How long does water stay "fresh" in a fresh water tank? Like many of my questions I know that there is no black and white, for an answer - just looking for opinions.With that, how often does everyone drain their fresh water tank and what is the best way to sanitize the tank?Thoughts?Thanks again gang. This forum is excellent in that it has so much accumulated and acquired knowledge.

I sanitize my tank in the spring, before my first trip. I use chlorine and water. I drain the tank and refill it as many times as it takes to get rid of the chlorine smell. During the season I keep the tank about a quarter full.I drain the tank after the last trip when I winterize the RV.I drink water from the tank and have never had a problem.

it depends on the amount of water in the tank... the more there .. the longer it is safe..but I do not leave water in tank for than 5 days... and when I dump the clean water.. I jack the trailer so ALL the water is drained out..and before adding water to tank.. open drain valve and let 10 gallons or so.. flush out anything remaining from last time.keeping the clean water tank CLEAN is key... but I do not drink this water.. cooking/cleaning/showers.

It makes a difference if you chlorinated city water or well water.

tenbear wrote:I sanitize my tank in the spring, before my first trip. I use chlorine and water. I drain the tank and refill it as many times as it takes to get rid of the chlorine smell. During the season I keep the tank about a quarter full.I drain the tank after the last trip when I winterize the RV.Same here, occasionally for convenience I'll even fill the FW tank completely before leaving home. We camp frequently enough (every few weeks) that there's no need to drain the system at all during the season and there's certainly no way I'd drain the system after just 5 days, let alone jack the trailer up to drain the FW tank completely ... good grief! :hI drink water from the tank and have never had a problem.Here's where we differ, as any water we ingest we bring from home ... others may disagree but we prefer it and we've found our dog is less likely to upchuck. :E

We never drink the water from the fresh water tank either. It's strictly used for washing dishes, showers and flushing the toilet. We bring bottled water for drinking and coffee.

Fresh water tank | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

gbopp
Explorer
Aug 22, 2015
It makes a difference if you chlorinated city water or well water.
Chuck_thehammer
Explorer
Aug 22, 2015
it depends on the amount of water in the tank...
the more there .. the longer it is safe..

but I do not leave water in tank for than 5 days...
and when I dump the clean water.. I jack the trailer so ALL the water is drained out..

and before adding water to tank.. open drain valve and let 10 gallons or so.. flush out anything remaining from last time.

keeping the clean water tank CLEAN is key... but I do not drink this water.. cooking/cleaning/showers.
tenbear
Explorer
Aug 22, 2015
I sanitize my tank in the spring, before my first trip. I use chlorine and water. I drain the tank and refill it as many times as it takes to get rid of the chlorine smell. During the season I keep the tank about a quarter full.

I drain the tank after the last trip when I winterize the RV.

I drink water from the tank and have never had a problem.

Forum Discussion

Fresh water tank

13 Replies

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

Fresh water tank

Water tank won't fill

Leaking fresh water tank

External Water Fresh water Tank

Fresh Water Tank Location