An RV trip is exciting but it also produces waste products that require safe and responsible disposal. The black water tank stores the sewage waste from the toilet. It needs proper disposal or it can create a real mess. If you’re thinking of dumping black water tank at home, let’s discuss the proper ways to do that.
Contents
Is It Legal to Empty RV Holding Tank at Home?
Where can I dump my black water tank? Well, there are various places to do it legally and your home is one of them. You can take both grey and black water tanks at home but not without following proper rules.
There is a specific residential sewer system for this kind of wastewater. Dumping directly into the municipal sewer line or your home’s sanitary line is unlikely to cause any problem, but you should still look into the related local ordinances.
Be careful about not dumping anything into the storm drain because it is connected to your area’s water reservoirs. Doing so will not only contaminate the drinking water but also earn you a huge fine from the municipality.
So, when you are dumping black water tank at home, you must do it responsibly. Also, make sure to use eco-friendly soaps and other cleaning agents when living in the RV. Caustic chemical ingredients can kill beneficial bacteria in the septic tank.
Dumping Black Water Tank at Home: Practical and Easy Methods
There are several methods regarding how to dump RV tanks at home. Each way has its own perks and downsides, so it’s up to you which one to choose.
Using a Bucket
This is the most cost-effective yet the messiest of all dumping methods. The process is tedious and many people will find it gross to carry the waste materials in a bucket.
The tools you’ll need for this method are:
- A bucket
- Protective hand gloves
- Face gear
Put on the protective gear and fill the bucket with the black water waste. Don’t fill up to the brim because it may spill when you’re carrying the bucket from the RV to the toilet in your home.
Empty the bucket in the toilet and flush. Be very careful in this step or it will create a mess. When the black water tank is empty, wash the bucket and the dumping hose.
The bucket method works best for smaller holding tanks. Emptying a large tank in this way is quite tedious and challenging.
Dumping into the Sewer Line or Septic Tank
You can avoid all the mess if you have access to the municipal sewage disposal system of your area. A private disposal system will also work since it is actually a septic system.
No matter which system you have got access to, it is supposed to have a cleanout — which is a short pipe protruding from the septic tank or the main sewer line. This tank or line is likely to have an end cap.
The tools you will need for the RV dump into residential sewer system are:
- A large wrench
- A disposal hose
- Hand gloves
- Protective face gear
The first thing you need to do is to locate the access port of this sewer line or septic tank where you are going to empty the wastewater. Park the RV just beside this port and then attach the disposal hose to the trailer’s black water tank.
After connecting the disposal hose, wear the protective gear because you’re going to deal with the messy part onwards. Attach the other end of the hose to the access port. By using the wrench, detach the end cap of the sewer line or septic tank. Be careful because toxic gas could come out of the line.
When everything is ready, dump the black water tank by pulling the valve. When the tank is completely drained, wash it with clean water and flush that water through the disposal pipe. Also, wash the dumping hose before disconnecting everything.
Using a Macerator
This is the best method for dumping black water tank at home. It is more complicated and expensive but you can keep the entire process mess-free. A macerator pump kit could cost a few hundred dollars but it makes the whole task a lot easier.
The tools you will need regarding how to empty camper holding tanks with the help of a macerator are:
- A macerator pump kit
- An outlet hose
- Protective gear
The macerator pump has an input valve. Attach the black water tank’s outlet hose to this valve. The next step involves connecting the disposal hose’s one end to the outlet valve and the other end to the sewer pipe’s inlet. You can attach it to the toilet’s shaft or pipe too since a macerator pump churns the solid waste, making it easier to flush down the toilet.
Open the outlet valve and then switch on the macerator pump. All the waste materials will be smoothly transferred from the trailer’s holding tank to the toilet or sewer line. You can use this pump for dumping black water tank on ground for years to come.