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Essential Guide to RV Wastewater Tanks: Maintenance & Tips

Alright, lemme tell ya a thing or two 'bout this here RV wastewater tank business. Now, you might be wonderin’, “What in the world is a wastewater tank doin' on an RV, anyhow?” Well, plain and simple, if you’re hittin' the road in one of them fancy RVs, you got yourself a little house on wheels, right? And just like any house, you got some dirty water you gotta deal with, y’know?

Essential Guide to RV Wastewater Tanks: Maintenance & Tips

Now listen here, there's two main kinds of tanks on these RVs when it comes to water that ain't clean anymore: ya got the black water tank and the grey water tank. Now, don't get all fancy on me, 'cause it’s pretty simple. The black water tank’s the one that holds, well, let’s say the “business” from the toilet. Anything that gets flushed down goes right into that black water tank. It’s kinda like the septic tank of a regular ol' house.

On the other hand, ya got the grey water tank. Now this one holds the water that comes from things like your sink or shower. Ya wash your hands, do the dishes, take a quick rinse off after a long day – all that soapy, dirty water ends up in the grey water tank. That way, you don’t mix it all up with what’s in the black tank, thank goodness!

Now, ya might be thinkin’, “Why on earth do I gotta worry about these tanks?” Well, let me tell ya, if ya don’t look after ‘em, you’re gonna have yourself a stinky situation. And in an RV, that smell ain’t got nowhere to go!

How Big Are These RV Tanks, Anyway?

Size matters here, lemme tell ya. Black water tanks usually hold around 18 to 64 gallons, dependin' on the size of your RV. Smaller RV? Smaller tank. Bigger RV? You guessed it, bigger tank. As for the grey water tanks, they tend to run a bit bigger, usually around 40 to 65 gallons. Makes sense, don’t it? You use more water washin’ dishes and takin' showers than you do... well, you get the idea.

How to Keep Those Tanks Clean as a Whistle

Now, here’s where a lotta folks run into trouble. They don’t think ‘bout keepin' them tanks nice and clean. But trust me, it’s worth it. First off, you gotta empty those tanks regularly. Most campgrounds got these things called dump stations where you can hook up a hose and drain all that mess out. Black tank first, then grey tank – that way, the grey water helps rinse out any leftover gunk from the black tank.

And don’t go thinkin' plain ol' water’s gonna do the trick for cleanin’. Nope, you’re gonna want some proper tank cleaner for that black tank. They got these tablets and liquids that break down all the “stuff” in there, keepin' it from stickin' and stinkin' up your whole RV. A good flush here and there makes a world of difference, believe me.

How to Tell When It’s Time to Dump

Most RVs got these little sensors on the tanks that tell ya when they’re gettin' full. Now, lemme tell ya somethin’ – these sensors? They can be real finicky! Sometimes they get all clogged up, so it says your tank’s full even when it ain’t. Best advice? Don’t wait till it’s slam full to dump it. If ya use your RV a lot, make a habit of dumpin’ at least every couple weeks. Keeps things runnin’ smooth.

A Few Extra Tips for New RV Folks

  • Never mix up hoses – Got one hose for drinkin’ water and another for dumpin’. Trust me on this one, you don’t want those mixin' up!
  • Use RV-safe toilet paper – Regular TP don’t break down the same, so you’ll end up with clogs. RV toilet paper’s made to break down fast in that black tank.
  • Keep an eye on that smell – If your RV starts smellin' like somethin' crawled in and died, it’s prob’ly the black tank. Time to clean it out or dump it.

So there ya have it, folks. This RV wastewater tank stuff might sound a little gross, but once you got the hang of it, it ain’t no big deal. Keeps ya livin' the good life on the road without any... unpleasant surprises. Happy campin'!

Essential Guide to RV Wastewater Tanks: Maintenance & Tips

Tags: [RV wastewater tank, black water tank, grey water tank, RV maintenance, RV travel]

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