You may have to deal with a slight dilemma when camping: the campground’s toilets are messy. You may think this is a problem you can’t solve, but it is possible.
It won’t be too tough, and you’ll be able to return the bathroom to its original, clean state. This all depends on your ability to flush the toilet in the camper.
If you’re in a camper and need to use the toilet, you can do a few things.
You can flush the toilet using the holding tank or pour water into the bowl and flush. If you’re using the holding tank, remove the stopper before flushing.
Flushing can be a tricky thing, especially when it comes to RV toilets. It can cost you a lot of time if you don’t know exactly how to do it.
And believe me, the last thing you don’t want is to waste your precious time while traveling. So, if you want to learn how to flush your toilet in out Camper – and how to do this most efficiently – all you need to do is keep reading!
How Does A Camper Toilet Work?
Camper toilets are simple, straightforward, and easy to use. The toilet is usually attached to the wall of your camper, so it’s convenient to use and easy to clean. Most campers have a chemical tank that holds water (usually black or blue) and an empty holding tank.
A camper toilet works through a process called the “waterless” flush. The toilet uses a vacuum to suck the waste from the bowl and into a tank, where it is stored until you dump it outside.
When you use the toilet, it will drain into the holding tank and go through a process called “composting.” In composting, bacteria break down organic matter like paper towels, leaves, and food scraps into carbon dioxide and water. The water flows out of the holding tank when you flush the toilet.
The first thing that happens when you flush your camper toilet is that the water tank drains, sending water out of the hose and into your black water tank.
Next, the vacuum pump kicks on and begins sucking air from inside your toilet bowl through a pipe connected to the vacuum pump.
This creates negative pressure inside your toilet bowl, which causes waste to be sucked into a holding tank located under or next to your toilet.
The process is similar to how a septic system works in your home. The difference with camper toilets is that they don’t have pipes connecting them directly to your home sewer line.
Instead, they connect directly to an external dump site or holding tank where waste can be pumped out with a pump or siphon system (depending on how big your camper is).
How To Flush Toilet In Camper
Flushing a toilet in a camper can be tricky, especially if you’re not used to it. Here are some steps to make this process easier:
Step 1: Find the tank valve. It will be located on the side of your toilet. It has two handles, one red and one green.
Step 2: Turn the red handle clockwise until it stops, then turn it back counterclockwise until it stops. This will release water from your tanks into your bowl.
Step 3: Turn the green handle clockwise until it stops, then turn it back counterclockwise until it stops. This will release more water into your bowl to push out any remaining waste after step 2.
Step 4: Turn both handles back to where they were before starting this process (both in a vertical position).
If you’re using a composting toilet or chemical toilet, some extra steps may be involved in how you flush your toilet, depending on which type of system you’re using.
For example, suppose you’re using a chemical toilet. In that case, you’ll need to add a tablet before flushing to safely remove waste from the bowl instead of sitting there until it breaks down naturally (which can take several days).
Some Additional Tips for Flushing a Toilet in a Camper
Flushing a toilet in a camper slightly differs from flushing a toilet at home. Here are a few tips to make sure you’re doing it correctly:
Ensure the lid is closed before flushing—this will prevent the water from splashing back onto you and your clothing.
Remember that you’re flushing with water here, not with air like at home, so don’t worry about standing up too fast or anything like that! You’ll be fine.
If you need more water after flushing (like if it’s not enough to fully clear the bowl), add more from an outdoor faucet by filling up a bucket or jug and pouring it down into the bowl slowly until the bowl is clear again. You can read our guide how to flush toilet if water is off to counter such kind of situation
Use a thin piece of paper and wipe down the entire rim of the bowl. This will remove any debris clinging to the bowl’s sides or clogging up the drain, which will help prevent clogs and slow flushes.
Make sure your tank is empty before starting to flush—don’t try to fill it halfway with water before flushing! This will create unnecessary splashing and wastewater without helping clean anything out of your tank.
To flush the toilet, push down on the handle or lift the lever. This will open up the valve, allow water to flow into the bowl, and flush waste away.
Precautions While Flushing Toilet In Camper
You can enjoy using the RV toilet without any hassles whatsoever, provided that you follow some simple rules so there will be no chance of clogging problems during flushing time.
Make Sure You Have Enough Water In The Tank
Before you flush, make sure your water tank is full. To be safe, check the water level in the tank before each use.
If you’re on a water supply, you may need to refill the tank if it runs low over time. If off-grid and not connected to a city or reservoir system, carry jugs of drinking water with you and store it in your camper when not in use.
Read our blog how much water to flush a toilet to get better idea of water quantity while flushing.
Never Ever Flush Feminine Hygiene Products
Feminine hygiene products can clog the toilet and damage the septic system. If you do not want to flush them, they should be disposed of in a separate bin or bucket used only for this purpose.
Feminine hygiene products can also cause environmental damage if flushed down the toilet and released into nature.
They will eventually end up in our water systems and severely threaten wildlife and humans who consume contaminated water.
Do Not Use Flushing Chemicals Or Cleaners In The Toilet
You should not use flushing chemicals or cleaners in the toilet. These can damage your camper’s septic system, resulting in serious health risks for you and your family.
Do not flush feminine hygiene products down the toilet; these must be disposed of separately to avoid clogging the pipes.
Do not flush wet wipes down the toilet unless specifically labeled as safe for sewer disposal (this is uncommon).
Do not flush toilet paper covered with grease or stickers that may cause blockages in plumbing systems if allowed to pass through them—check if there are any stickers on the packaging before purchasing new rolls of tissue paper.
Also, avoid flushing newspapers, glossy magazines, and other types of printed materials that might cause problems with plumbing systems due to their size or weight.
Finally, do not put lotion-coated sheets into toilets—they could clog drains easily due to their slippery nature!
Use The Right Size And Type Of Toilet Paper
The first step to flushing a toilet in your camper is to use the right size and type of toilet paper.
Ensure you’re not using multi-ply toilet paper, as this can clog your tank. The same goes for napkins, tissues or paper plates—all these are unsuitable for toilets.
The second step is to ensure enough water is inside the bowl before you flush it out. If there isn’t enough water in the bowl, it won’t flush properly and will clog up your tank instead of cleaning it out!
Never Flush Wet Wipes Down The Toilet
Wet wipes are not toilet paper. They can clog your plumbing, make an expensive repair for you, and endanger the environment. These products are not biodegradable, so they will never break down in landfills or oceans.
But instead will harm marine life by releasing harmful chemicals into the water system when they start to decompose (which isn’t happening anytime soon). Wet wipes are also not septic safe or sewer safe.
Be Aware Of Excessive Clogging Of Your RV Toilet
If you notice that the water level in your RV toilet bowl is higher than usual, this could indicate clogging. This may happen if foreign objects such as hair and soap residue are in the tank or bowl.
You should also check for any toilet paper that could be stuck to the bottom of the RV toilet bowl.
Keep A Constant Check On Water Tanks And Level
You should keep a constant check on water tanks and levels. Ensure that the tank is filled with adequate water before leaving home.
If you are in a hurry, you may forget to fill your tank. And when you realize it later, there is nothing much to be done but wait for the next opportunity, which may never come up at all.
Before camping or traveling with your camper, you must check if there are enough facilities available so as not to waste any time searching for them once outside where there may not be any fresh water source nearby.
You need to know whether there is enough supply available at campsites where you want to stay overnight or during long trips.
This could help plan what needs doing first thing tomorrow morning before heading out into unfamiliar territory again – making sure everything’s ready for departure later on today.
For better understanding read our blog: how should the inside of a toilet tank look
Conclusion
In conclusion, knowing how to flush toilet in camper is essential. By following these simple steps, you can solve any toilet-related problem.
Remember to use the proper disposal methods for used chemicals and toilet paper, and stay safe while using your camper’s facilities.
Let us know if you have any other questions about flushing toilets in your camper.