Kitchen Grey Tank - OK to leave open??

[Raven13]

The sensor on our kitchen grey tank doesn't function properly ~ it seems to fill up quickly, and it overflowed once! I have read where some people leave the lever pulled and open while hooked up. I know it's a no-no to leave the black tank pulled, but is it OK to do this with the kitchen grey?
Thanks again!

[Clayobx]

Most sensors are notorious for inaccuracy. It is ok to leave the grey tank open to drain, not the black!

[Dr4Film]

A lot of RVer's do exactly that, BUT it would not be my recommendation.

RV tanks can be very fickle depending on how they are built and plumbed. I am from the school that recommends keeping the tank valves closed until they are full or three quarters full before dumping. That way you will get the "whoosh" effect which helps keep your tanks cleaned out.

If you have ever taken apart a drain line in the kitchen of your home to see what the trap or pipes look like, then that's what the bottom of your tank will collect and look like after leaving the valve open for a long time without "whooshing" the crap out of the tank.

It's up to you, your rig and your tank.

The only time I will open my grey valve is if we happen to use the clothes washer that day which is very seldom. Once done, I close it for normal daily use.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[BFlinn181]

You can keep your grey tank valve open while hooked up, just a couple of hints: ONE, put a 'hump' or dip in slinky to keep sewer flies from coming up into the tank. It makes a trap in the line just like the one in a sink drain. TWO, close the valve a day or two before you plan to dump black tank so you have grey water to flush out the slinky after black dump. THREE, you might want to try the GEO method to clean tanks (and sensors). The Calgon Water Softener can be found on Amazon. https://sites.google.com/site/cbruni/

[Raven13]

Thanks, Richard. Your opinion is the same as my husband. I am nervous, however, because the kitchen grey overflowed last week. Water was gushing out underneath the trailer. We have no idea how it's plumbed. The fifth wheel is going in next week for warranty repairs, and we hope to get some clarification as to why this happened. We assumed the sink would overflow??
Again, thanks!

[Dr4Film]

Occasionally, I will forget to check the tank levels and our grey tank will overfill. When that occurs, the water backs up into the bottom of the shower as that happens to be the lowest point in the coach. It has never overflowed outside. If that is happening, that doesn't sound correct. That would mean there is an opening somewhere on the tank. The grey and black tanks are supposed to be sealed tanks other than any drain pipes going in, drain pipes going out and rooftop vents to allow for venting the tanks.

A 5ver is plumbed much differently and you have various levels for the sinks, showers, etc. plus you may even have double tanks for the grey.

Good luck at the dealership for some answers.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[Clay L]

The sewer fly larvae have had no problem coming up through the water in the trap in my shower a couple of times. I don't think leaving a dip in the hose will help. I have also had them in my black tank once. I suspect that they may fly in through the roof vent to get into the tank, lay their eggs and then the larvae crawl up through the traps.

[GaryKD]

Hi Raven13,
Since 1978, when parked, grey valve stays open until the black is at 3/4. Then the valve is closed and the grey tank will be full about the same time as the black says full. The tanks are drained and the process starts over.

[Stan.Birch]

Originally Posted by Raven13

The sensor on our kitchen grey tank doesn't function properly ~

Then why not just calibrate it so it does function properly? It only takes about 30 seconds. The adjustments are on the back of the monitor panel.