Imagine it. You’ve just pulled into your spot at a new RV park. It’s got gorgeous views, lots of amenities, and full electric, water, and sewer hookups. Keeping the RV’s tank valves open is one less thing to worry about. Right? Wrong, unfortunately.
It might seem convenient, but you should never leave your RV’s black tank drain open while hooked up. This can cause a variety of gross and expensive problems, including the dreaded “poop pyramid.” This happens when the liquid waste flows out of your black tank into the sewer system.
Additionally, when you leave your RV tank drain open, sometimes sewer gas can escape from the park’s sewage system. Most of the time, a p-trap will help prevent these gases from rising. But they’re not foolproof, especially in RVs. Plus, sewer gases can still escape through your tank’s exterior vents, creating an unpleasant situation for you and your neighbors.
While you may not have to deal with all of the same problems as with your black tank, keep your gray tank closed too. This helps avoid unpleasant sewer odors but also helps simplify the cleanup process of dumping your black tanks. Letting your gray tank fill and drain helps flush out food particles or other solids that slipped down the drain.
The secret to easily dumping your black tank in a safe and sanitary way lies in your gray tank. The process starts a day or two before you plan to dump your black tank. That’s when you should close the valve in your gray tank, allowing gray water to accumulate.