Black and Gray Tanks - Open or Closed???

[RipRiver]

I have always heard that you should keep the black and gray tanks closed and drain them when they are filled. My husband has heard from others that as long as you are connected to sewer and city water, it is ok to keep both the black and gray water tanks open and let everything drain continuously.

Can anyone clarify this for us?

[RickO]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Never, never, never.... leave the black tank valve open. This results in the liquids running down through the drain hose and leaving the solids behind. Those "solids" form what it called "The Brown Tower of Doom"... which dries and is very difficult to remove.

I will sometimes leave the gray tank valve open for a few days, but not very often since I want a full gray tank to dump after dumping the black tank. This washes out the dump hose of black water.

Rick

[geno39]

Originally Posted by RickO

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Never, never, never.... leave the black tank valve open. This results in the liquids running down through the drain hose and leaving the solids behind. Those "solids" form what it called "The Brown Tower of Doom"... which dries and is very difficult to remove.

I will sometimes leave the gray tank valve open for a few days, but not very often since I want a full gray tank to dump after dumping the black tank. This washes out the dump hose of black water.

Rick

Ditto

[jd956jd956]

Originally Posted by RickO

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Never, never, never.... leave the black tank valve open. This results in the liquids running down through the drain hose and leaving the solids behind. Those "solids" form what it called "The Brown Tower of Doom"... which dries and is very difficult to remove.

I will sometimes leave the gray tank valve open for a few days, but not very often since I want a full gray tank to dump after dumping the black tank. This washes out the dump hose of black water.

Rick

Seek no more advice NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!!

[Stan.Birch]

Okay . . . Your husband is WRONG!!

Add to that: Brown Towers of Doom, and White Pyramids when you entertain strangers unaware, you will find RVing more fun than you ever envisioned!!

[flaggship1]

As the others have said - grey may be left open - especially if you have a washer / dryer and a back flush system for the black tank. You can also close it the day before leaving to collect water or just run the sink or shower a bit and watch the gauge.

Concerning leaving the black tank open, in the words of Shelby the Swamp Man. Don't Ever Do It.

[macantic]

Originally Posted by geno39

Ditto

Originally Posted by RickO

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Never, never, never.... leave the black tank valve open. This results in the liquids running down through the drain hose and leaving the solids behind. Those "solids" form what it called "The Brown Tower of Doom"... which dries and is very difficult to remove.

I will sometimes leave the gray tank valve open for a few days, but not very often since I want a full gray tank to dump after dumping the black tank. This washes out the dump hose of black water.

Rick

Double Ditto!

[RipRiver]

I was pretty sure it wouldn't take long to get some help settling this "discussion" that we've been having. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. I am glad we will not have to talk about this any more.

Just to be sure, I'm seriously considering making a sign and putting it in the compartment near the black and gray handles. It will simply say . . . NEVER, NEVER, NEVER.

Thanks for the help.

~Sue

[catonine]

I agree, keep them closed until time to dump. Just one time having to clean out that mountain will convince you of this if we have not already.

[Wayne M]

My wife and I were discussing something in the car one day and she end (almost ended) by saying, "You're right." I replied, "I know. I'm never wrong."

So convincing your DH of NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, may be a difficult task. I'm sure he is never wrong, like most of us men.

However, with that said, you need to follow him around during "hook-up" and push the black handle back in.

[RipRiver]

We have both been chuckling most of the afternoon about this - especially the comments about Brown Towers of Doom and White Pyramids. It is wonderful to have a forum like this with so many knowledgable RVers.

On our trip home after buying the RV we did notice the black water tank seemed to fill up rapidly according to the gauge. After dumping the tanks at Camping World, we noticed the gauge was still registering about 1/4 full. Before we left for home, we did put in some enzyme cleaner that we had gotten previously for our toy hauler. I read on another post that Piranha from Super Seal Specialty Co. [MANUFACTURER OF UNSURPASSED BREAKTHROUGH PRODUCTS FOR OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD!] is a good product to use, so I order some this afternoon.

Our MH is currently at Camping World having some recalls done. When we get it back on Tuesday, we'll put more enzymes in with a bunch of water and see if that changes things. Any other suggestions?

~Sue

[Possum]

I had to do that tower destroy mission once and got good advice from our RV repair place. They told me to put the break up stuff in and get about ten 5 pound back of ice cubes (big black water tank) to dump into the toilet. Then we half filled the black water tank (visually looking from outside with a bright light up to the plastic tank. Then they had us drive around town and over some logging roads for about an hour before going to dump the tanks. For the most part it did work but we still need to get a high pressure spinning what'sit to run into the black tank below the toilet when we are at a sani-dump station in the future.

[texkayaker]

I will have to take the contrarian view on this subject. I have been living for 16 years in 5th wheel trailers. Current one for 6 years. For the 16 years I have left both black and grey water valves open all the time. These trailers never move, I have a Trek MH that we travel in. When I retired from my real job I worked for 10 years with a mobile RV repairman. During that time we cleaned out many black water tanks that would not drain. Also replaced a few. My boss at that time had over 25 years experience, he is of the opinion that design on the tank, the outlet nozzle, had lots to do with the stoppage problem. The ones with no problem have a drop in the tank with the nozzle off of that. My current 5th wheel is a 40' Travel Supreme. When I put it in place I opened both valves and have never had a problem. Previous 5th wheel was a 40' En Route. Both valves always open. Has worked for me. I do not recommend for any one else, don't know the design of there tanks.

[CD]

I have used the Geo Method for over 10 years with good results. No smell, gauges work good and no problems.