Dumping coffee grounds down sink into grey tank?

[johnschnee]

A little help, please: anyone think of any reason why dumping a SMALL amount of old coffee grounds (such as remains in a refillable, single-cup "Keurig-type" coffee maker) - amounting to maybe 2 TSP per use, down one's sink & thence into my grey tank, would be inadvisable? Any possible danger of "fouling" some sensors or any other possible damage/harm to my plumbing? THANKS in advance!

[Kirk W]

In my view it would depend upon how often you do so and how much water is used to wash the grounds down? It you mean one time for a dump of the tank and washed down with a half sink or so of water, then I see no problem. But as a regular practice with only a small amount of water, I would not do so. I don't see how we can say with certainty that it will or will not cause problems, but it does seem it would increase the likelihood of problems.

[GR "Scott" Cundiff]

I think it's a good question, but I don't have an answer. I use Kruig reusable pods and I bump them on the edge of the trash can to get the grounds out. I generally just reuse them without cleaning them. Once in a while I go outside and shoot water from the hose through them to give them a good cleaning. I've been hesitant to just run the left over grounds down the drain.

[LindaH]

A little help, please: anyone think of any reason why dumping a SMALL amount of old coffee grounds (such as remains in a refillable, single-cup "Keurig-type" coffee maker) - amounting to maybe 2 TSP per use, down one's sink & thence into my grey tank, would be inadvisable?

 

If you're talking about dumping the contents of the refillable Keurig cup down the drain, personally, I wouldn't (YMMV). If, however, you're talking about the small amount left in the cup after dumping the grounds out in the trash (like GR "Scott" Cundiff described), then I don't think that would be a problem.

[StarDreamers.us]

The grounds could stop up the drain. May not be something to do.

 

Safe Travels!

[Newt]

Grey kitchen tanks are problematic at best. No reason to aggravate the problem.

 

Newt

[Devilishjim]

I'm wondering if grounds would wash into the crack that the drain valve slides in ?

[horizon36]

I'm wondering if grounds would wash into the crack that the drain valve slides in ?

 

My thoughts exactly!

[bigjim]

I sometimes use the screen cone filter for 1 cup (6-12oz) coffer maker and I bang it out pretty good into the old coffee can then rinse it. I try real hard to keep the grounds to a minimum but have never had an issue. I am a lone rv'r with about a 40 gal. grey tank if that is useful to know I have been in the same TT since Nov.99. Maybe it could be an issue on a different rig but who knows. I think it should be kept to a bare minimum to say the least. I don't think my black and grey sensors ever worked properly. I just adapted.

[Dennis M]

We try diligently to avoid washing ANY solids, no matter how fine, into the kitchen gray tank. Np point asking for problems.

[2gypsies]

^{We've never dumped any kind of garbage or grease down the drain. We wiped dishes and pots with a used paper towel or napkin before washing dishes. If you're one who leaves the grey valve open at full hookups, check the hose occasionally and you'll see grease and what's stuck to it. The same thing must be in the bottom of the grey tank. We just never thought it was a good ideal. Grey tanks can smell worse than black tanks.}

[skp51443]

We had more issues with grease than grounds but we could see both building up in our tank. We drink a lot of coffee and love greasy foods so that wasn't unexpected.

 

What we found to work was suggested to us by a friend living in an RV that he never moved. He suggested boiling a big pan of water and while it was boiling put the water heater on gas and electric so it got as hot as possible too. Close the gray valve and dump a quarter cup of dish soap into the drain. Once the water starts to boil run the whole water heater tank of water into the gray tank (if you have two drains use the one furthest from the P trap) and let it sit for a couple minutes. Open the valve and let the tank drain. If you have a clear elbow you can spy on what is coming out. Once it is empty close the valve, add more soap and the boiling water. Let it sit for a while, you still want it good and hot so longer in the summer and less in the winter. Dump again and you'll get a lot of melted grease out.

 

If you do this regularly you'll keep a lot of the crud down in your tank and drain lines. You can also do tyhe soap and boiling water just before a trip, warm weather is best and dump ASAP or even along the way if it is a long day.

[kathydavidb]

Coffee grounds down the drain was an old household remedy to clean stubborn drains in a residence. However, your house does not have a gray tank. I would not want any solids to build in the gray tank, so I avoid them. Like Stan said, we just use dish soap & hot water trying to avoid letting any solids go down the drains to the tank. Sometimes when pulling the dump valves I can feel some grit when the valve slides in & out. I wouldn't want to add more grit to the system. Dave.

[bigjim]

I subscribe to what the others have said but I don't always practice what I preach. I am pretty careful though.

[Dog Folks]

Kinda like poking a buffalo with a stick. It may be no trouble but it may................

[johnschnee]

Thank Y'all VERY much for all the help/suggestions you've offered here - I'll take it all under advisement & will definitely work to REDUCE the amount of coffee grounds I send down my sink! THANKS!!!

[Big Z]

Unless you have a grey tank flush, (like the black tank) IMHO...The Less solids that go down the better!

[skp51443]

A black tank flush works good on poop and paper but a gray tank flush is facing grease so cold water will do little good, even with soap added. Gotta get that congealed goo good and hot to get it to come out.

[Refuzn-To-Grow-Up]

Here is what we do. All dishes, pots, pans and eating utensils are wiped clean with paper towels, to remove grease and food residue. Then they are washed. So, our policy is that absolutley no foodstuff goes down the drain to the grey water tank.

[trailertraveler]

...I'll take it all under advisement & will definitely work to REDUCE the amount of coffee grounds I send down my sink!...

While we also wipe all the dishes and pans before washing. We use wire mesh strainers on all the drains. They will catch most of the coffee grounds from the brands we use in our perculator. They really stop hair from going down the shower drain. If you want the sink to hold water, you can use a flat stopper over the strainer. They are sold at Walmart, Lowes and lots of other stores. We have gotten some of the best deals on them at Flea Markets. A packet like the one shown in the link for $2.

[rv-voyager]

Here is what we do. All dishes, pots, pans and eating utensils are wiped clean with paper towels, to remove grease and food residue. Then they are washed. So, our policy is that absolutley no foodstuff goes down the drain to the grey water tank.

Good way to keep the grey water drain problems under control. In addition we use sink strainers. Grease is not an issue because we cook with very little oil. When traveling and the grey water valve is closed, we add Rid-X to keep the odors under control. Take care of your grey water system; it not a dump. Put your coffee and tea grounds in the trash!

[Phaeton10]

 

My thoughts exactly!

+3, might cause your dump valve to leak if the grounds get in the track.

[Chip D]

I had asked this question last year on another forum as I make coffee using a French press. The overwhelming reply was "don't do it" even though this goes into your grey water tank and then out - maybe. But two things that I hadn't thought of were:

 

1. I have a Macerator pump. Never have used the 3" drain. The Macerator may have some areas that the grounds will get into and won't get out.

2. The grey water tank may eventually get dumped, but you have that darned valve with the already sticky O ring on it, and grounds will just be something else to make it stick. Don't want that.

 

So what I do is I bought coffee filters, and a plastic coffee filter holder, and when I'm done with my coffee, I just dump them into the filter with the holder and dump that in the trash - or throw it out the window at 70mph. Just Kidding of course.

 

Chip