Airstream 360 XL, Owner'S Manual

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AIRSTREAM 390/396 XL
DRAIN AND WASTE SYSTEM
The drain and waste system of your motorhome includes waste holding tanks made from molded plastic.
The BLACK WATER HOLDING TANK enables you to use the toilet for several days away from disposal
facilities. The wastewater from the sink, shower, and bath and lavatory drains into the GRAY WATER
HOLDING TANK. Each tank has its own dump valve; however, both tanks drain through a common
outlet. Therefore, you need to make only one connection when hooking up in a trailer park with sewer
facilities.
Monitor Panel
Check your monitor panel frequently. When the BLACK WATER HOLDING TANK is completely full,
sewage cannot be emptied from the toilet bowl. If the GRAY WATER HOLDING TANK is overfilled,
drain water will "backup" into the tub and cause an unpleasant cleaning job. Never drain the tanks at any
place other than an approved dumping station.
To empty both tanks, attach the sewer hose by pressing the bayonet fitting onto the outlet adapter and rotate
clockwise until it feels solid and secure. Attach the outlet end of the hose to the sewage outlet; making sure
that the hose is placed so that it will drain completely. The dump valves are located in the utility
compartment on the roadside. Pull the dump valve handle out as far as it will go and wait until the tank is
drained. If the gray water tank is drained after the waste tank, the soapy water will help keep the sewer hose
and outlet clean.
When Parked and Connected to Sewer Outlet
When you are in a park and connected to a sewer outlet, keep the black water holding tank dump valve
closed and empty the tank every few days or whenever it becomes almost full. ONLY BY SENDING A
LARGE VOLUME OF LIQUID THROUGH THE BLACK WATER HOLDING TANK AT A TIME
WILL TOILET PAPER AND OTHER SOLIDS COMPLETELY WASH AWAY.
This practice will avoid the accumulation of solids in the black water holding tank, which could lead to an
unpleasant cleaning job. Should solids accumulate, close the dump valve, fill the tank about half full with
water, then drive the motorhome for a few miles. The turbulence and surging of the water will usually
dissolve the solids into suspension so the tank can be drained. Keep the auxiliary tank valve open when
connected to a sewer outlet.
Draining the tanks as described will protect them from freezing during storage. When traveling in sub-
freezing temperatures, use a winterizing solution designed for RV use. Follow the directions on the
container. As this is being written, heated tanks are being considered and may be on your motorhome.
CAUTION
: Never put wet strength paper towels or tissues in your holding tank, since they won't
dissolve and can "catch" in the mechanism of the dump valve. Colored toilet tissue is slower to
dissolve than white. Most RV accessory stores offer tissue, designed for RVs that will completely
dissolve.
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