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07-31-2022, 03:08 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: SE Vermont
Posts: 103
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What to do with low black water tank?
If you're only away for a weekend and your BW tank is not even 1/3 full, and you only have the option of dumping without a flush, what is best practice?
My thought is to dump a bunch of water into the BW tank by flushing the toilet for no other reason. But, is that a good idea? If so, for how much/long? Other ideas?
__________________
-David
2021 Thor Quantum LH26
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07-31-2022, 03:31 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 2,521
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I run my bathroom sink which drains into my black tank while I'm packing up then dump on the way out. No point in hauling even a fraction of a waste tank if I don't have to. It's easier to find more fresh water than find places to lose not-fresh water.
Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
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07-31-2022, 06:06 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 3,441
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Never give it a thought. Dump, shut the valve, run the toilet water a few minutes and dump again. Move on to the grey valve
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07-31-2022, 07:24 PM
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#4
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Community Administrator
Pond Piggies Club LA Gulf Coast Campers Outdoors RV Owners Club Entegra Owners Club Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 40,769
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I've had one of these https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Product...s%2C133&sr=8-1 for over 20 years. If the black tank isn't full enough (to my satisfaction) when it's time to break camp, I use this to prop open the bowl valve to allow enough water into the tank until it's full enough to dump.
Just do NOT get distracted & forget it's there.
__________________
Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
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07-31-2022, 07:28 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Braidwood Il.
Posts: 8,300
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Couple gallons from bucket or a pot as toilet flushes/opens. I can do 5 gallons in a couple, few flushes.
__________________
95 Monaco Crown Royale
M11 400hp, 4060 trans.
Aquahot, Generac Guardian7.5k
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08-01-2022, 02:36 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: SE Vermont
Posts: 103
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Good ideas - thanks for the help.
~NEWB
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-David
2021 Thor Quantum LH26
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08-01-2022, 02:55 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Watertown NY USA
Posts: 6,531
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NLOVNIT
I've had one of these https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Product...s%2C133&sr=8-1 for over 20 years. If the black tank isn't full enough (to my satisfaction) when it's time to break camp, I use this to prop open the bowl valve to allow enough water into the tank until it's full enough to dump.
Just do NOT get distracted & forget it's there.
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This brings up a question. Why aren't there warning bells or buzzers on these tanks warning you they are nearly full?
I did prop the valve open on our toilet while on a FHU. I walked away, got distracted and my better half discovered a pond on the bathroom floor and into the hall way. I didn't need any bells or buzzers then but fair warning would have saved a lot of "I'm sorrys"
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2002 Fleetwood Storm 30H on Workhorse P32 chassis 8.1 gas.
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08-01-2022, 04:44 PM
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#8
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Community Administrator
Pond Piggies Club LA Gulf Coast Campers Outdoors RV Owners Club Entegra Owners Club Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 40,769
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Probably because they think we're smart enough to not get distracted. I learned a LOOOONG time ago to never leave water running unattended (bathtub, age 8). Mom was NOT happy with that outcome.
__________________
Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
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08-01-2022, 09:25 PM
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#9
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 24,122
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If you're not standing there, a bell or buzzer wouldn't help. If you were standing there, you wouldn't need a bell or buzzer. Like others, I walked away once, maybe even twice and learned my lesson. I always tell new RVer's to never walk away, even for a moment as you can quickly become distracted and forget the water is running, both while doing black tank rinsing and freshwater filling.
On my Dutch Star, it does have a yellow light that comes on when it's 3/4 full and red light that comes on when it's full and prevents further flushing. Obviously, this is for inside the coach use.
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Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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08-02-2022, 09:55 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,399
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LETMGROW
This brings up a question. Why aren't there warning bells or buzzers on these tanks warning you they are nearly full?
I did prop the valve open on our toilet while on a FHU. I walked away, got distracted and my better half discovered a pond on the bathroom floor and into the hall way. I didn't need any bells or buzzers then but fair warning would have saved a lot of "I'm sorrys"
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A warning buzzer that used the same type of tank sensors we see on most RVs probably wouldn't be too reliable. I see the possibility of buzzer not sounding when the tank was full or it constantly buzzing when the tank was empty.
A float switch might be a great idea, as long as the brown floaties didn't interfere with it.
My opinion on the OP's question. If I knew my next trip was a short one, I'd just park it with the few gallons left in the tank(s). I'd be sure to get it dumped next time out.
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03 Itasca Sunova, Workhorse P32 with the 8.1 and 4L85-E
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08-03-2022, 01:35 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Braidwood Il.
Posts: 8,300
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Yep no distractions.. my friend was doing a partial fill from top with hose, gets phone call flood city. Then cleans it up brings to camping club. Wife turns on pump ,the outside faucet was on empties fresh tank at campsite. Told him he could borrow my hoses to reach spigot said he was done with water for the day.
__________________
95 Monaco Crown Royale
M11 400hp, 4060 trans.
Aquahot, Generac Guardian7.5k
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08-07-2022, 05:20 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: virginia
Posts: 609
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don
If you're not standing there, a bell or buzzer wouldn't help. If you were standing there, you wouldn't need a bell or buzzer. Like others, I walked away once, maybe even twice and learned my lesson. I always tell new RVer's to never walk away, even for a moment as you can quickly become distracted and forget the water is running, both while doing black tank rinsing and freshwater filling.
On my Dutch Star, it does have a yellow light that comes on when it's 3/4 full and red light that comes on when it's full and prevents further flushing. Obviously, this is for inside the coach use.
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they should make an app for that
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08-07-2022, 05:44 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,817
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I find if I hold the foot pedal open I'll get a lot of odor so I just fill the bowl several times and flush it.
Other times I fill the kitchen wash tub from the sink and dump a few of those in there. If I have left over water jugs I'll dump those. If I'm near a park water spigot, I have a collapsible bucket I can fill.
In other words, all sorts of ways to get water in there without a hose.
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08-07-2022, 03:26 PM
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#14
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,704
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Yet another RV topic/rule that gets way over-thought. Add water if you can, by any means that is convenient. Flush the toilet using the tank water, carry in a bucket or two from the dump station, whatever. If you can't do that for some reason, just pull the dump valve handle and try to do better next time. The world isn't going to come to an abrupt end if your black tank is 1/3 instead of 1/2. But try not to make a habit of it.
Seriously, if you read and heeded all the good advice you found here and elsewhere on the net, would you even consider RVing? We make this stuff seem awful hard!
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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