Another newbie question: Im in the process of sanitizing my tanks and lines. I let the bleach sit in the tank for the recommended time, now I'm trying to drain the tanks.I have two lines under the 5th wheel--a red and blue one toward the center and a blue one toward the back, closer to the tank. When I open them, even with a full fresh tank, they drain very slowly. The rear one just trickles.I've turned on the pump and that helps, but I don't want to burn up the pump draining the tanks. Any advice? Shouldn't the blue one toward the back be running wide open, since the tank is near it?It's a 56 gallon tank, so it will take forever to drain at this rate. Appreciate any input.

Open a cold tap somewhere with the pump turned off perhaps?

those sound like the low-point drains, you should have a separate drain valve for the fresh water tank itself. My last trailer had a large 2" knife valve just like the holding tanks drain except it was white. That drained the tank very fast.

Each manufacture is different but in general there are two low point drains normally close together and a third drain by the fresh water tank. Ours drains real slow and will take several hours.It might help is you give the name of your RV so maybe others with the same brand could give you a more exact answer.

Yes, the two colored lines are low point drains to drain the water out of all the lines in the camper. You want to find the drain for just the water tank. It is not something that is standard in campers,it can be different types and locations. First,look at all the stickers on the side of the camper. Does one say fresh water drain? If so look all around that area,most likely under the trailer for a small valve or cap. If you find nothing marked on the out side then you need to locate your fresh water tank. It can be inside sitting on the floor in a cabinet or under the dinette or sofa or hanging under the camper.Now is there a small valve on or near the tank? This is it. If there is no valve there is there a small hose going out through the floor(on inside tank model) the valve may be at the end of the hose under the trailer? Most drain painfully slow as it is just a small hose or valve. Hope this helps.

My in line pump will not allow water to gravity flow through it. I will open all the faucets in the rig to allow the low point drains to work. I will open the drain plug directly under the tank to drain the tank.

Draining My Fresh Tanks? | Good Sam Community

am1958
Explorer
Jun 20, 2014
Open a cold tap somewhere with the pump turned off perhaps?
hedge
Explorer
Jun 20, 2014
those sound like the low-point drains, you should have a separate drain valve for the fresh water tank itself. My last trailer had a large 2" knife valve just like the holding tanks drain except it was white. That drained the tank very fast.
Traveler_II
Explorer
Jun 20, 2014
Each manufacture is different but in general there are two low point drains normally close together and a third drain by the fresh water tank. Ours drains real slow and will take several hours.

It might help is you give the name of your RV so maybe others with the same brand could give you a more exact answer.
dcb17b
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2014
Yes, the two colored lines are low point drains to drain the water out of all the lines in the camper. You want to find the drain for just the water tank. It is not something that is standard in campers,it can be different types and locations. First,look at all the stickers on the side of the camper. Does one say fresh water drain? If so look all around that area,most likely under the trailer for a small valve or cap. If you find nothing marked on the out side then you need to locate your fresh water tank. It can be inside sitting on the floor in a cabinet or under the dinette or sofa or hanging under the camper.Now is there a small valve on or near the tank? This is it. If there is no valve there is there a small hose going out through the floor(on inside tank model) the valve may be at the end of the hose under the trailer? Most drain painfully slow as it is just a small hose or valve. Hope this helps.
korbe
Explorer
Jun 20, 2014
My in line pump will not allow water to gravity flow through it. I will open all the faucets in the rig to allow the low point drains to work. I will open the drain plug directly under the tank to drain the tank.
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2014
I open the tank drain that takes forever and then open the low points and turn on the pump. That really reduces the time it takes to drain the tank, then again, mine is only 30 gallon too.
tvman44
Explorer
Jun 20, 2014
My fresh water drains pretty darn slow, I usually open it and go off and do something else, you know (A watched pot never boils). The red & blue together should be your low point drains. :)
bukhrn
Explorer III
Jun 20, 2014
Your tank drain should be somewhere near your fresh water tank, your low point drains will drain faster if you just open a sink tap, either in the bathroom or kitchen. No need to run the pump.
tatest
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2014
There is almost always a fresh tank drain, usually close to the tank, sometimes right on the tank, and either ahead of the pump or independent of the pump. It is just a matter of finding it, and location is often not marked as are low point drains.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jun 20, 2014
Red & Blue towards center......low point drains for Hot (red) and Cold (blue) plumbing lines

Blue towards back.should be fresh water tank drain

Rv water pumps are diaphragm pumps and can run dry without damage so you can pump the water out via the low point drains

Fresh water tank drain trickles......vent could be plugged or drain valve could have plastic debris in it. Stick a wire up thru valve and make sure it is clear.
If you have a gravity fill port for fresh water tank..remove fill cap to vent tank