Cleaning Your RV’s Gray Water Tank

Your RV makes camping easy, comfortable, and luxurious with the various amenities it provides. Among the most important of those is functional plumbing and running water! But to keep that water system working, you’ll have to keep your gray water tank clean. Luckily, you have us at 1st Choice Trailers to tell you how! If you have any questions, or you’re looking for a new RV, contact our dealership in Goddard, Kansas today! We also proudly serve those in Wichita, Kansas.

The Right Supplies

Your owner’s manual might have some recommendations for the right cleaning solutions, but generally speaking you’ll want more gentle chemicals than you might use in a residential bathroom. Your RV’s fixtures are much more delicate! Next, a hose that fits your gray water tank and something to keep it still and steady when the water starts flowing. You’ll also want some rubber gloves and eye goggles to protect you from any chemical splashes.

Drain The Tank

Once your RV is positioned over a dump station disposal tank specified for gray water use. Never dump it on the ground! Make sure your hose can reach the disposal tank and has about 5 inches of slack for good measure. 

Remove the outlet port cap connecting the gray and black water tanks, then hook your hose to the gray water tank’s release valve. Let the water just start flowing, but make sure the hose is weighed down and stable to avoid any spills. 

Flush The Tank

To make sure the tank is fully emptied, you’ll need to flush it. Your RV might have a flushing filter built in, but most will require a manual flush. That just means you need to turn your sinks and show on full blast to help rinse anything left in the tank out through the hose. At this point, you should remove the hose for a bit.

Clean The Tank

Now it’s time to actually clean and sanitize the tank. Add the cleaner you’re using and make sure the relief valve is closed, then drive the RV around for about half an hour to let the cleaner slosh around and thoroughly clean the gray water tank. After that time has passed, you’ll have to drain and flush the tank all over again. But good news! That’s the end of the process. Congratulations on your clean gray water tank!

Keep in mind that many states restrict where you can dump your gray water tank. Be sure to read up on local laws before you start the cleaning process.

We hope this guide helps you keep your RV fresh and functional! If you want more advice, or you want to see the RVs we have for sale, contact us at 1st Choice Trailers. We proudly serve the people of Goddard and Wichita, Kansas —let us serve you today!