Visit our Popular Forums

gomotomoto · 10-08-2014, 05:21 PM

So this might be kinda sorta (totally) a dumb question, but...why don't people set up their trailers to drain grey water directly to the campground sewer hook ups? This way they could use whatever was needed without having to babysit tank levels.

In our case we have a combination grey/black tank that has some sort of valve that allows grey water to run out, or run into the black tank if chosen. I haven't actually seen it yet, but the seller has explained this to me.

I figure if I could do that (drain grey water automatically), it would make things a bit easier when at the full hook up sites.

Am I missing something?

Lily&Me · 10-08-2014, 05:27 PM

Yes.

Black water is dumped first. Grey water is flushed second, which cleans the hose.

Maggie

Cannonball · 10-08-2014, 05:28 PM

If you have separate grey and black tanks, technically you can leave the grey valve open when fully hooked up. I think it is not really recommended, if for no other reason than you need the grey water to rinse your sewer hose after dumping the black.

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

gomotomoto · 10-08-2014, 05:46 PM

With one of those sewer solution assist things that use the Venturi effect -- you don't really need it to clean the hose with the grey water. The fresh water does it, and pretty well too.

Also the ridges in the line are soooo nasty. What's up with that? Not really good with all those nooks and crannies. Wouldn't you agree?

AnnArborBob · 10-09-2014, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomotomoto

With one of those sewer solution assist things that use the Venturi effect -- you don't really need it to clean the hose with the grey water. The fresh water does it, and pretty well too.

Also the ridges in the line are soooo nasty. What's up with that? Not really good with all those nooks and crannies. Wouldn't you agree?

We use the Sewer Solution for just this reason. Much tidier.

gomotomoto · 10-09-2014, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnArborBob

We use the Sewer Solution for just this reason. Much tidier.

Totally. Do you leave your grey water open so it drains at it flows in?

Protagonist · 10-09-2014, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnArborBob

We use the Sewer Solution for just this reason. Much tidier.

But not terribly useful for boondocking unless you dump at a dump station with a non-potable water hookup.

AnnArborBob · 10-09-2014, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomotomoto

Totally. Do you leave your grey water open so it drains at it flows in?

No, when we have sewer hookups, we leave both valves shut. Typically I drain the grey tank daily (we are MUCH less careful when we have sewer hookups

) and dump the black as needed followed by the grey. This generally allows me to skip using the Sewer Solution's water-driven macerator when dumping the black (which I always use when we are ready to leave a campsite with full hookups to thoroughly clean the sewer solution system.

Many (most?) people leave their grey closed even when hooked up to a sewer serviced site to help dump the grey tank. While not as bad as the black tank, the grey tank can also build up solids if you leave the valve open all the time (think, grease, food particles, hair, etc...)

Like the choice of type of tow vehicles, Ford, vs. GM, vs. Dodge, gas vs. diesel, Honda vs. Yamaha generators, vintage vs. new, lager vs. ale, everyone has their favorite method for dumping their tanks and many will swear that if you do not follow their specific methodology you will be risking life and limb. My recommendation is to listen to all the advice, look for any wisdom in the suggestions, and come up with an approach which works for you!

gomotomoto · 10-09-2014, 07:22 AM

Can you guys tell I've been thinking about our first trip in the airstream? 😜

gomotomoto · 10-09-2014, 07:46 AM

Another dumb question... If my house has a curbside sewer cleanout. Can I simply dump there?

robwok · 10-09-2014, 07:52 AM

Yep. If you go to Walmart, they have a RV sewer hose setup, and one item in that is an elbow that has different sized threads. One of those threads should match the threads on the inside of your cleanout (provided it's the right type - has a cap with a big square in the middle that twists in and out. That set can provide you pretty much a water tight connection between your trailer and your septic system. One thing you may want to do though is close off your tank until it's about half full. Leaving it hooked up is great for the gray water, but if you open the black tank, you'll have dry... "crud" piling up. It's better to keep everything wet, and then let it kind of flush at once. Make sure your connections are tight when you pull the valve. It can be a decent amount of pressure, and you don't want that hose to pop off.

Rob.

AnnArborBob · 10-09-2014, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomotomoto

Another dumb question... If my house has a curbside sewer cleanout. Can I simply dump there?

If you are hooked up to City Sewer then that will be fine with no caveats.

However NOTE TO OTHERS: beware that if you are on a private septic system (i.e., with your own holding tank and leach field,) your septic system may not have the capacity to accept the 70 - 80 or so gallons that a full grey/black dump from a modern mid to large size Airstream might send to it in a short period of time.

However, in the case of the OP, who indicated that he only has a 15 gallon black tank, he will be fine even on a private septic system.

gomotomoto · 10-09-2014, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnArborBob

If you are hooked up to City Sewer then that will be fine with no caveats.

However NOTE TO OTHERS: beware that if you are on a private septic system (i.e., with your own holding tank and leach field,) your septic system may not have the capacity to accept the 70 - 80 or so gallons that a full grey/black dump from a modern mid to large size Airstream might send to it in a short period of time.

However, in the case of the OP, who indicated that he only has a 15 gallon black tank, he will be fine even on a private septic system.

All I can think of is the scene from national lampoons vacation when cousin Eddie is dumping his rv in Clark's sewer 😂😂

Cannonball · 10-09-2014, 10:37 AM

Eddie is a true Renaissance Man.

AnnArborBob · 10-09-2014, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomotomoto

All I can think of is the scene from national lampoons vacation when cousin Eddie is dumping his rv in Clark's sewer 😂😂

We actually had such a moment last weekend when we were departing UrbanAir in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. We were invited to use the City's waste water treatment plant dump station and there must have been some sort of blockage in the plant's vent system because all of a sudden I head a "gurgle & gargle" and during the time it took me to reach the dump valve to close it, a good two or three gallons of "post digestive material" had accumulated around the dump drain.

Fortunately for all involved, there was an unusually generous concrete pad (recessed thankfully) so the damage was easily cleaned up with the nearby non-potable water hose.

The people in line behind me appreciated the heads up for their turns at the dump station.

I should add that for this particular dump, we did not use the Sewer Solution but rather the stinky slinky we also carry so that we could dump quickly (who knew how quickly!) and not hold up the people behind us.

Phew.