draining water tank

[nbking]

I have sanitized our water tank for the first time and now want to drain and refill it.

I went to the low point drain identified by the previous owner and turned the valve every way possible. Water will not drain.

Anybody got any ideas on what to do?

I have pictures but don't know how to post them.

[Dutch_12078]

nbking wrote:


I have pictures but don't know how to post them.

Go to this link and follow the instructions.

[down_home]

Mine drain the tanks. Have one for fresh water and one for hot water.
I'm taking bets on it being mud daubers. If It ain't I owe you an iced tea.

[MitchF150]

Yep, low point drains do not drain the tank.. Just the lines to a certain extent.

You can drain the hot water tank thru the low points.. I do that by opening them up and releasing the pressure relief valve.

It won't drain every drop, but it gets enough out to do the job.

For the fresh water tank, I have to remove a plug. I got tired of doing that, so I rigged up a simple valve..

Mitch

[K_Charles]

Like dutchmansport said, the low point drains do not drain the fresh water tank.

[DrewE]

Sometimes I gather there are caps on the low point drains underneath some RVs. It might be worth crawling under and having a gander if you can't get the water to drain.

There may be a separate tank drain from the low point drains, too, as 2oldman alluded to. I think at least on mine the low point drain is after the pump, while there's a tank drain that's before the pump.

[DutchmenSport]

If you are sanitizing, then run your on-board water pump and pump the water in the tank through all the lines and drain from your holding tanks.

But, your low point drains do not drain your fresh water tank. The low point drains are designed to drain the water pipes, they won't drain the fresh water tank.

To drain the fresh water tank, you should have a valve sticking out of the tank under the camper with a valve on it. It drains the tank, not the water lines. Look for that valve under the camper wherever the water tank is located.

But if you want the entire system truly sanitized, then pump all that water through your lines.

[jfkmk]

As Yeti suggested, try turning the valve a quarter turn then lifting it. Mine will turn all day long, but if I don't lift it, it won't drain.

[2oldman]

Also turn on the pump. If all else fails you can drain it via the gray tank.

[RAS43]

A mud dabber may have filled in the drain hole in the valve if it is the correct valve. It happens to me 1-2 times a year. Clean it out and try again .

[Yeti_plus]

Did you try pulling the low point drain valve up? On my Jayco that is how they work, pull them up from the floor. Only 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Brian

[Lwiddis]

You could also drain from another drain and flush twice. My low point is hard to reach so that's what I do mostly. A little bleach doesn't hurt me.

[2oldman]

That valve may not be the right one. Look for something close to the tank.

Or.. try opening any water spigot inside. It shouldn't be airtight, but might be worth a try.