Many people dream of exploring the country from the comfort of their own RV, but the thought of maintaining their vehicle stops them in their tracks. Some routine RV tasks, such as dumping your holding tanks, seem too daunting to handle. However, like all things, a little bit of knowledge and practice can make this chore a breeze. Don’t let a simple maintenance task keep you from enjoying the adventures ahead of you. Follow these simple steps on how to safely empty your RV dump tanks.
Safety First
The right supplies and careful preparation can prevent a lot of unpleasantness. Before you begin the process of dumping your tanks, make sure you have a pair of protective gloves. As you hook up your RV to the dumping station, check that your hose is in good shape and all your connections are secure. If you’re traveling in extremely cold temperatures, make sure you install Ultraheat RV dump valve heaters before your trip to prevent a frozen, clogged water system. You’ll need to run your RV dump valve heaters for a few minutes before you dump to thaw the gate valve. Remember to turn off the heater when you’re done and only use dump valve heaters for short periods when the temperature is cold enough to freeze the valve. Following best practices like these will make the dumping process smoother, safer, and easier.
Dump Your Tanks: Black Before Gray
Always start the dumping process with your black tank. Attach one end of your sewage drain hose to your gate valve and the other to the valve at the dumping station. Open the valve to your black tank, and let it drain completely. Next, rinse out the black tank to get rid of any leftover debris. Depending on how your RV’s water system is set up, you might be able to do this with the water from your gray water tank. Once you rinse and drain the black tank, repeat the process with your gray water tank.
Rinse, Disconnect, and Store
After draining both tanks, the final steps on how to safely empty your RV dump tanks are to close your valves, disconnect and rinse your hose, and put everything away. While these are simple tasks, you shouldn’t rush through the cleanup process. Leaving a valve open or failing to clean your drain hose can lead to a lot of hassles down the road. Secure and double-check all openings to prevent leaks. Rinse and drain your hose so that it’s clean and ready to go the next time you need it. When you’re finished, store your hose and all other equipment so that it stays safe and secure throughout the next leg of your journey.
Once you’ve completed these steps a few times, the process will become incredibly simple and easy. With these best practices, you can safely maintain your dumping tanks and the rest of your water system, allowing you to travel more comfortably for many trips to come.