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08-31-2013, 04:01 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 11
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Black and Gray Tanks - Open or Closed???
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?
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08-31-2013, 04:05 PM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 10,530
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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
__________________
Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.
2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
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08-31-2013, 04:06 PM
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#3
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Member
Vintage RV Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Grand Island, Ne.
Posts: 77
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Quote:
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
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Ditto
__________________
1968-1980 USN Seabees CE1
1980-2007 Chief Engineer/Electrician offshore drilling
Retired
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08-31-2013, 04:13 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 713
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Quote:
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
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Seek no more advice NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!!
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08-31-2013, 04:20 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 502
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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!!
__________________
Stan Birch
1999 Winnebago Adventurer 32T Ford V-10
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08-31-2013, 04:23 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Rainbow Riding
Posts: 18,574
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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.
__________________
Steve & Annie (RVM2)
2008 Fleetwood Bounder 38F ~ 325 ISB Turbo ~ Freightliner XC 2014 CR-V ~ Invisibrake / Sterling All Terrain
Sioux Falls, SD (FullTime Since Nov 5th 2014)
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08-31-2013, 04:25 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Aiken,SC
Posts: 1,025
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Quote:
Originally Posted by geno39
Ditto
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Quote:
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
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Double Ditto!
__________________
Good Sam Life Members
Served in U.S.A.F.
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08-31-2013, 04:28 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 11
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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
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08-31-2013, 05:43 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 442
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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.
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John- 2011 Fleetwood Southwind 32V
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08-31-2013, 05:52 PM
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#10
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RV Mutant #14
Winnebago Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 17,210
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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.
__________________
Wayne MSGT USMC (Ret) & Earlene (CinCHouse) RVM14 (ARS: KE5QG)
Lexi - Goldendoodle
2015 Winnebago Tour 42QD - 2020 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve
It is what it is, and then it is what you make of it.
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08-31-2013, 07:08 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 11
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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
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08-31-2013, 07:21 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Winnebago Owners Club Vintage RV Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Cherry Creek, BC Canada
Posts: 7,648
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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.
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08-31-2013, 07:32 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 277
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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.
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08-31-2013, 08:40 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Kingston, Wa. USA
Posts: 1,221
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I have used the Geo Method for over 10 years with good results. No smell, gauges work good and no problems.
__________________
Cliff
'01 3500 Ram QC HO 6sp. BD Exhaust Brake
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