Insurance

How to Properly Maintain Your Holding Tanks

We all know the importance of water in our daily lives and, in our homes, we understand the need to properly maintain our water and septic tanks throughout the years. Yet many RV owners neglect the holding tanks, quickly taking the fun out of their on-the-go experience.

RV holding tanks come in several varieties - the freshwater tank, the black water tank and the grey water tank. Problems that can be avoided with each tank should be avoided at all costs, as tank repair is often quite expensive. Additionally, if your waste water tank or sewage tank breaks, you may be limited in where you can go for repairs, as health concerns preclude many repair shops from attempting to fix these types of problems.

The Freshwater Tank

As you can envision, the freshwater tank holds your tap water, which you can use to bathe, clean dishes, flush your toilet and drink. Since this water will likely play such a vital role in your daily routine, it is highly recommended that a water filter be installed, which will provide you with an inexpensive way to keep your water healthy and clean.

Winter storage is often a concern with freshwater tanks. Some sites have water that is high in sulfur or calcium, which may either make your water smell bad or even clog your pipes. A break in the water pipe at your campsite may also allow groundwater to contaminate the freshwater in your tank and you don't want that sitting around all winter. If your tank is not stored in a heated area, you'll also want to eliminate the chance of freezing, so be sure to empty and clean your tank at the end of every RV season.

The Black Water Tank

The black water tank is, essentially, your septic tank. It holds the solid and liquid waste from your toilet and needs to be emptied on a regular basis. Many products are available commercially that can assist in the decomposition of waste material and the reduction of foul odours, but you should check your owner's manual before pouring anything down the drain.

If you're one of those RVers who leaves your drain open at all times, break that habit. The black water drain valve should be left closed until the tank is almost full, as this assists in flushing everything out. If the tank is not even 2/3 full when it is time to leave, simply pour water down the toilet until it reaches that point.

It's a good idea to close the grey water valve the night before you depart. As you're about to leave, drain the black water tank first and then the grey water tank, as this will ensure that your black water tank is thoroughly flushed and will even rinse your sewer hose. A rinse wand (which attaches to your utility hose) is also a good idea, as it will go down through your toilet and into your black water tank.

Grey Water Tank

The grey water tank holds the waste water from all drains in the RV except the toilet. Though it may not smell quite as bad as your black water tank, you'll still want to empty it before you leave the campground each time. You'll also want to flush the tank regularly to ensure bacteria does not build up inside.

Adding chemicals to cleanse the tank is also an option chosen by many people. If you use the RV for more than a week with the gray water valve open, you may want to close the valve, add holding tank chemicals and allow the tank to fill. This helps flush out any buildup of bacteria from the kitchen sink and keeps the tank fresh.

Water softeners work wonders in black and grey water tanks, forcing the solid material to slide down the sides of the tank instead of clumping against the tank walls. If your soft water tank at home has ever broken down, you're well aware of the difference between washing your clothes in hard versus soft water.

Good Tank Maintenance

Many RVers do not properly maintain their wastewater tanks and, for these people, the tips in this article may come as a surprise. However, we do encourage you to give them a try, as we imagine you'll be pleasantly surprised at the results