Re-plumbing clothes washer into GRAY water tank?

[Lic0rice]

Has anyone ever re-plumbed the clothes washer into the gray water tank and out of the black water tank? I WILL be doing this and wondering if anyone can give helpful advise before I start.

We have an '06 Montana 3400RL.

[PARAPTOR]

No , but curious is this a dry camping concern? Would think getting sudsy water flushing out that black tank would be an asset , ie connected to a camp site sewer.

[Lic0rice]

Originally Posted by PARAPTOR

No , but curious is this a dry camping concern? Would think getting sudsy water flushing out that black tank would be an asset , ie connected to a camp site sewer.

Nope... a permanent site but something clogged the outlet. We always empty the BW tank prior to doing a load. My wife pulled the handle and very little came out. She thought I had emptied the tank since I do so frequently. On the rinse cycle we received a nice dose of sewer water backing out the washer drain pipe. This happened before, when we did not realize that the washer emptied into the black tank.

So.....I have 3 options: sell the 5th, get a divorce or re-plumb. I'm starting with the plumbing and hope to avoid the other two options

[Desert185]

My washer drain bypasses the tanks and drains directly to an outlet so I can attach a sewer drain hose and dump it directly into the campground septic system.

[Lic0rice]

Originally Posted by Desert185

My washer drain bypasses the tanks and drains directly to an outlet so I can attach a sewer drain hose and dump it directly into the campground septic system.

Do you need to disconnect the sewer line or do you use a Y valve?

Happen to have any pictures?

thanks

[notanlines]

Our dish washer drains into the grey water tank at the rear with the kitchen sink. Is it common for the washing machine to empty into the black water tank. Seems kinda odd.

[PARAPTOR]

Originally Posted by Desert185

My washer drain bypasses the tanks and drains directly to an outlet so I can attach a sewer drain hose and dump it directly into the campground septic system.

Interesting, so you just have a pull valve on the washer drain pipe before the outlet? Guess I always though every thing went into a storage tank either the Gray or black tank(s). On my Raptor the washer drain goes into the galley gray tank

[PARAPTOR]

Originally Posted by Lic0rice

Nope... a permanent site but something clogged the outlet. We always empty the BW tank prior to doing a load. My wife pulled the handle and very little came out. She thought I had emptied the tank since I do so frequently. On the rinse cycle we received a nice dose of sewer water backing out the washer drain pipe. This happened before, when we did not realize that the washer emptied into the black tank.

So.....I have 3 options: sell the 5th, get a divorce or re-plumb. I'm starting with the plumbing and hope to avoid the other two options

Do you leave the black tank valve open when you are using the washer? not sure how much water that washer uses? Sounds like you could possibly have a solid pile in your Black tank. I guess whatever you decide to do with the washer drain you are going to have to deal with the way the black tank is draining. I assume you are ensuring that after you dump that the black tank has adequate water left in the tank to avoid a solid build up. I always run my black tank spray a little while after I close the black tank valve, thereby ensuring I have a fair amount of water in there

[Lic0rice]

Originally Posted by PARAPTOR

Do you leave the black tank valve open when you are using the washer? not sure how much water that washer uses? Sounds like you could possibly have a solid pile in your Black tank. I guess whatever you decide to do with the washer drain you are going to have to deal with the way the black tank is draining. I assume you are ensuring that after you dump that the black tank has adequate water left in the tank to avoid a solid build up. I always run my black tank spray a little while after I close the black tank valve, thereby ensuring I have a fair amount of water in there

We always drain the BW tank prior to using the washer. That way we have one load of water in the tank at all times to avoid a pile.

[MattHelm21]

My last fiver had a 40 gallon black tank and the stackable washer/dryer. It clearly said that the dump valve had to be open when doing laundry. My understanding is that the Splendid all in one washer/dryers use even more water to accomplish both tasks. I'm not sure what the fix is but I just wanted to mention what my instructions and warning stickers said when I had a factory washer/dryer option. The 2016 Fuzion only has the prep package so I have no such warnings now.

[bobbecky]

Even though we do not have a washer/dryer in our rig, it is plumbed for them, and the washer drain completely bypasses the tanks, so when washing you must be connected to a drain.

2012 3402RL

[PARAPTOR]

Interesting thought that drain would be piped into some tank (grey or black). I guess logic was if boondocking you would wash your clothes in the creek and hang dry in a nearby tree. Also no electricity. If you have asewer, must also have electricity, See these RV deignes have it all figured out.

Added: mine piped into galley gray tank

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by Lic0rice

Do you need to disconnect the sewer line or do you use a Y valve?

Happen to have any pictures?

thanks

I have two sewer connections. The forward one is for the black and two grey tanks (bath and kitchen), and the aft drain connection (aft of the wheel well) is directly from the washer drain.

No pics, but the forward one is forward of the wheel well and the aft one for the washer is aft of the wheel well.

If/when we do a load or two, we connect the hose to the washer drain outlet and do laundry, while the bath shower/sink, toilet and kitchen drain into their respective tanks. Before leaving, I move the drain hose to the forward outlet and drain the tanks.

If no laundry, I only connect the forward outlet and drain the tanks before leaving. Quite simple, actually.