RV52 - An RVing "Start Here" Button

An information resource for new or future RVers

Nearly every link on RV52.com that goes to another site may provide RV52.com with a commission in some way. Learn more here.
You are here: Home / Archives for Plumbing

Esco Convenience Center Settings for Open Range RV

Last updated on September 23rd, 2017 at 10:25 pm

by 3 Comments

One reader told me that his printing has been wore off (or faded or whatever) of his Esco convenience center and the settings for the three valves is not documented in the Open Range Manual.

Esco is not particularly easy to find on the internet, and the convenience center looks to be a CUSTOM product rather than a normal product – which means you might be out of luck finding the diagrams. Fortunately, RV52 has found them and put them here for you.

Before continuing, I (Mr. RV52) have made a number of water/plumbing related articles that might also help you:

I wrote Esco (the maker of the convenience center) and they provided some diagrams which I include in this article for everyones convenience. I’m not going to put much text in the article as I’m hoping the captions are self explanatory.

convenience center for open range
convenience center for open range

 

normal operation settings for open range convenience center
normal operation settings for open range convenience center

 

water tank fill settings for open range convenience center
water tank fill settings for open range convenience center

 

winterize settings for open range convenience center
winterize settings for open range convenience center

 

water heater bypass settings for open range convenience center
water heater bypass settings for open range convenience center

The Pros and Cons of having an additional 1/2 bath in an RV

Last updated on February 23rd, 2019 at 07:39 am

by 28 Comments

rv 2nd bathroom pros and cons
rv 2nd bathroom pros and cons

Sheri and I say – Skip the 2nd bathroom in an RV

We’ve lived in an Open Range 399BHS for over three years and we feel like we know enough about it to comment on some of the things that affect future buyers when they are making decisions on getting a 2nd bathroom in the RV.

Actually, you don’t add the spare bathroom, but instead you purchase the RV with it based on the floor plan. Of course you would know that you have to buy the 2nd bathroom floor plan or not, but it feels better saying it.

Unless you have read this, when you’re shopping for an RV, you’re going to find a 2nd bathroom (actually a 1/2 bath) a neat feature. But its not. The spare or extra bathroom is eye candy designed to entice you into thinking about an RV like you would a house.

You can do a deeper dive on RV plumbing by going to the RV Plumbing How-To page.

Why a 2nd 1/2 bath in the RV sounds like a great idea

If you have a bunkhouse, or if you have a 2nd door to the outside, the idea of a 2nd 1/2 bath sounds like a great idea. Why? Let me list…

  • Kids have a place to brush teeth
  • Girl in the family might have a place to do make-up.
  • You can have people quick access to a restroom from the outside without going through the RV.
  • Your guests can have some privacy – especially if there is a bunkhouse. Its like a little 2 bedroom house.
  • You don’t have to share your RV’s master bathroom with guests.

Why a 2nd 1/2 bath in the RV is really a bad idea

Before going into the listing a little background and “reminder”… RV’s are mobile. Because of that, water fittings are much more subject to leak due to vibration.

One more thing, RV’s, particularly in their nether-regions are subject to wider temperature swings. Again, hot/cold cycling makes fitting more subject to leaking.

With that in mind, here are all the reasons that the 2nd bathroom is a bigger pain than it is a benefit…

  • Double the water fittings – double the opportunity to leak
  • 2nd black tank? If so, it probably doesn’t have a black tank rinse so it is harder to maintain.
  • 2nd gray tank? Another tank to monitor? And empty. And drain.
  • Given the MAIN tanks are a pain to monitor and drain – do you want to double the work?
  • 2nd set of tanks – usually smaller. In fact the 2nd set makes the first set smaller as the RV designers are planning all of the under floor space for tanks and water routing. Who wants smaller main tanks?
  • You don’t have a 2nd shower… so your guests still will use your main bathroom.
  • If you don’t use the 2nd 1/2 bath, you might not notice things you need to do like the fact that the EXTRA black tank is full and stinky – RV living is about making life MORE carefree, not less.
  • More specifically – 2nd bathroom EQUALS 2nd bathroom to clean.

So the RV52 analysis is : 2nd bathroom looks cool when your buying the unit, but it probably isn’t worth the extra trouble and effort it requires. Sheri and Marlan say : Avoid it if you can. Don’t panic if you get it, but don’t let it be a “net positive” to your RV buying decision – see it for what it is – extra work.

I’ve put some Amazon listings here, just in case you are looking for RV plumbing fixtures.

CLICK HERE IF YOU DO NOT SEE A NICE SET OF AMAZON SEARCH TERMS RELATED TO rv plumbing fixture BELOW

RV Basics : Fruit Flies, Gnats, and Flies

Last updated on June 21st, 2019 at 06:34 pm

by 8 Comments

Recently we have been having a few fruit flies in our RV.

There is only one problem though. We don’t have any fruit lying around. We freeze all of ours. Sheri uses it to make me 100% fruit smoothies – more on that later – I’ll post her recipe. I actually feel better when I drink them.

So they aren’t fruit flies.

How to identify RV drain flies

  • They are about the size of fruit flies.
  • They seem to be congregating in the bathroom.
  • They even seem to emanate from the bathroom.
  • That ain’t fruit in the bathroom Dorothy!

Oh oh.

So before I go further, I have to digress.

People have to live.

They eat, drink, and breath at a minimum.

As a direct result of those eating, drinking and breathing, we pee, we poo, we sweat, and we exhale. Yet, we are so hung up on stuff we fail to really talk openly about a couple of the things that are about 1/3 of the major operations of our bodies. The rest of this article has to discuss things on the poo/pee side.

You’ve been warned!

Back to those flies.

  • I did a little research on the web and I’ve found that there exists such a thing as ‘drain flies’. They don’t seem that uncommon. Here is what I’ve learned in the following bullets.
  • People don’t think you should leave your gray water valves open (black should always be closed) even when connected to a septic or sewer. It seems some people think you can.
  • I saw mention that if you put a trap (a loop in your drain hose) such that there is no direct AIR path that will keep drain flies out. However, I saw one place that said that the drain fly larvae think traps are ridiculous and can swim.
  • I saw mention of insecticides, but nothing very conclusive.
  • Someone said drain flies are dirty and carry germs although they probably don’t know. However, knowing where they have been, I really don’t want them flying around my face.
  • People in many places spoke about RV toilets with overflow returns having them live in those areas.
  • Drain flies can get in your RV if your black tank is vented. Ours is not. Honestly I wished it was. Send me an email if you wonder why it matters.

Here are some links to articles on the subject:

Here is what I did…

How to eliminate RV drain flies

  • I drained the black tank immediately.
  • I then filled it up and had a modest amount of bleach in it ( I do not use this often as I think it is bad to put in the septic/sewers ).
  • We allowed this to sit for two or three days and filled up the tank even more.
  • I now keep the gray water valves closed as well as much as possible.

Here is what I’ve noticed.

  • Flies are gone.
  • Flies have never came back.

Here are my conclusions.

How to prevent RV drain flies from your RV

  • Bleach is bad for flies (although I can’t say this was the primary thing that took care of them)
  • Draining the black tank often is good
    • I can’t rule out that bleach killed the flies
    • you SHOULD drain the tank often
  • Keeping the gray valves closed is a good idea. (Again, it might be better black tank management that is keeping the flies gone)

Here is one belief I have which I cannot prove : You can get drain flies from the RV park septic. This makes sense to me and I can’t help think it is true.

RV drain flies insecticides and preventative chemicals and sprays

CLICK HERE IF YOU DO NOT SEE A NICE SET OF AMAZON SEARCH TERMS RELATED TO drain flies BELOW

SaveSave

RV Basics : RV Plumbing System Basics

Last updated on November 11th, 2024 at 05:32 pm

by 6 Comments

Essential RV Plumbing Guide for Beginners: Tanks, Tips, and Top Concerns

Understanding RV Plumbing Basics

If you’re new to RVing, understanding your RV’s plumbing system is essential. This guide provides an overview tailored for beginners who may not be familiar with RVs, helping you get a handle on the basics of maintaining and using your RV plumbing system effectively.

Why RV Plumbing is Different

RVs are designed for flexibility, allowing you to camp without hookups for a few days, commonly referred to as “boondocking” or “dry camping.” To make this possible, RV plumbing systems are designed with three main tanks:

  1. Fresh Water Tank – Holds clean water for drinking, cooking, and other uses.
  2. Gray Water Tank – Collects “used” water from sinks and showers.
  3. Black Water Tank – Holds wastewater from the toilet.

Each tank serves a unique purpose, and proper maintenance is crucial to ensure smooth operation while camping.

Key Components of RV Plumbing

Fresh Water Tank

The fresh water tank stores potable water for your RV when you’re not hooked up to an external water source. Since this is the water you’ll use for drinking, cooking, and cleaning, it’s essential to keep it clean. Use only approved methods to sanitize and treat the fresh water tank. A built-in pump provides water pressure to this system, so you can still use it when dry camping.

Gray Water Tank

The gray water tank holds water that drains from sinks and showers, which fills up surprisingly fast. Many RVers use gray water to help flush the black tank during cleaning, but when connected to a sewer or septic hookup, you can leave the gray water tank valve open to prevent overflow.

Black Water Tank

The black water tank holds waste from the toilet and requires a different approach. Keep the valve closed until you’re ready to empty it. Flushing the tank all at once helps prevent waste buildup, which could block sensors and cause inaccurate readings. Adding enzyme treatments can help keep the tank clean, but note that these additives don’t treat the waste—they just assist in preventing residue buildup. Be sure to use RV-friendly, quick-dissolving toilet paper to avoid clogs.

Top 5 Concerns About RV Plumbing Systems

After analyzing common questions and concerns about RV plumbing systems, here are the top issues RV owners face:

  1. Tank Odor Control – Keeping unpleasant odors from black and gray tanks at bay is a major concern. Enzyme treatments and regular cleaning are essential for odor management.
  2. Tank Sensor Malfunctions – Residue buildup can cause inaccurate readings, particularly in the black tank. Regular flushing and cleaning help sensors work properly.
  3. Clog Prevention in Black Tank – Using only RV-safe toilet paper and avoiding certain waste products can prevent clogs that block drains or impact flushing.
  4. Gray Tank Overflow – Gray tanks can fill faster than expected, especially with frequent shower and sink use. Knowing when to empty or open the gray tank valve is key.
  5. Sanitizing the Fresh Water Tank – Since this water is for drinking, proper sanitization is a top priority. It’s crucial to regularly clean the tank to prevent contamination.

Understanding these key points will help you manage your RV plumbing system and avoid common issues. With proper maintenance, you’ll enjoy a hassle-free experience, whether you’re camping off-grid or at a full-hookup site.