Smelly Campers

No, I am not talking about the campers parked next to you. I am talking about odors coming from the gray water and black water tanks. In earlier posts I told how to sanitize black water and gray water tanks. However even the cleanest tanks will smell rather quickly. Most people, when at a campground, leave their gray water dump valve open. While this is an accepted practice it does allow soaps and other organic matter to collect on the bottom and sides of the tank. As all gray water connections are protected by P-traps the only way smells from the gray water tank can get in the coach is either through a dry P-trap (found under sinks and under the shower pan) or the Foote vent becoming defective. A Foote vent is a piece of white pvc pipe with a white mesh that covers openings in the sides near the top. Inside this vent is a one way valve that allows air into the drain pipe system but will not allow air out of the pipe system. They are found under sinks where a vent stack cannot be used because of conditions in the construction of the camper. If all P-traps have water in them and the Foote valve is operating properly you might have a cracked pipe above the point where the sink drains connect. If it were below these connections you would have a water leak every time you used the sink or shower and it would be easy to find. Read more  Read More →

Gray and Black water tank cleaning.

You mean I have to clean them? Well yes you actually do. Gray water tanks accumulate soap scum on the sides of the tanks because most of the time people leave the valve open when camping so the tank mearly has water pass through it. Old soap scum along with food particles eventually will combine to make some nasty odors. If you have been camping for any length of time you will hear many different ways to freshen the gray water tank and in turn improve the accuracy of your holding tank gauge.  Before your next camping trip go to a pool supply store and buy a 32 ounce bottle of de-foamer solution. This is used in spa’s to eliminate the foam caused by detergent residue in peoples swimming suits. Stop and pick up 2 lbs of baking soda. Now after your next camping trip and before you head home fill the gray water tank about a third of the way. Add 6 ounces of the de-foaming agent down the kitchen sink and let the faucet run for a few minutes. Okay now drive home. The sloshing of the tank will neutralize soap scum and wash the tank walls clean. Leave this solution in the tank until you head out for your next camping trip or next campground. Before you head out add the 2 lbs of baking soda through the kitchen sink running water again for a few minutes. When you get to the campground dump the tank and you have cleaned out the gray water tank.  Black water tanks are cleaned a little differently but moving the camper sloshing the mix around helps it get cleaned out also. So you... Read more

Sanitizing your water system Part 2

In my last Blog I talked about sanitizing the city water side of the RV water system. That leaves the fresh water tank side to sanitize. Again we will use the section of hose you use to connect to city water. Mix bleach with water in a gallon jug adding about 12 ounces ( this is for a typical RV fresh water tank of about 50 gallon capacity so scale accordingly) to the gallon jug and filling it about 3/4’s full. Using a funnel (and making sure the hose is empty of water) add mixture to one end of the hose until mixture is all in the hose. Connect one end to camper (to the fresh water fill connection) and other to city water source. Run water into the tank for approximately 5 minutes. Remember if you have an in-line filter remember to remove and discard filter and after flushing system install a new one. Now is a good time to see if your fresh water pump (make sure pump is turned off) has an in-line mesh filter, if so disconnect and clean the screen and replace. Now turn pump on and run water in every sink, shower (inside and out if so equipped) and toilet until you can smell the bleach. Now you have 2 choices. If your tank is not full you can drive around for 10 minutes sloshing the bleach and water around in the tank or you can just add water till the tank is full. The correct “contact time” to disinfect and sanitize is an hour. After the hour is up drain the tank, adding water as it drains to help remove the bleach solution. Turn on each faucet, shower and toilet... Read more

Sanitizing your water system

Ever been at a campground where the water was brown? Had a boil water notice issued while you were there? Ever taken a pipe from your water system and felt the inside of it? At least once a year or if any of the above things have happened to you, you need to sanitize your water system, both city water and fresh water tank systems. It is really not as hard as it sounds. In this blog I will discuss the city water side and in Part 2 I will go over sanitizing the fresh water tank and pump system. When RV’ers sanitize their city water system (if they remember) most forget the supply hose. The easiest way to sanitize the hose is to add about 12 ounces of bleach (use the store brand) to a gallon of water. Drain the hose completely and refill (using a funnel with the other end of the hose at the same height as the end you are filling)  with the bleach/water mixture. Once you have the mixture in the hose screw the 2 ends together and let sit for at least an hour. Contact time with the bleach is what kills bacteria. After the hour is up connect the hose to the camper and the other end to a hose bib. Try not to lose the bleach/water solution in the hose. Turn water on. In your camper turn on one faucet (kitchen, bathroom, shower and toilet) at a time until you can smell the bleach, then shut off the faucet. If you have an exterior shower don’t forget it also. Let the solution sit in the pipes for at least an hour, then run each faucet for at least 5 minutes to flush bleach.... Read more

Everybody knows RV maintenance, don’t they?

It was great growing up in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in the early 70’s, the weather, the beach and the girls. What could have been better? Maybe having your Father owning a Motor Home and Trailer sales lot and getting to use a Motor Home to go on dates. To this day I cannot imagine what the fathers of the girls I dated and picked up in a 27′ Travco or a 23′ Lifetime thought. Yes I grew up around all types of campers and while in high school I was my Father’s service manager. I kept involved in RVs while I was in college working for 2 dealers in South Miami. Luckily for me the woman I married at the ripe old age (both of us) of 19 loved camping as much as I did. We moved from small travel trailers to fifth wheels to our current ride, a 2004 Winnebago Vectra. We are not full timers but intend on doing so as soon as possible. We belong to many camping organizations and camp once a month with a local chapter of FCRV. I enjoy working on old cars, diesel pickups and anything with grease on it. I hope to bring some things to the Blog I have picked up over the years to make your camper maintenance easy, safe and fun.  Read More →