Tiffin Motorhomes 2011 Phaeton, Owner'S Manual

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P L U M B I N G & B A T H F I X T U R E S
11-9
Gray-Water Holding Tank
The gray-water holding tank is located in the underbelly of the vehicle. It is primarily used for the drainage
from the kitchen and bath sinks and the shower.
Wastewater Disposal
Both of the holding tanks terminate in a valve arrangement that permits draining each tank separately or
together. It is recommended to drain the black-water tank first before draining the gray-water tank. This
procedure permits the water from the gray tank to wash the black-water residue from the drain lines and hose
found in the external sanitation compartment. The valves that open to release the water are called gate valves.
The blade that closed the opening in the sewer drainpipes is connected to the T-handle to release contents of
the tank(s) when pulled. The sewer line must be securely capped during self-containment use to prevent
leakage of waste materials onto the ground or pavement. Do not pull the holding tank gate valve “open” when
the protective cap is installed on the pipe. Always drain the tank into an acceptable sewer inlet or dump station.
Whenever possible, drain both the holding tanks prior to traveling. The carrying capacity of your vehicle will be
reduced if water is left in the black or gray tanks.
The holding tanks should only be drained when they are at least ¾ full. Doing this will provide a
sufficient volume of water to allow the complete flushing of waste materials in the drain lines and hose.
If the tanks are not ¾ full, add enough water to allow for sufficient flushing.
To empty the wastewater tanks, connect the adapter, supplied with your vehicle, to the drain hose (Figure
11-11). If the adapter is lost or broken, another one can readily be purchased from any RV supply store.
Once you have placed the adapter on the drain hose,
it can remain there for the life of the hose. One end
of the hose threads up through the hole in the bottom
of the service compartment and the other end of the
hose feeds into the sewer at the dump station.
Unscrew the cap from the drain. Connect the hose,
with the adapter in place, to the drain fitting. Open
the gate valve completely by pulling on the T-handle.
The tank will start to drain as soon as the T-handle is
pulled. After you have drained the black-water tank,
immediately drain the gray-water tank. This procedure
helps to flush the black water from the sewage hose.
When both of the tanks are empty, flush them with a freshwater rinse before you close the valves. The
gray tanks are easily flushed by pouring a couple of gallons of water into a sink drain. The drain outlet is
engineered for quick release of the drain hose adapter. Always close the gate valves and secure the end
cap to prevent leakage while the vehicle is in transit.
Figure 11-11. Sanitation Coupling, Valve, and Hose