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A Guide to Cleaning Your RV’s Gray Water Tank

May. 8 2020 Ownership Tips By ___

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One crucial step in RV maintenance is cleaning out the gray water tank. This tank holds the washing water from the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and shower. It should be cleaned about every two weeks and after the end of a vacation. Keep reading to learn how to clean your RV's gray water tank. If you have any questions or want to explore RVs for sale, head over to Allan Dale Trailers & RVs. Our dealership is based in Red Deer and Edmonton, Alberta.

Gather Your Supplies

You will need:

  • a hose that's compatible with your RV gray water tank
  • rubber gloves
  • cleaning supplies that's designed for an RV gray water tank
  • something weighted to keep the draining hose from moving around too much (such as a rock or brick)

Draining the Gray Water Tank

The first step is to drain the water that is currently sitting inside the RV's gray water tank.

  • Park your RV next to the dump station's disposal tank. Make sure the hose reaches and has at least five inches of slack.
  • Take off the cap from the RV's outlet port, which connects the gray and black water tanks.
  • Hook up the hose to the gray water tank's relief valve.
  • Connect the hose to the input of the dump station's disposal tank.
  • Open the relief valve, which will allow the gray water to begin coming out.

You may need to put a weighted object on top of the hose to prevent it from wriggling around too much.

Flushing the Gray Water Tank

The next step is to flush out the inside of the tank since there may be lingering bits of food or microbes still in there. You'll want to get these out to avoid an unpleasant smell down the road. Some RVs come with a flushing filter to handle this task, but most RVs will require manual flushing.

All you need is to run the shower, kitchen sink, and bathroom sink taps at full blast while you are hooked up to the dump station's disposal tank. This will flush out any remaining things in the tank. You may want to pour a little bleach or other cleaner down the drains, which will help kill any microbes.

Deodorizing and Cleaning the Gray Water Tank

Make sure you use cleaning products designed with an RV tank in mind. This ensures you get the cleaning you want, but without risking damage to the tank.

  • Add the cleaner to the tank with the relief valve tightly closed. 
  • Take a drive for at least half an hour. Make sure you take plenty of turns and go up and down. This will get sloshing happening inside the tank and get the cleaning product dispersed well.
  • Empty the water.
  • Flush the tank with an equal amount of fresh water.

Where to Dump the Water

Some states require that RV gray water tanks are emptied at an official dump station. Some states allow the tank to be emptied into a sewer system. Always be sure you know the rules for the area you are visiting. It's also wise to be hesitant about dumping the water onto your lawn. The water could contain grease and other debris that isn't ideal for grass health. Plus, the water could end up making your lawn smell. Emptying your RV tank at a dedicated dump station is usually the best approach.

We hope you found this guide to cleaning your RV's gray water tank useful! If you want to shop RVs for sale, check out the selection at Allan Dale Trailers & RV. Our expert staff can answer questions, give advice, and help you find the right model for your family. We are located in Red Deer and Edmonton, but proudly serve all of Alberta.