Phase Four Industries - BACK TO BASICS WITH DUMPING RV HOLDING TANKS

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BACK TO BASICS WITH DUMPING RV HOLDING TANKS

Wednesday, May 24 2006 @ 12:04 PM Pacific
Contributed by: christine
Views: 3,556

Before you begin emptying the holding tanks of your RV, there are a few important things to take into account in order to avoid another “Happy Hour” story.

• Do not open your dump valves until you have properly hooked your connections to the coach and the approved sewer inlet.

• Consider wearing a pair of rubber gloves or even boots if you are not using the Waste Master System and are concerned about human waste (yours), getting onto you and the surrounding area

Connecting to the Dump Station
RVs have two different holding tanks, the black tank and the gray tank. Waste from the toilet flows into the black tank while the gray tank collects dirty water from the sinks and showers. Both tanks have a common termination point in a designated storage bay (usually on the roadside of the vehicle) where the sewer hose is to be connected.

Be sure both the black and gray tank valves are closed before removing the outlet cap. When removing the cap it is recommended you have a container under the outlet in case a valve did not close all the way, and remove the cap slowly. Next, connect your hose by inserting it onto the bayonet spigot and turning clockwise until it locks into place. Extend your hose to the dump station (usually a hole in the ground that is slightly larger than 3”) and insert it about six inches into the hole. We recommend using a fitting and some weight to hold the fitting in place. Go slowly when undoing the hose to avoid tearing it from the fitting you just connected to the coach.

To avoid rips and tears in your hose (which could lead to an unsightly mess) be sure to avoid pulling it across the ground. (It is also highly recommended that you invest in a heavy duty sewer hose such as Sewer Supreme or Sewer Master to avoid unnecessary leaks/holes)

Acceptable connection methods to dump stations vary based on local codes, so be sure to use the method specified for you in this area. If a precise connection method is not specified, you should be sure to use something heavy, such as the lid of the dump station or a brick, to secure the hose so it does not come out while are emptying your tanks.

With your hose secured, you now have two options for emptying your tanks. If your coach is equipped with the Waste Master System or Drain Master electric waste valves, skip down the page to that header. For all other types, continue reading.

Emptying the tanks
To empty your tanks:
• Manually open the larger (3”) valve, which connects to the black water tank. The waste will flow through the sewer hose and you will be able to hear it when it eventually slows. Be sure all the waste has emptied from the tank before closing the black tank valve.
• Open the small (1 ½”) valve, which connects to the gray tank (depending on the coach manufacturer, this may be a 3” valve). You will again hear water flowing; wait until it has stopped before closing the valve.
• It is optional, but recommended, to flush and rinse both tanks for sanitary reasons. To do this, fill your tanks 2/3 of the way with water and repeat the above steps.

With the Drain Master Electric Waste Valves
• Push “black water Drain Master switch” towards open position and hold for one to seconds – the valve will open and waste flows into the sewer.
• Turn on the black water tank flush (if equipped).
• Close Drain Master black water valve while leaving tank flusher on.
• Fill black water tank half full, then push Drain Master switch to open position.
• Close valve when empty and repeat until the water runs clear. This process is optional but ensures that the tank is clean and free of odors.
• Turn off the black water sprayer and close black water valve.
• Repeat this process with the gray tank.

With the Waste Master System
• Open the compartment that houses the Waste Master hose/nozzle assembly. Once you have the Waste Master nozzle in hand, walk it over and place nozzle in the ground inlet (if equipped with the Waste Master 6 automated system, you will use the remote key and push button 1 to automatically extend the hose; once you reach the ground hole, release the button, and insert nozzle into ground inlet) wedging the nozzle in with the compression donut. If a longer hose is needed to reach the sewer inlet, remove the compression donut from the nozzle and screw on an extra length of hose.
• Raise the gray handle on the nozzle to the open position.
• Now refer to the above instructions on coaches equipped with the Drain Master Electric Waste Valves.
• When you are done dumping and ready to go, all you do is go to the nozzle which is still in the ground inlet, close the gray handle, manually push the hose back into the coach until the nozzle rests in its storage area. If equipped with Waste Master 6, once again use the remote control, only this time push button 2 until the nozzle rests in its storage area. Note: If you have used an extension hose it will need to be removed, cleaned and stored.

Disconnecting the Hose (if coach is not equipped with above Waste Master System)
Make sure both the black and gray water tanks are closed before attempting to disconnect the sewer hose. Once you have disconnected the hose from the tank, raise the end you disconnected to drain the remaining water into the sewer. Walk towards the ground inlet while lifting the hose to ensure that all water has been removed. It is a good idea to add holding tank treatments after performing a system flush. First, add enough water to cover the bottom of your black tank, about five gallons (roughly three flushes). Next, allow the toilet to fill again and add the recommended amount of treatment (generally four ounces for every forty gallons) before flushing. Treatment for the gray tank can be used at this time as well. It is also recommended to occasionally pour a small amount of this waste digester down each sink and shower drain. Doing so will keep the p traps clean and odor free.

Harmful Chemicals
Recently, many free stations have been forced to close down because people choose to use holding tank chemicals that are harmful to septic systems. To ensure that these free dump stations remain open, avoid using formaldehyde containing products, and bleach as they destroy “good” bacteria that aid in breaking down waste. They can also be harmful to animals and pets. Instead, consider enzyme-based chemicals that use these “good” bacteria to decompose waste and control odors.

Good Advice
Now that you know the basics of emptying your tanks, here are some things to keep in mind.
• Wait until the black-water tank is at least two-thirds full before dumping. This is also a good rule to follow when emptying the gray-water tank.
• Be sure to disconnect and close the black tank valve after each dumping – leaving it open when camping allows liquids to drain, but leaves solid waste behind to harden in your tank.
• A heavy-duty sewer hose (such as the Sewer Master or Sewer Supreme) makes handling much easier. Carrying a spare hose is also recommended.
• In case a dump station lacks a hose, it is a good idea to carry an extra garden hose of your own. Be sure to keep it somewhere where it will not come into contact with your drinking water hose. Having two different colored hoses, one for fresh water and another associated with waste dumping is another good idea to avoid confusion. Never use your fresh water hose for cleaning any part associated with dumping waste.
• Use only single ply toilet paper or the type designed for RVs.
• As a matter of courtesy, skip the tank flushing/hose rinsing steps if you notice other people waiting to use the station. You can add water and apply chemical treatment after pulling out of the way.
• Put only the contents of your holding tank into the dump station.
• Be sure to keep dump stations clean, otherwise you may have to pay for dump stations in the future.
• Make hooking-up a routine
o Do everything in sequence so that nothing is forgotten.
o Always do clean jobs first ending with dirty.
• Keep the following items in the service bay
o Disposable latex gloves.
o Spray bottle of bleach water.
Clorox bleach wipes.
Paper towel instead of rags.
Plastic bags for disposing of gloves, paper towel and bleach wipes.
o Hook-up routine
o Put on disposable latex/vinyl gloves. We recommend disposable over the rubber gloves which don’t get cleaned and stay in the bay 20/80 bleach/water solution.
o Use paper towels and bleach wipes to clean up any spills or to wipe down the fresh water hose before you store it.
o Wash hands with anti-bacterial soap after all hookup jobs are done.
o Remove gloves by turning one inside of the other for disposal.
o Place gloves, paper towels and bleach wipes in the plastic bag for easy and safe disposal.
Water Hose Care
Sanitize your fresh water hose often to prevent mold/mildew.
Use small amount of hydrogen peroxide (It’s ingestible so it won’t hurt you) and water in your water hose. Attach caps at both ends of the hose and let it slosh around in the bay as you travel to your next location (also good to do before you store your coach).
Caps and plugs are available at hardware stores.
Use white water hose for fresh water supply only.
Purchase a different colored garden hose to use for all other jobs.
Sewer Hose and Attachments
Never use your fresh water hose to wash your sewer hoses/attachments.
Put sewer hose and attachments in a plastic box or plastic bag and clean or replace container often.

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Specializing in :Waste Master, Drain Master, Sewer Master, Pure Power, waster digester, gate valve, dump valve, waste valve, sewer valve, speciality valve, holding tanks treatment, eliminate odors, tank chemicals, Pure Power, Industrial Gate Valve, tank drain valves, waste water control.

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