RV Holding Tanks: Should You Leave Them Open or Closed? | Full-time RV Family | Ep 99

[@owenmxz600]

Thanks I needed this! Very new to camping just got a seasonal site and toilet clogged had no idea I need to dump it! Your a life saver for not making me look like a moron!

[@imfreepb]

Awesome video man! This is our second month of permanent motorhoming and we were at our first location for a month with sewer I left my sewer line closed and always closed my Gray line to fill up a little bit of the tank for flushing after the poo. About 3 weeks in we ended up clogged because I hadn't been doing the in tank flush every time while we were sitting and I thought that we were screwed but I then put a bunch of water down the toilet with the hose and let it flush again and viola. Then when we left that spot last week I made sure my black tank was about half full before we took off driving and that really seemed to clean out the rest.

[@grizzkid795]

Funny, I have used a travel trailer in an rv park for 3-4 months each year for 25 years. I have always left both tanks open. Never had a problem, except one time I accidently left the valves closed and they froze. Had to put a heater under them to thaw them out. Say I'm wrong, but that is my experience.

[@sandyheywood7416]

Exactly the info I needed! Thank you for such a clear and concise video. Very helpful.

[@barntt]

Nice 2 year old video. All good info. If your not already doing this then pre-charge your empty black tank using cheap Geo-Method products after the flushing cycle, this helps with the cleaning and odors a lot. The method we use is a cup of Liquide water softener mixed with a cup of CHEAP LIQUID laundry soap in a full toilet bowl of water and followed by 2 full bowls of water into the closed black tank and use it normally with plenty of water till its full again, the water softener helps break down the solids and makes the water slick and the soap and softener helps keep the tank walls and sensors clean. The soap helps to lube the tank valves and help them last. Pre-charging insures your solids are in enough water to start soaking apart immediately! Also We use only the SCOTTS single ply paper (cheaper then RV paper). NOTHING else goes into the Black tank. Chlorine shouldn't be used in the Black tank IMHO! Not good on the system's parts or septic systems. We leave the Gray valves open until the Black tank starts burping when the bowl is flushed then close the Gray valves for a couple days worth of showers and dish washing. we don't have a washer dryer and there's just 2 of us. After the Black tank flushing is done and the valve closed, then we drain the Gray's to flush the slinky. I personally don't think your washer drains with enough volume any time its pumping to wash the top 1/2 of the slinky clean like pulling the valve on a Gray that has at least a quarter tank full. A clear section of pipe before the slinky is the ONLY way you can know what is coming down the chute. Enjoy the LIFE!

[@hobomobile1646]

you may have saved me big bucks! gonna live on my property in an RV. I'll have a septic system in the ground, and figured I'd bypass holding tanks completely. But RV gravity draining might have lots of issues. The flush wand and other ideas really helps.

[@maui7773]

Nice video. Perfect information we were looking for. Newbie and this is very helpful. Be well!

[@russkorte1835]

Thanks, being a newbie these tips were awesome!!! Safe travels

[@marianaovalle6205]

Thank you! I’m new at this and had been leaving my black tank lever open because I live in a trailer park and thought it would be like a regular sewer. My neighbor advised me and showed me how to close it and how to read the lever and empty it by letting the grey tank fill to flush the hose after emptying the black tank. The only seeming problem now is that when I empty the black tank the lever shows 3/4 empty. It’s an older RV so it doesn’t have the modern transparent hoses and flush out system capabilities. I appreciate your advice if you have any to give. Have a wonderful day! Mariana

[@nicholai40]

Awesome video. I got bad advice about leaving my black tank line open. Thanks for the details.

[@raphaelness1239]

Hopefully I saw this just on time but I may have a pyramid building. Had all three opened for many months. On top of that. I bought camper years ago with a broken black tank valve so I just got an adapter shut off and never had it replaced! I have now taken the whole bottom of camper apart and have access to the "badly bent" black tank release. I have never changed one before so hopefully its straight forward?? I need to do those flushes ASAP!

[@Thetravelerfromflorida]

Your videos are great for first timers. Keep up the good work.

[@TheHouseofR]

Great tips to know! Thanks for sharing what you have learned. - Melissa

[@Five2Go]

Happy to help! 😁

[@marlenedukich9547]

Thank you your video is perfect. I would need some help on my cleaning my RV . Friends tell me not to pressure wash the roof just the sides.

[@JRTMomMN]

So so so helpful and clear! Thank you!

[@PreetSingh-gp3re]

Awesome Video, I am just getting into this lifestyle. Quick ?, with leaving the great tank connected to the sewer when stationery. Do you notice any sewer odors coming back up?

[@Five2Go]

We never had odor issues. The tanks have vents up on the roof that should take care of smells. If you have any odors that means something is leaking, broken, or clogged.

[@kristinekoski7345]

You are awesome ! Your very informative and great at explaining , very professional ,, make more videos ! Thanks

[@sally26]

Awesome advice at the last

[@Platt365]

Super helpful, thank you!

[@serenabryan5878]

Thanks for the help!

[@freshmaker5]

What if you camp and it’s only 1/3 full. Can you park it for a few weeks until your next adventure or is it better to dump after every trip?

[@virginiamcclain8373]

Yes great tips to know..thank you

[@JuanChavez-nm7fb]

Beautiful family

[@respectfullyyours9210]

I have 2 black and q gray I'm confused 😕 I am so green. Do I keep bith black closed? Keystone Residence 40FLRS. I was forced into this and I have no idea what I'm doing and it's so obvious. I just do want to do anything incorrectly. I have brain issues so reading is not easy right now. I'm 64 and no family. I'm a full-time hook up. Thank you for any help.

[@MG-zz1re]

Thanks CHAMP

[@hilham89]

So if you leavevthe valve open the toilet goes straight to the black tank no matter what? Reason im asking is i have my camper stationary. Its not moving its for living in full time. I got a septic tank for all of mine to bypass both tanks and to empty into the septic tank, well todaybi was just curious and checked the level in my tanks and the black tank is filling up but not the grey tank. I ttried to turn on the pump to go ahead and dump what was in the black tank into but the pump wont come on either. Any suggestions?

[@karenmoore6468]

What would you do if your shower doesn’t drain? 2 showers and this happened. Please help me figure it out

[@powerof3ozzyluver2]

I have to use a bucket and keep turning it off and on every time the bucket fills i carry it to the tank and empty and come back can that cause stink in camper constantly opening and closing

[@suzanneellison6714]

I have a garden hose outlet on the empty cap, I am trying to empty my grey water but nothing is coming out yet the monitor says full.

[@em3227]

You’re the man

[@JuanChavez-nm7fb]

Great tips

[@Kevin-ef7lf]

In my opinion it’s a really bad idea to leave any grey tank open! If the RV park you are staying in has a sewer back up it could end up coming into your trailer if your grey valve is open as well rats live in the sewer and you really don’t want one in your grey tank

[@Fraiyia]

Ever hear of a black tank bypass?

[@stephaniemccullaugh8396]

Thank you!!

[@powerof3ozzyluver2]

It sucks when it splashes on me when I am filling bucket up

[@powerof3ozzyluver2]

Camper is stationary and can't be moved and it is to far from sewer tank so it suckd

[@theycallmeblake]

Super duper helpful. Thanks!

[@Five2Go]

You're welcome!

[@Travelgal23]

Thanks so much!