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Topic: Best practice for water tank during non usage (Read 861 times) previous topic - next topic

Best practice for water tank during non usage

Curious on best practice for water tank when not using coach for 4-6 weeks.  Should it be left full?  Should it be drained?
My previous coach I would always drain it, so I would like to hear from those more experienced on the best method for storage for short periods.
Thanks
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #1 –
Our personal pactice is to drain the freshwater tank unless we will be using the water within a few days. I don't have any experience with leaving water in the tank for the a few weeks, and so I cannot definitively state that it's a bad idea, but it just seems better to us to have fresh water in the tank, and not take the risk of having undesirable things happen inside the tank with water sitting there.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #2 –
I keep my fresh water tank full at all times, ready to go. I do not winterize, but drain and rinse tank twice a year unless I get some distasteful when topping off in areas with poor tasting water, then replace ASAP. I keep plugged in during the winter with the basement heat on.
No RV! Have hung up the keys.
In the past: 2016 Winnebago Era, 1994 Foretravel U240, 1995 Foretravel U240 (wide body), 1999 Foretravel 320, 36 Foot, 2003 Foretravel U320 38 foot,

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #3 –
Another point of view is to keep water & fuel full in case of area disaster, so one can survive without local services. If keeping water in tank, add 1 to 2 ounces of unflavored bleach for 100 gallons of water.

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #4 –
Always leave mine full.  I try to use the tank up and replace it with fresh water on our trips.  It may sit for a month or so but have had no issues over the entire 12 plus years owning a FT.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #5 –
I Fill tank before each trip with water from our city system. I never use CG water if I can help it, this way I know what water pressure is from the onboard pump and until I use up home water I know what the quality is.  I do filter CG water when refilling the tank.
If city water is left in tank the chlorine will dissipate after a while ( how long I do not know ) and then bad things can begin to happen.
The best water in the world comes from my BIL's deep well in E CO, Cold as ice and pure as it gets.  If I could bottle it I could sell it as Coca Cola and others do and make a fortune.
Gary B

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #6 –
Like others here, we only fill the tank with city water, never CG.  We've never sanitized the system and have never had a problem.  We only drink from the purified water spigot, of course.  The tank is usually filled, but is definitely filled before storage of up to a month.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #7 –
We keep our tank filled almost all the time. Sometimes it remains full for a few weeks. We fill with well water at home and often fill at campgrounds. We almost always fill through a 5 micron filter, a 1 micron filter, a charcoal filter, and a reverse osmosis filter. If we don't have time to fill through the RO filter, we fill through the other filters.

I have sanitized maybe three times in three years. It's easy to sanitize, but it has always taken more time than I expect to get past the taste of chlorine in the water.

Because of the thorough filtration of water going into the fresh water tank, I bypassed the filter under the sink.

We do not winterize other than keeping heat in the coach appropriate for the ambient temperature.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #8 –
To remove the chlorine taste, add 3 Tbsp of sodium bicarbonate to the fresh water tank.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #9 –
The chlorine in a vented tank should dissipate within 24 hours.Gam
joseph gambaro
1999 U295 36'

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #10 –
I always store my coach with a full water and fuel tank: 1) to be ready to go and 2) just in case of a disaster, like another member mentioned.  My coach will set for a couple of months at a time....never have sanitized tank....no problems. Always drain tanks and lines and winterized after Thanksgiving....one time I forgot and had a busted line but luckily it was acessible....learned my lesson!

Also I keep some "spare cash" in one dollar bills hidden just in case of an emergency. Better have low denomination bills....if you don't, in emergency situations, no one will have change......prices tend to go up fast! Keep a small amount of food/water also that I rotate from time to time. Its the Eagle Scout in me....."Be Prepared" is the BSA motto! I certainly do not have a doomsday attitude just being prepared as things do have a tendency to happen. 
Steve Mudd
Commander, The Crystal Ship
CEO, Retirement Clearinghouse International
1993 Grand Villa U300 40', Detroit 6V92 Turbo
1997 Jeep Wrangler Sport
2008 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic
2000 Harley-Davidson Wide Glide
swmudd@aol.com

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #11 –
I try and keep fresh water tank full, or almost, while in storage. I want to be able to use right away.
Before I leave on a trip, I drain all water and refill from home (city water) so water is fresher. When refilling from home I use sediment filter, but not the charcoal filter.
Eric
Eric & Nancy
1999 36 Ft. U320 WTFE
2016 GMC Terrain

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #12 –
What IS full?

The height of the bay?

I have a transparent vertical tube that shows me the height of the fresh water. Since I vowed to never have it overflow again I watch it while it fills. While camped I'd like to fill it as few times as possible.

So how high can I fill it without overflowing?

best, paul

Quote
I try and keep fresh water tank full, or almost, while in storage.
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #13 –
Consider relocating fresh water tank overflow if it now runs over bulkhead. As even a less than full tank can slosh out overflow on turns when driving.

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #14 –
Thank you all for weighing in.  Always get good advice on this forum.  Seems leaving the tank full shouldn't be a problem.  Also, leaving the fuel full in case of a disaster seems to be sound advice.
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.

Re: Best practice for water tank during non usage

Reply #15 –
Quote from: Green99 –
Also, leaving the fuel full in case of a disaster seems to be sound advice.
Storing with a full fuel tank is considered good practice to minimize accumulation of moisture in the fuel tank. One caveat would be to consider the blend of the fuel if you expect to travel in temperatures below 20F.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX