How Does RV Plumbing Work?

Each RVer can profit from understanding how their electrical techniques, safety techniques, and, on this case, RV plumbing techniques are designed. It’ll make it easier to use them correctly, preserve them fastidiously, and troubleshoot points once they come up.

On this article, we’re specializing in how RV plumbing techniques work. Extra particularly, we’ll give attention to the plumbing that’s liable for the disposal of wastewater. For an summary of the plumbing used to ship contemporary water, learn our full overview of RV water techniques. 

How Does RV Plumbing Work?

RV plumbing – drainage techniques – be certain that your wastewater is safely transferred to your RV’s holding tanks. In addition they assure the secure draining of these tanks out of your system’s outlet right into a dump station or sewer drain at an RV website. 

RV water techniques have to be constructed with drainage functionality for wastewater in line with the specs outlined in NFPA 1192 and CSA Z240. The picture beneath depicts an instance of an RV plumbing system: 

Most bigger motorhomes and journey trailers are geared up with this drainage system. In it, discover that the one termination outlet empties each holding tanks (grey and black). In case you’re unfamiliar with the method, seek the advice of our tutorial to discover ways to empty your RV’s holding tanks.

Some pop-up campers and truck campers make use of a versatile drainage system. This technique doesn’t function holding tanks, requiring customers to empty the tank into a transportable RV waste tank. Usually, you’ll solely discover this method on RVs with a single compartment sink or bathe. 

Elements of RV Plumbing Methods

RV plumbing techniques are made up of a number of parts:

Fixture Tailpieces (Steady Wastes)

A fixture tailpiece is a brief piece of piping located between a fixture’s drain and its entice. They’re usually constructed with ABS plastic or PEX tubing. 

P-Traps

P-traps are the commonest sort of plumbing entice utilized in RVs. They’re put in at each fixture in your RV’s plumbing system to stop gases and odors from getting into the RV by the drainage strains. 

These odors come out of your RV’s holding tanks or the sewer system to which you’re linked. These traps remove odors by making a barrier of water that forestalls gases from shifting upstream from these sources. 

Piping and Fittings

ABS plastic is the fabric that’s mostly used for RV plumbing piping and fittings. The piping utilized to empty your grey waste tank could be as small as 1.5 inches in diameter however could be as much as three inches in diameter. The piping used to empty your RV’s black water holding tank have to be not less than three inches in diameter. 

Vents

RV development specs require venting at each fixture and every holding tank in an RV’s plumbing system. Venting is essential to odor management and ensures correct draining of sinks and holding tanks by sustaining ample airflow out and in of the system. 

Some RVs make use of a tool referred to as an anti-siphon entice vent system (ASTVD). Generally referred to as a test vent, this system is put in downstream of a entice to vent the system. Nevertheless, it solely capabilities as a secondary vent and have to be mixed with a main roof vent.

Termination Fittings and Valves

RV plumbing techniques are drained by a termination outlet or becoming that’s positioned on the RV’s exterior. In accordance with RV requirements, this outlet have to be on the left (driver’s aspect) of your RV and be positioned inside 22.5 toes of the rear (or alongside the rear on truck campers). 

The outlet consists of a drain connecting becoming and hand-operated termination valves or full-way valves. These valves ought to solely be opened as soon as your sewer hose is linked to the drain outlet, with the downstream finish secured right into a drain inlet for an in-ground sewer system. 

Holding Tanks

Most RVs are geared up with not less than two holding tanks: a grey water tank and a black water tank. The grey water tank collects the liquid waste draining from the bathe and sinks, whereas the black water tank collects physique waste out of your RV rest room. 

You could discover bigger RVs with a number of grey water tanks, and also you’ll additionally discover smaller items with no black water tank in the event that they don’t have an RV rest room inside. For the latter, a moveable tenting rest room is your finest resolution.

FAQs About RV Plumbing

Now that you just perceive the fundamentals of RV plumbing, listed here are a number of the mostly requested questions on this side of your leisure car:

What Measurement is RV Plumbing?

The plumbing strains to your RV’s black water tank outlet have to be not less than three inches in diameter. The outlet to your grey water tank could be wherever from 1.5-3 inches in diameter. The most typical sizes for RV freshwater strains are ½” and ⅜” PEX tubing.

Can You Use Liquid Plumber in an RV?

We DON’T advocate utilizing chemical cleaners like Liquid Plumber or Drano in your RV. Your RV’s plumbing system options rubber seals that may be broken and compromised by a chemical cleaner, leading to leaks. 

To take care of your RV’s plumbing techniques, you’ll want sewer chemical substances particularly designed for RV use. Discover our collection of RV sewer chemical substances.

Is Plumbing Antifreeze the Similar as RV Antifreeze?

No, RV antifreeze and customary antifreeze used for different plumbing and automotive functions are fully totally different merchandise. Like sewer chemical substances, RV antifreeze is non-toxic and designed particularly for secure use together with your RV’s plumbing. 

Study extra about RV antifreeze and when/easy methods to use it in your leisure car.

Septic points are the very last thing you consider if you purchase a brand new RV. So listed here are a couple of extra assets that will help you use your RV’s plumbing system appropriately and keep away from smelly, messy points: 

View our full assortment of tutorials on RV waste and plumbing.

Do you’ve got any questions on RV plumbing techniques? Tell us within the feedback beneath.