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At some point in your RV travels, the fun will come to a halt (albeit temporarily) when you have to hook up your sewer hose and drain the grey and blackwater tanks.
However, draining your tanks doesn’t have to be time-consuming… or messy (thankfully)!
Here is our simple 5-step process to hook up your RV sewer hose, drain those tanks, and get back to enjoying the RV life as quickly as possible!
Tip: Be sure to check out our RV dump station directory to find a dumping location near you… wherever your travels take you!
Step 1: Preparation
Preparing to empty the black and gray tanks is not something you want to take lightly. Not only can it be gross, but it can also be hazardous to your health.
So, you want to optimally prepare for what lies ahead by wearing disposable gloves and eye protection.
Also, now is the perfect time to ensure the valves are closed on your sewer hose.
Step 2: Connect The RV Sewer Hose
Once you’re prepared to do the job, it’s time to connect the sewer hose to your RV.
Your RV sewer hose will have two ends – one with a bayonet-style fitting that connects to your RV and the other with an elbow or “L” shaped fitting that goes into the dump station inlet.
First, connect the bayonet-style fitting to the waste fitting on the RV. Then run the other end of the hose to the dump station inlet, placing the elbow fitting into the inlet. If your elbow fitting doesn’t have a gasket on the end that goes in the inlet, you will definitely want one. This will help to create a tight seal and prevent any leaks (trust us, you don’t want any leaks).
Camco 20′ (39742) RhinoFLEX 20-Foot RV Sewer Hose Kit
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Tip: Use an RV sewer hose support to help create a downhill effect for your hose. This helps for sites where the ground slopes uphill to the dumping sewer inlet.
Camco 20ft Sidewinder RV Sewer Hose Support
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Step 3: Drain The Black And Gray Tanks
Once the hose is securely in place, it’s time to open up the tanks!
IMPORTANT: Open the tank valves slowly! This will alleviate any pressure surge that could potentially happen if your tanks are full. The last thing you want is the pressure forcing the hose to pop off the dump station inlet.
We are going to start with the black tank. Slowly open the valve allowing the black tank waste to flow out. As the waste empties through the hose and into the inlet, keep an eye on both connections to make sure there’s no leakage anywhere. Allow enough time for all of the contents of the black tank to trickle out. When done, be sure to close the valve.
Now, we can slowly open the gray tank valve. Emptying this tank second will help clean the sewer hose from the toilet waste we previously emptied. And again, keep an eye on both connections to ensure there’s no leakage.
Tip: Once the tanks are empty, it’s now a good time to perform a freshwater flush of the tanks. With your sewer hose still connected and the hose valve closed, turn on the kitchen and bathroom sinks and flush the toilet several times to partially fill the tanks. Then open the sewer hose valve again to allow the freshwater to flush out.
Once completely drained, go ahead and close the sewer hose valves.
Step 4: Disconnect The Hose
Twist the end of the hose connected to the RV to disconnect it and place the cover back on the waste valve.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT disconnect the hose from the dump station inlet quite yet. We still need to clean out the hose, and we want that water to run down into the inlet. We’ll get to that next.
Now that you’ve successfully emptied your tanks, it’s time to clean up!
Step 5: Cleanup
Lastly, we need to clean out the sewer hose and store it for next time.
With the sewer hose still connected to the dump station inlet, use a garden water hose to spray out the inside, allowing the water to go through the hose and down into the inlet.
Tip: Use a sewer hose rinser with a bayonet cap to easily clean out your sewer hose! It will save you a ton of time and hassle.
Camco Sewer Hose Rinser With Power Jet Cleaning Action
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Once the inside of the hose is clean, remove the hose from the inlet and spray off the elbow connector.
Finally, store the hose in its designated spot in your RV and discard your disposable gloves in a trash bin.
FAQs
Can you hook up an RV to a house sewer?
Yes, it is possible to hook up your RV sewer hose to a house sewer system, but it may not be legal where you live. Check with local laws before attempting this. If it is legal, it’s really as simple as the steps above, just replace the campground dump inlet with your home sewer inlet (you’ll have to find the sewer cap in your yard). Check out our guide on how to dump an RV black tank at home for more information.
Another option would be to use your existing septic tank, if you have one, or install an RV septic tank in your yard, which could be costly.
Lastly, you could consider using a composting toilet in your RV. These toilets provide an eco-friendly way to dispose of waste without having to worry about the legalities of dumping in your house sewer or the high costs of installing an RV septic tank. Check out our guide to the best RV toilets for a closer look at composting toilets.
How do you hook up two RV sewer hoses?
If your RV or motorhome has two sewer hookups, you can run a sewer hose from each hookup to a “Y” connector, then have a third hose coming off the “Y” connector that runs to the dump site inlet. It’s a pretty simple setup that just requires two additional hoses along with a “Y” connector.
Camco RhinoFLEX RV Wye Fitting
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