You're not clueless. A lot of people do it but the clueless people do it in public places where some people don't understand what is coming out if there since often it has some "color"
When at a campground or "RV park" for those a little more politically correct, I keep it open for most of my stay until a day or so before a dump so I have some flushing power to help the dudes make it through the journey. Also partially cleans the hose before some fresh water rinse.
Its just easier to leave the gray tanks open (one less thing to keep track of) and so that's what I do. Occasionally, when I know my wife and I will both be showering in the AM, I'll close the valve and then dump later that night just to give everything a decent flush. When traveling, I also try to leave some fluid in the tank to let it slosh around. Sometimes, if it is a short trip, I'll put in a little bleach/soap/water softener to freshen things up a bit.
Bill, Carol & Striker The Cat
2005 Everest 323k
1989 Ford F-350 Crew Cab, 460, 5 spd, 4.30 axle
Everest owners: check out the Everest Owners Club.
Make a small loan, Make a big difference: Kiva.org
I agree with closed due to critters. I saw some pretty wierd things crawl out of sewer hookups. A snake, chipmunk, probably what the snake was after, and a bunch of big bugs.
I leave both dump valves closed until I need to open them. With the 6 of us in the rig, I usually end up dumping the tanks every 3rd day or so. It's no big deal to go out and pull the valves.
~Rick
2005 Georgie Boy 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22 (Class A)
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (12-Angel), 1 girl (7), 2 boys (8 & 5), 1 plump Golden Retriever.
2001 Honda Odyssey with Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.
I also leave the gray water valve open until a day or so before leaving. Black valve closed until near full. Use the gray to flush the hose. Been doing it for awhile and no problems.
If you notice--most of the very opinionated postings seem to come from folks that never fill in the----RVing Since---on their profile.
8 closed and 7 open so far. I wonder how many are long term and how many are short term. Most of the snowbird units I know of leave their gray tanks open.
As I said, I leave my grays open and dump the black once a week. I have a flush system in the black and will run that until the water runs clean in my clear elbow. To get at my kitchen valve, I have to climb under my slide. Getting too old for that.
When we pack up to head home, which entails a couple of thousand miles travel, I put water, detergent and softener in all the tanks. By the time we get to where we need to winterize, we have the cleanest, sweetest smelling tanks you've ever seen. Never know to have any critters in there, but if they were, well they'd be smelling pretty sweet to.
Maintcpo wrote: While there is nothing wrong with your current procedure, I would close the grey the day before or 2 maybe to get some backup to flush the stinky stuff out of the hose. This may not do much, but will help make sure you dont have anything resting in the hose. Just a thought.
You are doing it the way most RVers do it... based on the fact that you are staying in one place for a couple of months..
The only time most of us close our Grey water valves is the day before leaving the Park..
This allows some grey water to accumulate in the grey tank from your
morning-(?)-evening shower for "Flushing Out" the sewer hose after the black tank has been dumped..
Under "Normal" circumstances, when an RV is parked for more than a couple of weeks, there is no need to keep the grey water valves closed..
Best Wishes,
John
John Harrelson
Carson City, Nevada
fulltime since 1977
93 Ford 350 4wd Diesel
95 Prowler 30.5 ft 5th wheel w/slide
TWO CENTS WORTH
The story goes that a man died and was approached by the Devil who told him that he could buy his soul back for a dollar. The man searched his pockets and could only come up with 98 cent. While begging the Devil to forget the two cent he was short, an Angel happened by and hearing the Devil laughing, asked the man, "Would you mind if I put in my two cents ?" The Devil got so mad that he exploded in a puff of smoke and the man's soul was saved. The moral: Sometimes putting in your two cents worth makes a difference.
JOHN "the cook" 1997
Black water closed, galley and bathroom shower/sink open on long stays. Overnight when traveling I generally leave them closed and dump all before leaving in the AM. Someone said they didn't know how many were short termers or not. 35 years of trailering, 10 years of van and pickup camper use. Don't know what that makes me other than old. Never had a critter crawl up my hose but it will always be sealed into the connection. Places where I've always parked frown on open lines allowing gray or black water on the ground.
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