water through it.