Grey & black tanks

[Jeff&Karen39MB]

Good Morning, just trying to pick up some knowledge, been full timing since Nov, and normally drain my grey tanks daily, not a problem, my black tank with just two of us takes about two weeks.
Looking at U Tube this morning, RV Geeks shows leaving grey tank valves open all the time, only closing the day before flushing black tanks to allow for enough water to back flush lines, is this a normally good practice?
Also they show pouring five gallons of hot water into tank after dumping, if having a problem with tank monitor giving a false reading, as this helps clean residue of sensor, and \ or buying a chemical tank cleaning solution letting it sit about 24 hours after dumping with solution and this would also clean monitors.

[travelin' texans]

We leave the gray open as described above, but leave galley closed til dumping black (dump our black every 7-10 days) or til it starts smelling in kitchen sink (that's the tell tale sign to dump galley), been operating this way for several years with no issues. We add the Campa Chem powders that are inexpensive & easily found at a Wal-Mart in the black & galley, as stated the gray is open most of the time. The main thing is do not leave black open all the time & use plenty of water & you should be relatively problem free. I don't think the hot water will do much good on the sensors unless you fill the tank completely, my sensors haven't worked since 1st fill so therefore I don't pay any attention to them, go by sound in the toilet when flushing.

[KingCasa]

I leave both galley and grey open, which is probably a bad idea since the galley sensors show full all the time now. When dumping the black tank I flush one or two times by closing the black tank and filling it with a hose connected to the flush outlet. This has kept the black tank sensors working.

[Shane Wood]

I always leave my greys open and close them the day I dump the black

[Rick and Mindy]

Originally Posted by Shane Wood

I always leave my greys open and close them the day I dump the black

X2! If I'm in a site for any length of time, I leave the greys open.

[RWJSIM2003]

We left our grey tank open all the time. The day before dumping black tank I close off the grey tanks and then after dumping black tank. I let the rinse hose run for about 15 mins I close the black and then open the grey tanks again and let the grey water clean out the lines.

[Ford truck guy]

Originally Posted by RWJSIM2003

We left our grey tank open all the time. The day before dumping black tank I close off the grey tanks and then after dumping black tank. I let the rinse hose run for about 15 mins I close the black and then open the grey tanks again and let the grey water clean out the lines.

This is exactly what I do also.

[atom ant]

Just know that that by leaving the galley open you could get some food sediment drying to the bottom of the tank. Depends on how much you let go down.

[travelin' texans]

That's exactly why I leave the valley closed til time to dump & I use the chemicals in it as well as the black. On mine the kitchen sink & dishwasher go into galley & bathroom lavatory & washing machine to into gray, I don't think all models are plumbed that way.

[Dave&Ginny]

All my years of RVs, I keep my valves closed until it's time to empty them. I don't like the idea of letting bugs or critters climbing up the hose to my tanks. It takes very little effort to dump the tanks.

I also prefer using my fresh water tank over hooking up and using a hose for city water.

[Ford truck guy]

Ok,

You guys talked me into making a change after all these years.. :-). I will try and leave the tanks closed till full... See if I can wrap my head around a change???
You know , old dogs...

[hoosierguy]

Originally Posted by Dave&Ginny

All my years of RVs, I keep my valves closed until it's time to empty them. I don't like the idea of letting bugs or critters climbing up the hose to my tanks. It takes very little effort to dump the tanks.

I also prefer using my fresh water tank over hooking up and using a hose for city water.

Dave..............I do the same as you on the holding tanks. I use a gate valve on the external discharge tube so I can get maximum on gray and galley tanks. For long term stays while we are in Florida, I have to dump the tanks every 7 days. It generally takes me 30 to 45 minutes most of which is re-filling and flushing the black tank 3 times. It only takes a few minutes to dump the gray and galley tanks.

When in transit, I never connect to city water. Thirty gallons of water in tank will get us by for bathroom use up to 4 days of travel. We use bottled water for consumption use.

[j1251b]

After I flush my black tank I put in my camp chem powders and some dish washing liquid in to help keep the sensor clean and keep waste from sticking on the bottom.

[RWJSIM2003]

I put Calgon water softner in my tanks once a month this coats the sides so nothing sticks in the tanks. I put about half a cap in the grey tanks and full cap in the Black tank. I have never had any issue with the tank gauges sticking or not reading correctly.
Robot Check

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by Dave&Ginny

All my years of RVs, I keep my valves closed until it's time to empty them. I don't like the idea of letting bugs or critters climbing up the hose to my tanks. It takes very little effort to dump the tanks.

I also prefer using my fresh water tank over hooking up and using a hose for city water.

Between running on your fresh, holding your waste, and probably days of energy from inverters - you can probably don't have to hook up to anything for a while! Nice!

On the trailer, I don't think I could listen to that pump all the time using the tank, at least not if I didn't have to.

I've always made a habit of keeping tanks closed until they are ready to dump. There is a downside Sarah decided to do a bunch of wash while we were out, and I didn't realize just how much she did while we were gone. Those water alarms sure work.

[Jeff&Karen39MB]

What water alarms?

[coloradolivin]

Originally Posted by atom ant

Between running on your fresh, holding your waste, and probably days of energy from inverters - you can probably don't have to hook up to anything for a while! Nice!

On the trailer, I don't think I could listen to that pump all the time using the tank, at least not if I didn't have to.

I've always made a habit of keeping tanks closed until they are ready to dump. There is a downside Sarah decided to do a bunch of wash while we were out, and I didn't realize just how much she did while we were gone. Those water alarms sure work.

Haaaa. O no !!!

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by Jeff&Karen39MB

What water alarms?

I have some cheap first alert water alarms throughout the trailer. 9V battery type and emit high pitched tone when wet.

[Dave&Ginny]

Brad, sometimes my timing isn't as good as it used to be. Early March we were in NC and I got up, had my shower and was enjoying a cup of coffee. Then Ginny ran out of water during her shower.......oops. I always check my gauges at night before I take off my shoes and settle in for the night. The night before I somehow screwed up.

[spindrift]

I want to hear, "the rest of the story".