So I started sanitizing the fresh water tank yesterday, and I added the bleach through the gravity fill port (and that didn't work very well - but thats another topic) and when I started filling the tank with water, as it got full, little pieces and parts of BUGS started coming out of the burp hole! Yes, I ALWAYS screw the cap onto the gravity fill hole when not in use, and yes, I ALWAYS close the locking port door.I also turned the kitchen faucet on to run the bleach water through the lines, and it was only a stream. So I took the aerator off and guess what - bug parts were clogging the aerator. How are bugs getting into my fresh water tank???

Possibly through the overflow tube. There should be some type of screen on the end of the tube to prevent any type of critters from entering the fresh water tank.

That's OK. After the bleach treatment the bug parts will be sterile and may even add a little protein to your diet. Of course the bug parts that you ate on your last trip have already passed so don't worry about them. Up by your gravity fill you will see a vent and it will have a screen over it. When you look at the screen you will see that it will keep out large bugs, but not small ants, etc. The FDA allows a certain amount of bug and rodent parts in the food that you eat so this is just the circle of life.

If you have a hole house filter fill with bleach. If not get one and set it up to connect to your hose and what every fitting to connect to RV. As other stated, plus if you left the hose open then there is another source.

I added a whole house filter to my motor home and once when changing the filter cartridge found bug parts caught by the filter. After that I always let the water run from my hoses before I hook it up. That clears my hose and the RV park hose bib.No issues since.As stated above removing the cartridge and adding the bleach makes it easy to get bleach into the tank.

As already suggested, get a whole house filter that attaches to the faucet and let the water run before you connect the hose to the MH input. I had a similar thing happen to me, the crud was in the hose I was using.

Eeeewwwww! Bugs in the fresh water tank! | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

charles
Explorer
Jun 28, 2014
Think back where you were the last few time you filled up your tank. If it wasn't at home, good chance you got some infested well water In your tank. I once camped at a state park in Pennsylvania that had some kind of larvae in the water system, there were so many the shower heads were clogged. We never, ever drink water from our holding rank.

Nick

Nick
IAMICHABOD
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2014
beckid wrote:
Then should the burp hole right next to the gravity fill have a screen over it? And the manual (that I finally got around to reading) says there is a plug for that hole, but I've never seen one...

I found that using the end from a BIC pen works well.

Plus it has a handy handle to remove it.
WayneLee
Explorer
Jun 26, 2014
Suggestion.... When packing up your water hose, empty the hose of water and coil up your water hose, fastening the male end to the female end. That way no bugs or spiders can crawl into the hose when it's stored.
AllegroD
Nomad
Jun 25, 2014
Yes. Screen or plug or you will repeat this.
beckid
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
Then should the burp hole right next to the gravity fill have a screen over it? And the manual (that I finally got around to reading) says there is a plug for that hole, but I've never seen one...
J-Rooster
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
Easy fix, drain water in your tank, then refill with a cup of bleach, let it sit for a while then drain the tank again bugs will leave system with this draining.
teddychamp
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
I agree, Fresh water tank does not have a vent at the roof.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Jun 25, 2014
2010Liberty wrote:
NOW you may still be thinking where they go tin. MY guess is the vent pipe out the roof. Not sure what to tell you for the solution. maybe the toe of a pair of panty hose pulled over the vent to seal it off from the most of them. worth a try.

Your fresh water supply tank does not have a vent out the roof. Only your waste lines vent out the exterior roof.
2010Liberty
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
NOW you may still be thinking where they go tin. MY guess is the vent pipe out the roof. Not sure what to tell you for the solution. maybe the toe of a pair of panty hose pulled over the vent to seal it off from the most of them. worth a try.
Greyghost
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
As already suggested, get a whole house filter that attaches to the faucet and let the water run before you connect the hose to the MH input. I had a similar thing happen to me, the crud was in the hose I was using.