I have a 2008 Jay Flight G2 20RLS TT with 32.5 Gal grey and black water tanks. The TT is in a temporary "permanent" location on my property. As a "newbie" I don't have any idea how often I will need to empty the tanks. We will have one 86 year old Mom type staying there for a while. She sometimes leaves the water running in the sink and is a frequent urinator (even if only small amounts). Do any of you TT pros have a good guesstimate on how often I will have to empty those tanks? I have read that I can't really rely on my gauges for an accurate reading. Are there any other ways to determine this?
If there is a chance the sink can be left on, hook up the grey tank to your household sewage clean out or install a dry-well if your local codes allow it. A sink overflow in a camper can be disastrous.
I'd say every two weeks on the black tank. Make sure to add plenty of water to it after it has been emptied so solids don't get a change to build up in one place as easily.
If the unit has a black tank flush, use it. If it does not have one and it also does not have an enclosed belly, install one.
I'm afraid the only other way I know to verify the tank level usually involves a flashlight and maybe a stick...
There are some aftermarket sensors that are more reliable and worth the investment for someone who is full-timing.
Your elderly GM won't do much damage to the black tank, but running water at the sinks can be very problematic for a number of reasons. She needs to be taught the difference between a brickand mortor home and an RV. If you can teach teenage girls, you can work with a senior.
Many of my houseboat friends ran into a similar problem with visitors wasting water on the boat. Out there its not only the holding tanks, but also the fact that you are always using a fresh water tank. The solution to the teens was when we run out of water we go home. That wouldn't work with the grandmom but you might want to turn off the city hook up and turn off the pump when its not needed.
Yes, I thought about doing this. It might be a solution to the leaving the water on in the sink too. She doesn't always do that, but there are times when she forgets. The water would just run right out into the yard that way I believe.
Many years ago (30) while out boon docking with my young family and visiting aging parents (totally unfamiliar with RVing) I was pouring 5 gal jugs of water into the little scoopy thing on the outside wall of the rig. While doing that I looked into the kitchen window and saw my mother running the water and checking it with her finger. After a few yells to shut it off I asked her what she was doing. "Letting it run to get it cold" she exclaimed. I should have given both of them basics on boon dock RVing.