New RVer asks: How do you flush this thing?

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Using Your RV : Tips & tricks

New RVer asks: How do you flush this thing?
Russ and Tina DeMaris

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Ever since Sir John Harrington invented the flushing toilet (apologies to Thomas Crapper--he only improved it), dwellers of sticks-and-bricks homes have blessed the name of "The John." It's really almost miraculous, step back, crack the handle, and make--well--some unmentionable stuff--vanish!

But enter the biffy in the RV and it's a whole new ball game. RV toilets to first-time RV visitors and new RVers can be a bit mysterious. Just how do you go about flushing the terlit?

The typical RV toilet has a two-stage flushing mechanism. Step on the foot pedal (or move the flush lever) about half-way, and water begins to fill the bowl. Step all the way, or push the lever the full length, and viola! A shutter valve in the bottom of the bowl opens, and the bowl's contents vanish!

Because RV wastes are not immediately sent to the sewer, but rather, must be kept for a time on-board in a holding tank, it's necessary fro small quantities of water to be used in waste disposal. Older home toilets can use up to six gallons at the crack of the handle, while newer "low flow" thrones use but a gallon and a half. But even the greatest of the water-saver home toilets would quickly fill up the average RV holding tank--give it 30 flushes and your tank would runneth over.

RV toilets, on the other hand, use extremely small quantities of water to flush. But using too little an amount of water can cause problems: Tanks that don't empty properly (that can lead to clogs) and odor problems. Our recommended flush procedure is this:

When flushing, hold the pedal or lever in the "fill bowl" position until about a quarter to a third of the bowl is filled with water. Then move to the "evacuation" stage and get off the pedal. You will fill up the holding tank a bit faster this way, but we find the benefits of reduced odors and the reduced chances of tank clogs are a real blessing.

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