How To Prepare Your RV Toilet For Spring

How To Prepare Your RV Toilet For Spring

Regardless of whether you travel full-time or just go camping when the weather starts to warm up, spring time can be a great time to prepare your RV toilet for use. Keeping your RV toilet running well is one of the best ways to avoid costly repairs down the road. Here are some tips to help you do just that.

De-Winterize

De-winterizing your RV is a necessary part of the camping season, especially if you’re going to be living in it for an extended period. This prevents pipes from freezing, which can cause serious damage to the water systems in your RV. The first step in de-winterizing your RV is to drain and dump your black and gray water tanks. Then, if you used antifreeze to winterize your RV, you’ll need to flush the system and remove the antifreeze from the water. You’ll need to make a bleach solution to sanitize the lines in your RV water system. Mix a solution of 1/4 cup of liquid household chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) and one gallon of water for every 15 gallons of your RV’s fresh water tank capacity. Start by turning on your RV’s faucets and letting the mixture run for several minutes. This will help get all the bleach out of your RV’s water lines. Once you’re done, drain the solution into a bucket and dispose of it properly.

Clean

Nothing ruins your RV vacation faster than a foul-smelling black tank. To keep this from happening, you need to clean your toilet regularly and use a tank treatment to help control odors. The first thing you need to do is drain the black tank. Then, you can fill the tank with hot water and a little dishwashing detergent to get rid of any grime. This will also lubricate your toilet seal and prevent it from drying out. Then, you can scrub the inside of the bowl with a non-abrasive brush and use a good bathroom cleaner to get the job done. Depending on your toilet model, it may have a sprayer that makes cleaning the bowl easier and less messy. If not, you can still use a good cleaner and a microfiber cloth to clean the outside of the bowl.

Sanitize

Toilets are often the source of unpleasant odors in RVs, so it’s important to sanitize them before using them. A simple solution of bleach mixed with water, poured into the fresh water tank and plumbing lines is all you need to do this task. Once you’re done with the sanitizing process, drain your freshwater and gray water tanks again. This will prevent a small amount of water and bleach from getting left behind in your tanks. Lastly, make sure to treat your black tank with chemicals that are specifically designed for an RV’s waste system. This will help to reduce blockages, produce a more manageable waste consistency and make dumping easier.

Replace

If your RV toilet is old or broken, it may be time for a new one. Whether you’re replacing the water valve or simply need a new flange seal, it’s important to understand the steps involved. Before you begin, be sure to know what model of toilet yours is and how it was mounted (if it uses a floor flange). This information will help you order the correct replacement parts for your unit. You should also consider a few other things before you remove and replace your RV toilet. First, make sure to flush your black tank before starting work on the bathroom. This will help minimize odors during the repair process and will allow you to avoid having to dump your black tank later. Furthermore, it will keep your sensor readings accurate during the toilet replacement.