When it comes to RV living, managing your sewage and wastewater is crucial. Most travel trailers are equipped with two separate tanks: the grey tank and the black tank. The grey tank collects water from sinks and showers, while the black tank is specifically designed for toilet waste.
It's generally best to keep your grey tank closed until it's about 2/3 full. This helps prevent any unpleasant odors from coming back into the trailer and ensures a good flow of water when you do dump it.
Always keep your black tank closed until it's full enough to create a good flow when you dump it. Keeping it closed prevents solids from accumulating at the bottom of the tank, which could lead to clogs and unpleasant smells. It’s essential to note that leaving tanks open can lead to “poop pyramid”— a term that refers to buildup in the black tank if it’s not filled to an adequate level before dumping.
When the tanks are full, a larger volume of waste flushes out at once, leading to better tank sanitation. Additionally, by keeping the tanks closed, you minimize the risk of leaks and environmental contamination.
Open the grey tank first but just enough to wet the stinky slinky. Then, always empty the black tank first and then follow with dumping the grey tank. This allows the grey water to clean out the sewer hose, aka “stinky slinky”, before storage. But, if you are at a location where you can back flush your tanks, flush your black tank until clear and follow with flushing your gray tank once or twice. I use the reverse flush valve with a water meter and flush hose.
For optimal tank management on your travel trailer, it’s best to follow a few best practices. Regularly check the levels of your tanks and dump them when they are approximately two-thirds full. Always use appropriate treatments designed specifically for RV tanks to control odors and keep tanks clean. Check out the What Stinks?! blog for the best treatment solution. This dual approach can help to extend the life of your plumbing system and maintain a pleasant environment in your trailer.
Another thing to note is the fact that I do not flush toilet paper down the toilet. This helps avoid possible clogs and debris blocking the tank level sensor. Some may find this unappealing but so many countries, not just third world countries but many in Europe, do not flush anything but human waste. The restrooms have a dedicated trashcan next to the toilets for used toilet paper. I use a mini trashcan with special trash bags in my travel trailer. I dispose of the trash bag every few days and there is no odor.
In summary, it's typically best to keep both tanks closed until they need to be emptied and only open them when it's time to dump. This ensures proper tank function and helps avoid odors and clogs.