Holding Tank Routine

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by thoer

Not stupid at all - and you pretty much answered your own question. Take care of all the drinking water pipes, etc and just make sure the black and grey pipes are empty. Anything left in the tanks themselves will have plenty of expansion space. I leave the grey and black tank valves open to help them dry out over winter.

How do you keep critters out with your valves open?

[gbaglo]

Speaking of leaving valves open, I opened my low-point drain a few days ago, along with the fresh water drain.
Today I pumped 2/3 of a gallon of antifreeze in through the city water and out through the low-point drain, which I'd forgotten to close. Not sure where all it went before exiting the plumbing, so I started over.

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

How do you keep critters out with your valves open?

I was told to dump and close the valves to keep the drain flies out of my tanks. They do actually exist by the way. We knew someone who had them. They kept seeing small flies coming out of the toilet when they flushed and the person they took it to dumped some insecticide in both tanks.

[gbaglo]

On the black and grey traps, I was wondering if it isn't better that they be wet ( from antifreeze ) than the seals be allowed to dry out.

[padlin]

I coat mine with Vaseline, I've also heard of folks pouring vegetable oil into the tanks. Or you can buy premade solutions for the purpose.

I used to coat the toilet seal too, but haven't done so since I got the Escape.

[gbaglo]

I note the Odorloss tank treatment says it lubricates valves, but I couldn't find a similar claim for the anti-freeze I bought.

[thoer]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

How do you keep critters out with your valves open?

Too cold for them up in here the North! Drain flies?? We have lots of critters up here, but haven't heard that they are around -- yet!

It's stored in my concrete slab metal sided shed and so far the mice have munched on the delicious mouse bait I have generously left for them and not caused any problems. I generally spray some silicone lube on the seals and open and close them a few times over the winter. Somewhere I read that the ethanol that comes in most antifreeze anymore is bad for seals,

[Donna D.]

If you really want to keep the caps off your tanks and let them dry out, Little House Customs builds a valve cap with a "garden hose" adapter and screen. No critters or flies.... leave the cap on and let the air flow!

[skiman]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I have installed the flush on other trailers that had the black tank outside, but with the Escape tank being inside, the chance of a leak around the hole exists and then you may have a mess inside.

My thoughts exactly!

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I have installed the flush on other trailers that had the black tank outside, but with the Escape tank being inside, the chance of a leak around the hole exists and then you may have a mess inside.

Properly installed, there is no reason for concern, just like any other fittings connected to it. As well, it is usually mounted up high from what I remember, and not below the liquid level.

Originally Posted by thoer

I leave the grey and black tank valves open to help them dry out over winter.

I might have missed it breezing through the posts here, but what is the reason for this? I know with home drain lines that sit for a while without use, they tend to clog up easier. And do the tanks actually dry out completely anyway, as there is no flow of air though, unless of course you keep the flush valve open.

[thoer]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I might have missed it breezing through the posts here, but what is the reason for this? I know with home drain lines that sit for a while without use, they tend to clog up easier. And do the tanks actually dry out completely anyway, as there is no flow of air though, unless of course you keep the flush valve open.

I can't speak to the grey as I cannot see anything, but yes the black tank does seem to dry out. Even though there isn't significant air flow thru the tank, the dry winter air should still be exchanged with the moist air inside.

[cpaharley2008]

To install these fixtures a hole is drilled in the tank side very carefully and the hole has to be captured to keep from entering the tank. A fitting is inserted with a sealing washer all of which is hard to accomplish thru the fiberglass hull or working under the bed. A lot easier for access on other trailer models but not the Escape 21. Any leaks would be around the new hole while flushing, not from the contents inside the tank.