Water & Sewer

If you’ve stayed at campgrounds and RV parks with full hookups, you may have found yourself wondering, “Is it ok to leave the gray tank valve open?” That’s a great question… with a bit of a controversial answer. One of the luxuries of staying in a full-hook-up campground is the ability to use water freely …

We’ve been on the road living and working in our motorhome for over 20 years, so we know that having hot water any time we need it is a real luxury. But it’s one we’d rather not ever have to do without. That’s why we’ve created this guide to the RV water heater. The more …

Gray water is gross! And surprisingly, it can stink as much as black water! But, what exactly IS gray water in an RV and…what’s that SMELL?!!! When a fellow RVer has an issue with a bad smell in their RV, it’s common to find them checking out their black tank or their RV toilet. Makes …

A Shurflo water pump is among one of the most commonly found pumps on new RVs and campers. They’re also popular as replacements for pumps that leak or no longer function properly, and the replacement makes a good DIY project. There are a variety of RV water pump brands on the market, several of them …

Being avid DIYers, we’ve been asked a time or two whether it’s possible to replace an RV shower door. The answer is an absolute yes, and we thought it might be a good idea to cover this topic in a post for anyone who may have an RV shower door that has degraded in some …

Have you ever had to unclog an RV black tank? Not sure how to go about it? Today’s post will have you well-prepared to handle what can become one of the grossest messes an RVer could face (especially if the tank is full). 🧻😫🤢🙈 We’ll even let you know how to avoid black tank clogs …

Air in water lines is not an uncommon problem, but if the plumbing system in your RV has this issue, you’ll want to fix it as soon as possible. While air pockets in water lines don’t present a particularly urgent issue, an RV that has air in the water pipes is a nuisance and could …

We’ve had a Thetford RV toilet (the Aria II electrically-activated gravity flush toilet) in our Newmar motorhome for over 17 years. Not only has it worked perfectly for all that time, but it even has the original seal on the blade valve to this day! But we know that many RVers have reason to replace …

If you’ve ever had a clogged RV toilet, you know that the best way to tend to it is to prevent clogging in the first place!  But, with that obvious statement aside, we all know that solid waste and paper can sometimes create a clog. For this reason, it’s a good idea to know in …

We hear a lot about macerating toilet systems for RVs, but how do macerating toilets work and why would an RVer want one? Today we’re looking at the macerator toilet and why some RVers prefer a macerating unit over a standard toilet system. What Is a Macerating Toilet? In most RVs, a regular toilet uses …

RV holding tank monitors are the bane of many an RVer’s travel experiences, but a SeeLevel tank monitor can be a game-changer! Why do we say that existing RV holding tank monitors are so bad? Well, they’re notoriously inaccurate. Their readings might indicate you’ve got plenty of room left in a holding tank, and suddenly, …

Heat and hot water are tremendous luxuries afforded to RVers by virtue of the fact that our rigs are homes-on-wheels with all the amenities of a traditional sticks & bricks house (plus wheels)! But there’s more than one way to skin the RV heat & hot water cat, and today we’re looking at the concept …

Most homes-on-wheels have an RV black water tank and an RV gray water tank. Keeping both of these tanks clean and in good working order is a priority. RV tank treatment and maintenance serve to prevent odors inside the RV living space and to keep RV holding tank sensors performing well so that we know …

You may be thinking to yourself, “Why would people need portable water heaters?” Most RVs come with a water heater, either with a tank (generally Suburban or Dometic/Atwood) or tankless (like Truma or Girard). But there are many tent campers and car campers out there, and there are lots of rigs like self-converted vans, schoolies, …

One of the biggest concerns among RVers seems to be the care & maintenance of holding tanks. From keeping them “clean” to preventing backup issues, to easy dumping, to keeping any odors from invading the RV’s living space. One question we’ve heard frequently is, “Is Rid-X safe for RV tanks?”, suggesting that Rid-X is a …

Low water pressure in your RV can be annoying. Low-pressure showers or a lack of pressure when you’re trying to wash dishes, flush the toilet or do anything else that involves a decent flow of water generally indicates that you’ve got a problem somewhere in your RV’s water system. We recently published a post suggesting …

No, you shouldn’t smell your RV toilet. That’s not normal. While an RV toilet doesn’t work in quite the same way as a toilet in a sticks & bricks house, that doesn’t mean it should smell. So, if your RV toilet stinks, it’s time to learn how to eliminate RV toilet odors. How Does an …

You may have heard of an RV macerator pump online or from fellow RVers. Or maybe your RV even came with one. But what is a macerator pump exactly? What does it do, and how necessary is it to a successful and thorough holding tank dumping experience? Like many things related to RV tank dumping, …

Your RV water pump is a fantastic thing! It allows water to flow through your rig’s plumbing no matter where you are. This provides all the water-related creature comforts of home in your RV, even if you’re camped in the middle of the woods, the desert, or on the beach. But, if your RV water pump …

A shower that produces weak pressure, or that sprays water out in random directions, is no one’s idea of a good showering experience. A number of issues can cause these problems, but a common one is a clogged shower head. If you suspect that your RV shower head is clogged, then this is the post …

Water usage is a big deal in an RV, especially when we’re traveling or boondocking. So understanding how much water we’re using in various ways can be important. That’s why today we’re asking and answering the question “How much water does an RV toilet use per flush?” We’ll be taking a look at the water …

When we’re boondocking (our absolute favorite way to camp!), we need to keep an eye on our water usage. Anyone who boondocks, especially for long periods, understands the importance of water conservation to extend that trip for as long as possible. Knowing exactly how much water you have to work with is good information. There …

There’s not a lot that’s worse than finding your RV toilet leaking (except maybe finding your black tank leaking!), but it helps to know what’s causing the leak so that it can be repaired as quickly as possible. In today’s post, we’re going to run through the various reasons why an RV toilet might be …

We recently published a post asking the question, “Is an RV Outdoor Shower Worth Having?” For many, it’s well worth having, but an outdoor shower didn’t come standard on their RV. Others are working on a self-built rig and would like to install an outdoor shower. So, today we’re taking a look at the components …

The ability to have a nice hot shower in your RV is a real luxury and one we all appreciate, especially after a long hike, or a cold day, or even after a satisfying day of DIY or maintenance work. There are different ways to heat water in your RV, including the popular Suburban and …

All RVers who either use or store their rigs in climates where temperatures can fall to freezing or below need to winterize their RVs, one way or another. Some prefer to use RV antifreeze, while others prefer to blow out their RV water lines with compressed air. In today’s post, we’ll look at the pros …

The great comforts of home that RVs provide are pretty amazing. They’re a vehicle that you can drive from place to place… that’s also a home! And the availability of a private bathroom and shower in your RV is just one of the luxuries many of us enjoy as we travel. But, what about an …

Having a bathroom onboard your travel rig is a great luxury and one that has never been more appreciated than it has been during the past couple of years. RV showers and toilets – and their treasured companions — RV wastewater holding tanks — make it possible to have a private bathroom no matter where …

We recently published a post about how to use heat tape for your RV water hose to keep it from freezing, as we’ve done ourselves with excellent results. But many RVers aren’t the DIY type and would prefer to buy a ready-made, professionally finished product. So, today we’re taking a look at three of the …

With RV winterization in full swing, we thought this would be a good time for a post about RV antifreeze in which we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about “the pink stuff”, including “Is RV antifreeze toxic?” Many RVers who store their RVs for the winter (or even some who continue to …