A "Bugging" question

[kramperD]

I remember reading recently a post from Ozz about keeping your galley closed off until ready to drain, and an excellent explanation as to why. But what about the grey water valve? Where we're staying, campground rules say it can remain open.....and we have other than when I know we're flushing the black tank line. But the other night I sort of lost some sleep thinking about these HUGE cockroaches making their way up through the open line and into the trailer....YIKES! What's your thoughts? Thanks, D

[HOOK]

We keep ours closed,black, gray, and gray,until time to dump. IMHO it keeps things from solidifying. Larry

[steelpony5555]

Do what Ozz said, you will be happy you did since it does help flush the stuff that might get left in the hose if you don't.

[Mrs. CountryGuy]

We did as many suggest, keeping ALL closed until we dumped.

We did, UNTIL, I got the washer/dryer. Now out of concern that we will forget to open that gray tank valve frequently enough, and will end up with unintentional carpet cleaning, we keep that tank valve open.

But, the black and the kitchen/galley valve are closed after dumping, allowing liquids to build up. That kitchen stuff will solidify into a grayish/white rock hard substance. ICK!

As far as the bugs, well, good luck with that one!

[1retired06]

We have always kept our gray tanks open to include our five month stay in Florida each year. Never have had a problem, but never really thought about anything crawling up through the septic system. All of our seasonal buddies here in Florida keep open all the time. We do flush sinks with hot water and chemical once a month or so.

[Lee F.]

Snakes like places like that also!

[BB_TX]

I keep the grey open until I the black tank starts getting toward full. Then I close it to allow it to build up and ready for a flush after draining the black tank.
Several times I have left the grey closed and found myself standing in a couple inches water in the shower. Washer fills it fast.
Black and galley stay closed until I get ready to drain them. Never any bug problem at all. With the traps in the drains it is not likely bugs are going to swim in.

[bncinwv]

quote:Originally posted by BB_TX

With the traps in the drains it is not likely bugs are going to swim in.

I would be willing to bet a very large sum of money, (and I don't gamble), that you could never convince my wife of that!! All valves stay closed until dumping per the orders of rig management (DW). If momma's happy.......

Bingo

[kramperD]

With you on that one Bingo! Thanks - D

[Bill-N-Donna]

I always leave the galley & grey water tanks open most of the time except when the grey needs to be closed while dumping the black. I sometimes do as BB_TX and allow some water to fill in the grey tank before dumping the black. I haven’t noticed any kind of a problem in doing this in about 5 years of owning a Montana. The black tank of course will remain closed until dumping. On another note some models don’t have a way to close off the entire route for eg.. We have a washer/dryer that dumps directly into the line after the tanks and the only way to seal that off is to add a shut off valve at the end of the sewer line. I have one but I also leave it open. I installed it for the times I needed the extra waste storage but mostly to avoid the big splash of undesirable waste water when hooking up after things have been sloshed around. This is what works for me!

[DQDick]

I keep them all closed until I do the laundry. If I'm doing laundry in the rig, I open the gray tank valve as the first step in the laundry process. Close it as the last step in the laundry process.

[sreigle]

RE Carol's comment about the washer draining into the gray tank. Our 2003 Montana was like that so we did as she does and left that valve open. But this 2007 3400RL drains directly to the dump pipe, bypassing all tanks. If in doubt, look under the rig. On ours the drain pipe for the washer exits the belly and runs below the bellypan to where it junctions into the main dump pipe.

[CORattler]

LOL!!!
Your DW MUST be related to my DW!!
Our "arrangement" has worked for over 40 years and I'm smart enough not to mess with it.

quote:
I would be willing to bet a very large sum of money, (and I don't gamble), that you could never convince my wife of that!! All valves stay closed until dumping per the orders of rig management (DW). If momma's happy.......

Bingo

[mhs4771]

I keep all valves closed. Drain the two grays approx every other day, but galley sometimes goes longer, black once a week. Washer goes directly into the drain (not into either gray). Been working fine for us and give a good flush each time the grays are dumped

[hookman]

We leave the grey open as we learned the hard way and had a small over flow while doing the laundry.

[ray fischer]

I keep closed to prevent the possibility of sewer gases backing up, and or maggotts getting in. Dump as needed, and use gray to flush drain hose after black.

[ray fischer]

I keep closed to prevent the possibility of sewer gases backing up, and or maggotts getting in. Dump as needed, and use gray to flush drain hose after black.