Most modern caravans come with a grey water tank pre-installed. However, some caravan owners want to replace or install a new grey water tank in their caravans. So how do you do it?
In this article, we will discuss how to install a grey water tank to a caravan step-by-step. Our goal is to equip you with the necessary knowledge so that you will be able to do it yourself.
Important Note: The guide below is general in nature and can’t account for every possible combination of grey water tank and caravan. If in any doubt about the installation process, seek advice from a licensed plumber.
5 Steps To Installing a Grey Water Tank
There are many ways to install a grey water tank and there are also different shapes and sizes of grey water tanks.
For this step-by-step guide, we will be using a water tank with flanges so we can mount it to a steel bar. Here’s a link to a helpful video describing the process we will use.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7UMhDp7kZw&t=632s
Step 1: Planning the installation
Before you start drilling holes in your caravan, you have to plan where the pipes are going to go.
Since grey water tanks primarily hold the shower and sink wastewater, you should put the water tank near those two fixtures and plan where the pipes are gonna go from there.
During this stage, you will also plan the type and size of the water holding tank you’ll use and how you’re going to install it.
Do you want to bolt it underneath the floor? Or are you going to mount the holding tank from the inside of the caravan by drilling a huge hole in the floor?
The method you choose will depend on the design and build of your caravan.
Step 2: Drill the holes
Once you have finished planning, it’s time to drill the holes where the wastewater will drain to.
A grey water tank usually has at least 3 holes. One for the vent, the shower drain, and the sink drain.
Mark the grey water tank with the necessary holes. The size of the holes will depend on the size of your rubber grommet and pipes. Make sure that the hole you’re going to make matches exactly the size of the grommet to give it a good, tight seal.
Then drill the holes where the pipes will go in the floor of your caravan. The holes should be bigger than the holes of the grey water tank to allow the pipes to attach to the grommet properly.
Step 3: Insert the grommets
Insert the rubber grommets into the holes of the holding tank. Make sure that the edge of the holes is in between the groove of the rubber grommets which acts as the seal.
Alternatively, you can use glue-in type grommets which you can simply glue into the holes using polymer glue.
Step 4: Install the grey water tank under the caravan
Now that you’ve created the necessary holes for the pipes, it’s time to install the grey water tank under the caravan.
As mentioned, there are several ways of doing this, but in this article, we’ll talk about the route that most people with a finished caravan go through which is fastening the holding tank from underneath.
Bolt an angle bar into the frame of your caravan. The angle will act as a mount for the flanges of the holding tank. If your tank fits right in between the frame, then you can simply slide it right in.
Make sure the grey water tank is secure by adding some necessary steel blockings or bolts.
If you’re using a different grey water tank that does not have flanges, use the installation method recommended by the manufacturer.
Step 5: Connect the pipes to the fixtures
Lastly, connect the pipes to the fixtures so that the water from the drain goes straight into the grey water tank.
Seal the pipes using a sealant to prevent leakage.
Final Thoughts
Installing a grey holding tank to a caravan is a simple process but requires some planning and DIY skills.
It may seem daunting, but a grey water tank is an important part of your caravan's water system. It will collect the wastewater from your washing machine, shower and the like, separate from your toilet waste.
Obviously, there are different builds and designs of caravans as well as grey water tanks so it does not make sense to give a general prescription for every caravan owner.
You are much better off speaking to a plumber who can give you advice for your caravan and tank combination.
The guide above is designed to help give you an understanding of the basic steps involved.
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Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.
