Sewer hookup: open or closed

[mcwoods2]

A few tricks: Charge Black tank with a least 5 gal. of water and additive. Keep closed until about 3/4 full then make sure your Grey water tank is at least 1/2 full. Dump the Black tank followed by the Grey tank. That get every thing including your hose well flushed out. If you are going to drive to a Dump Station throw in a bag of ice cubes to slosh around while you get there. It helps clear off tank gunk and helps it all flush away.

[usmc616]

Originally Posted by JesseS

What everyone else stated, also, leaving the valve open can send some very stinky sewer gas smell up into your RV.

Just wondering, how does the smell get into your camper if you keep water in your toilet?

[hikerjohn7]

Originally Posted by usmc616

Just wondering, how does the smell get into your camper if you keep water in your toilet?

Smell from the tank should not get into your camper if water is kept in the toilet. It should act like a effective trap. And the fact that the water level stays up means that the rubber seal is sealing.

We always add a little water after using the toilet. The only problem we have is we have to kind-of slam to toilet valve a little to make sure it seals. I plan to replace the seal one of these days. But even when the water gradually leaks down, we still get not odor, that is, unless the tank is getting really full or someone leaves the valve open too long with the exhaust fan running.

There definitely is a skill level needed to live in an RV.

[cekkk]

HikerJohn. "We always add a little water after using the toilet. The only problem we have is we have to kind-of slam to toilet valve a little to make sure it seals. I plan to replace the seal one of these days."

I had that problem and cleaned the flap and rim it seats to, coating with a bit of petroleum jelly. That was at least two years ago and it still holds water. It's worth investing five or ten minutes.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by cekkk

HikerJohn. "We always add a little water after using the toilet. The only problem we have is we have to kind-of slam to toilet valve a little to make sure it seals. I plan to replace the seal one of these days."

I had that problem and cleaned the flap and rim it seats to, coating with a bit of petroleum jelly. That was at least two years ago and it still holds water. It's worth investing five or ten minutes.

Use silicone plumbing grease as opposed to petroleum jelly. Eventually petroleum jelly will ruin the rubber.

I've used petroleum jelly in a pinch, but plumbing grease is better.

[cekkk]

I thought PJ wasn't preferred.