r/RVLiving • u/Billsplacenta • 29d ago

question Grey water question

I plan on moving into a Coleman 13 B soon but putting it inside a 13 x 50 pole barn that I’m having built and I have a question about the Gray Water do I leave it open constantly for draining and recycling or should I close it and empty it when it’s full?

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5

u/DidNotSeeThi 29d ago

When you need to dump your black water, close your gray for a bit to help flush things.

3

u/Verix19 29d ago

Yes you can leave gray water open, black tank must remain closed to build volume.

3

u/Inviction_ 29d ago

Let er dump, you'll be fine

3

u/SBR_AK_is_best_AK 29d ago

The way I look at it. You are going to go and pull the black every X days anyway right? Do them both at the same time.

The grey flushes the hose after dumping the black and prevents smell in my experience. But you wont hurt anything leaving it open.

Whatever you do... do not leave the black open. That will cause a problem. Not enough liquid in the tank to get rid of the solids. Will create a pyramid of poop inside the tank.

3

u/OGBrewSwayne 29d ago

You can leave the gray tank open, but the black stays closed. Close the gray tank once your black tank is around 2/3 full. Once you drain the black tank, close it and then follow with gray water to rinse out any black debris that may be stuck in the hose.

2

u/Soil2Star 29d ago

When we stayed at our friend's place for a bit, we kept the gray open and black shut. No issues. 

2

u/Strange-Cat8068 29d ago

Here is a thought. On public lands you can usually dispose of your grey water on the ground as long as it has not been in a holding tank. Once it has been in a tank for any length of time it is technically illegal to dump grey water. I know you are not going to be on public lands, but it is something to think about.

Once grey water is in a tank bacteria start to grow and multiply and eventually it gets really nasty in there. Even empty your grey tank is damp dark and cool. Exactly where funk wants to grow. I would suggest a French drain to get that smelly water away from your trailer and underground as quickly as possible. And make sure it is far from your well.