How to Connect an RV to a Sewer

Emptying the storage tanks is a simple and quick job once it has been practiced a little.

While dumping the black and gray water storage tanks is one of the less attractive aspects of RV ownership, it is a necessary part of the lifestyle, and one that all owners must familiarize themselves with. RVs are typically connected semi-permanently to sewer systems at camp sites, and temporarily to dump station inlets. In either case, the same equipment is used and the same protective clothing should be worn.

Things You'll Need

• Protective wear
• Two-into-one adapter
• Sewer hose
• Concertina-type sewer pipe support (optional)

Instructions

1. Maneuver the RV to a position where the two slide-actuated dump valves -- one from the gray water tank and one from the black water tank -- are close to the sewer inlet or dump station. The dump valves are almost invariably to be found toward the rear of the vehicle, on the driver's side. Park so that there is a downward slope from the dump valves to the sewer inlet or dump station, and get as close as is possible, so that the hose between the RV and the sewer does not become a trip hazard.

2. Check to make sure the slide valves are closed. Put on protective gloves. If any detergent has been used to keep the black water tank from smelling bad, it is advisable to wear a long-sleeved shirt and protective eyewear. Twist the two safety caps counterclockwise and remove them from the valve assemblies.

3. Fit a two-into-one adapter, available from most RV dealerships and a number of department stores with RV aisles, between the black and the gray water tanks. This adapter allows both tanks to be connected to the sewer through one sewer pipe, which is a great asset when camping for any length of time. The two female ends of the adapter are attached to the bayonet fittings on the slide valves; twist the female ends clockwise to secure them in place.

4. Connect the female end of the sewer hose to the outlet -- the central male fitting -- of the adapter. Again, twist it clockwise to lock it in position. Run the sewer hose as straight as possible to the sewer inlet or dump station inlet. Slip the 90-degree bend, usually called an "elbow," on the end of the sewer hose into the sewer inlet, or hang it down into the dump station inlet. Rest the dump station inlet cap on the top of the elbow to prevent the hose from swinging out when the water starts to flow through it.

5. Open the slide valve from the black water tank first; this is conventionally the valve closest to the rear of the vehicle. Allow the tank to empty, then open the valve from the gray water tank. This sequence flushes the raw sewage out of the flexible sewer pipe with sink and shower waste water.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a concertina-type sewer pipe support, arrange it beneath the flexible pipe -- before opening the slide valves -- so the pipe travels in a gradual slope with no dips or kinks.

• When purchasing flexible sewer pipe, the extra spent on a heavy-duty unit at an RV dealership, as opposed to the budget-priced goods sold in department stores, is money well spent.

• Do not leave the slide valves open when connected to a sewer. This practice would allow solids to build up in the black water tank while liquids trickle out. Always keep the valves closed until the tanks are at least two-thirds full; the outrush of water helps to clear the solids.

References

• RV Basics: RV Sewer Hose; the Basics