Backflow/vacuum breaker

[kcamp99186]

Last time I tried to use the black tank flush connection I had water leaking. I've read and identified the valve as the culprit. Probably damaged due to not being properly drained last fall, I never thought about it. Want to replace it with a brass one but wanted to know if there was any real reason that the vacuum break was needed? Can I just install a check valve either on the end of the hose or installed inline? Thanks!

[dhn]

The valve is there to keep the water in the black tank from siphoning back into the water hose or back into the water supply. You can replace the valve with a good quality brass one from the hardware store. Some on the forum have replaced with just a straight through piece and just use a backflow preventer on the end of the water hose. Ether way you need to use one or the other. BTW be sure not to use the same water hose that you use for the fresh water supply, use a dedicated garden hose for flushing the black tank.