If the ground is very uneven, use jack stands to level the RV. Close the RV’s windows and vents once you’re parked to keep sewage smells from seeping inside. Put on disposable gloves and close-toed shoes to protect yourself from sewage and germs. Wipe down valves and hose connectors with disinfectant wipes.
Look for a 3 in (7. 6 cm) connection valve on your black water tank. The waste tanks are usually located on the driver’s side of the RV. Some RVs have one valve connection for both the black and gray water tanks, while some have separate connections for each tank. The transparent sewer fitting lets you see when the tank is empty or when the water running out of it is clear.
If needed, use sewer hose supports to raise and angle the hose down toward the inlet so the waste flows more easily. Always empty the black water tank before the gray water tank (the soapy water from the gray tank will help rinse sewage out the hose). The black and gray water tank valves will probably be labeled or color coded. If they’re not, the black water tank valve is usually bigger.
On most RVs, the gray tank valve handle is on the side of the hose connection valve.
Once the tanks are full, pull the black tank valve open first to drain it, followed by the gray tank. Once the tanks are empty, close all of the valves but keep the sewage and non-potable water hoses connected.
If you chose the ice method, disconnect your hoses and take the RV for a short drive so the ice can knock stubborn buildup free. Then, return to the dump site.
Look at your transparent sewer fitting again. Keep filling and emptying the black water tank until the water running out of it is clear. If you used bleach, keep flushing the tank until there’s no bleach odor coming up through the toilet (bleach can damage your sewage system).
Check your RV’s rinse system manual for specific instructions. The fine details of how to rinse your tank may vary from vehicle to vehicle Not all RVs have a tank rinse system. Backwashing uses pressurized water to spray all surfaces inside the black water tank to remove every last bit of stubborn or stuck debris.
Watch the transparent sewer fitting and keep flushing the tank until the water runs clear and there are no solid pieces of waste in the water. Some RVs come with a built-in flush valve in their plumbing system, while others have one installed aftermarket for easier backwashing.
Press down on the toilet flush pedal to keep the toilet bowl valve open. Open the shut-off valve on the wand to release the water and move the wand around so it can target all the walls and the floor of the tank. Stop spraying once water running out of the black tank is clear with no chunks of debris in it.
A macerator pump sucks liquid out of the waste tank and uses small blades to grind toilet paper wads or hardened waste into a slurry for easy drainage. The macerator pump won’t help rinse your tank out, but will drain it efficiently (especially if your sewage hose has to go uphill).
Once the sewage hose is empty, use the non-potable water hose to spray out the insides to get rid of lingering debris.
Once you’re done with the non-potable water hose, disconnect it from the dump station’s water supply. Grab a disinfectant wipe and rub down the sewer inlet cover, water supply handle, and any other equipment you touched during the cleaning process. Check one more time that all sewer inlet covers and tank valves are closed.
Store your hoses in the RV’s basement storage, inside hollow bumpers, or in a designated bucket, plastic bin, or underside storage rack. Once all the hoses and sewer fittings are put away, wipe down compartment handles, valves, or other surfaces with disinfectant wipes.
Some people choose to treat their gray tank as well, but this isn’t always necessary since that tank only receives soapy water from the sink and shower.
When there’s water covering the floor of the tank, solid waste from the toilet won’t just stay put where it lands and form a dreaded “poop pyramid. ” If you’re treating your gray tank as well, run enough water down the sink to cover the floor of the tank (it’s usually smaller than the black water tank).
Dish soap: add a few squirts of liquid dish soap to the tank. Choose a brand made without phosphates to make it eco-friendly. [22] X Research source Citric acid: add ⅓ cup (78 mL) of citric acid to the tank. To make it more effective, add ⅓ cup (42 g) each of baking soda and Borax. [23] X Research source Yeast and hydrogen peroxide: add 4 oz (113 g) of baker’s yeast and 10 oz (296 mL) of hydrogen peroxide to the tank. The GEO method: mix 1 cup (236 mL) of fabric softener and ½ cup (118 mL) of liquid dish soap in the toilet, then flush it into the tank. [24] X Research source
