RV Holding Tanks: Media Camping Center, PA RV Dealers

RV Holding Tank Care and Maintenance

It’s finally summer and camping season is in full swing so here’s some tips to help you avoid hassles with your RV waste or holding tanks.

Most RVs have two waste tanks; one holds wastewater from the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and shower. This one is called the “gray tank” or “gray water tank.” The other tank holds wastes from the toilet. This is referred to as the “black” tank. It’s important when you travel to make sure wastewater and solid waste is disposed of properly.

Black tank – It’s very important that you “prime” the tank before each use with a minimum of three to five gallons of water (depending on the size of the tank) and RV toilet chemical. Toilet chemical promotes proper break up of the solid waste and toilet paper. It’s recommended that you use toilet paper made especially for RVs since it breaks down when wet (regular toilet paper won’t). Use sufficient water at each flush to speed up the break down process, and to deodorize the tank. Some chemicals can also assist in lubricating the dump valves.

Also very important -- make sure the tank’s dump valve is closed when you are camping with an on-site sewer hook-up. This way the solids do not accumulate while the liquids run out, leaving a solid mass and a big headache to clear it out.

Keeping the tanks’ dump valve closed also prevents the possibility of odors and gasses to seep in from the campground’s sewer system. Remember to check your tank monitors so you’ll know when it’s time to empty the tanks.

After dumping the black tank, it’s best to flush it out with water to remove any residual waste. The method used to flush out the tank differs depending on how your RV is equipped. If it does not have a black tank flush built in, water can be added through the toilet itself, either by pouring it in with a bucket, flushing long enough to allow several gallons into the tank, or by using an extension wand on the end of a water hose (usually passed through the bathroom window).

Some of our customers fill the tank part way before heading for home so the sloshing of the water thoroughly rinses the tank. If they don’t have a sewer hook-up at home, they’ll stop here at Media Camping Center and use our public dump station to empty the rinse water.

Here’s a tip: It’s best to dump the black tank first then the gray tank since this helps rinse out the sewer hose.

After a good rinse, simply prime the tank and you’re good to go until your next camping trip.

Gray tank – Although there is very little solid waste in the gray tank (mostly from kitchen chores like washing dishes), you should still use tank chemical to eliminate odors. Prime the tank with a few gallons of water and chemical, and be sure to keep the dump valve closed when you have an on-site sewer hook-up.

So remember you can help make your camping trip enjoyable and hassle-free with the right way to use and empty your RV’s waste water system.

Got a question? Feel free to call our service department and we will be glad to answer any questions you might have. We also stock a complete line of parts, tank accessories and toilet chemicals for all RV waste water systems. For information, dump station location and hours call toll-free 800-880-0335.