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How to Dump the Waste Receptacle on an RV

Contributor
By Tracy Renee Stefan
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)
Maintain Your RV with Confidence
Maintain Your RV with Confidence
Tracy R. Stefan

Routinely maintaining your RV by disposing of the waste is fast and easy once you know how. You can learn to use your RV with confidence, making travel more pleasurable. After doing it a few times, you can accomplish the whole procedure in 10 minutes or less. You want to remove all the waste and waste-water before reloading your RV with drinking and shower water. Neglecting to dispose of the sewer containment system could result in backup or overflow. By doing routine maintenance, you are less likely to have plumbing problems that can be costly and time-consuming to fix and put a damper on your trip.

From Quick Guide: Motorhome Basics
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Durable rubber gloves
  • RV Waste Disposal Site
  • Detachable sewer hose on RV
  • Water hose for clean-up
  1. Step 1

    Find the nearest RV waste disposal site. You can google it, ask someone, or call information. Usually an RV park and some rest stops have them, as well. Once you are there, you will find the disposal site is usually a cement hole in the ground, about 8 inches in diameter with a removable cover.

  2. Step 2
    Locate Detachable Sewer Hose Compartment on Exterior of RV.
     
    Locate Detachable Sewer Hose Compartment on Exterior of RV.

    Put on a thick pair of durable rubber gloves that you can reuse. It's a good idea to rinse them when you're done and store them in a plastic bag in an appropriate place to reduce risk of contamination.

  3. Step 3
    Locate Where the Sewage Hose Attatches and The Release Valve.
     
    Locate Where the Sewage Hose Attatches and The Release Valve.

    Locate the detachable sewer hose compartment on the exterior of the RV, usually in the rear over the bumper. The detachable sewer hose is in a plastic cylinder with a removable cap. Twist cap and open; remove hose while wearing gloves.

  4. Step 4
    Locate Waste Water Valve Similar in Design to Sewage Valve.
     
    Locate Waste Water Valve Similar in Design to Sewage Valve.

    Locate the sewage drain compartment found on one side of the RV, depending on the model. The sewer cap is the round cap, and the sewage release valve is the rectangular handle to the right of it. Wearing your gloves, remove the round cap and attach the sewer hose that you removed from the rear compartment. Put the other end of the hose into the refuse disposal hole in the ground. Do this BEFORE you release the sewage valve. After hose is attached and other end is in the ground, twist the sewage release valve and pull handle directly toward you to its full extension. You should hear flow in the pipe if released. Wait until sewer fully drains, and leave valve open.

  5. Step 5

    Locate the waste-water valve that is usually to the right and directly behind the sewage release valve on the exterior of the RV. Twist and pull this valve directly toward you, releasing all waste water from the RV's shower and sink systems. Do this while leaving the sewage valve open. Always remove the sewer first and the waste water second because the second rinses the first. After both have fully drained, close the waste water valve first, by pushing it in and twisting it back to its original locked position. Next, close the sewage valve in a similar fashion. Then, remove the detachable sewer hose and recap. Rinse the hose and put it back in the rear compartment and put the cap back on. Rinse your gloves and put in bag for future use for sewage receptacle removal. Now you are free to refill the drinking and shower water without risk of overflowing the holding tanks.

Tips & Warnings
  • Always dump the sewer and waste water before refilling your RV with drinking and shower water to avoid overflow or back-up of sewage. By routinely maintaining your RV, all the systems will work better together, ensuring a smoother and more stress-free trip.
  • Avoid tugging or yanking detachable sewage hoses, as they can break. Try not to put undue pressure on the hose by stretching it too far. Pull your RV close enough to drain pipe and in line with sewage pipe on RV to avoid unnecessary tension that could result in a costly repair.
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