Cleaning/Filling Fresh Water Tank

[Cocky_Camper]

If you have been watching the news, hurricane Matthew is along the east coast. We live in SC. We are about 150 miles from the coast, BUT, with the way the track keeps moving back and forth, we want to be prepared.... just incase.

We bought our TT used, and have never used our fresh water tank. My questions:

How to I clean/sanitize the tank?
Is it okay to fill the tank with a non white (regular garden hose) garden hose? I really don't want to have to hook up and move the TT just to fill the tank with a white hose. I have noticed that non-white hose creates a fizzy bubble looking substance when filling thing with them.

Thanks in advance!

[BeatCJ]

DutchmenSport wrote:

Except for one thing .... the OP's camper had a previous owner. The OP has not used the fresh tank himself. Who knows what in the tank, what the previous owner did, or how it was maintained. Under these conditions, I think it is best to attempt to clean it out first.

I agree. I have purchased 5 used campers. Sanitized the tank with the 1/2 a cup of bleach in a tankful, run all outlets until the water smells like bleach, let is soak, then flush method. Haven't had anyone sick in about 30 years.

I use a white hose, because in my mind, the water tastes better. We don't stop our grandkids from drinking from a hose, if they believe, we let their parents make that choice. It's probably best to avoid it, but nobody gets out alive. I'm sure a regular garden hose does emit chemicals, PVCs, lead, other toxins. I think letting it run to flush out what has been sitting is an excellent idea, but I wouldn't hesitate to use it in your situation.

Good luck, and keep your head down. I would be doing the same thing in your situation. I have friends that stayed put in Hugo, they were a couple of days without power. No big deal, I lose power every year, sometimes for just a few hours, have survived 11 days without power at my house. With a wood stove and camp lanterns, I can survive pretty much indefinitely. The trailer is for those who aren't prepared.

[rbpru]

I sanitize about once a year if the TT has been sitting for several months. Usually I do not worry about it, a simple drain and refill is my typical method.

When I do sanitize, I use the bleach method suggested previously.

I have a white hose for fresh campground water, so it does not get used for lawn work. I fill my tank we the green garden hose.

Like many I have been drinking out of it for decades. We have well water, so I doubt there is much in the hose that the rust won't scrub out.

I hope the storm does not give you any problems.

[mike-s]

Lynnmor wrote:
Did you ever look at those screened vents, next to the water fill cap, on most RV"s? What do you suppose goes in there when it rains or when washing the RV? You do know that it is a direct connection to the water tank?

If it's installed properly (in an RV, ha!), there will be an "air loop" where the hose goes higher than the vent opening before it goes down to the tank.

[Lynnmor]

Did you ever look at those screened vents, next to the water fill cap, on most RV"s? What do you suppose goes in there when it rains or when washing the RV? You do know that it is a direct connection to the water tank?

[Cocky_Camper]

hohenwald48 wrote:
If all this "sanitizing" is necessary it's a wonder any of us "old folks" are still around. In 20 years of owning RVs I've never once sanitized a water tank. Guess I've just been lucky. I suspect you are more likely to get sick from bleach ingestion than from anything in the tank. People worry about the darndest things these days. 🙂

As mentioned, I purchased the camper used... I have never used the tank, and I'm not sure if the previous owner ever used it either, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[DutchmenSport]

hohenwald48 wrote:
If all this "sanitizing" is necessary it's a wonder any of us "old folks" are still around. In 20 years of owning RVs I've never once sanitized a water tank. Guess I've just been lucky. I suspect you are more likely to get sick from bleach ingestion than from anything in the tank. People worry about the darndest things these days. 🙂

Except for one thing .... the OP's camper had a previous owner. The OP has not used the fresh tank himself. Who knows what in the tank, what the previous owner did, or how it was maintained. Under these conditions, I think it is best to attempt to clean it out first.

If it were brand new and I was the original owner, yea.... I would not worry about sanitizing because I know the camper's history. Actually, I've sanitized only few times in 20 years of RV ownership, three times I remember specifically. Each time (3 of them) was the day I brought home each of my brand-new, fresh from the factory, TT's. I sanitized the tank to clean out the construction gunk, oils and dirt from manufacturing, and basically, never did it again.

I have also found, if you have water from a city municipality, the water is already chlorinated. If you keep your city water in the tank and lines, it's already sanitized.

When we lived in town and had city water, I never sanitized, except that first time. Living in the county now, and on a well, (8 years now same house), I've never sanatized, except the day my Outback arrived 3 years ago.

But to get back to the question at hand. Yes, I think the OP should sanatize, not knowing the history of the water tank.

[mike-s]

hohenwald48 wrote:
If all this "sanitizing" is necessary it's a wonder any of us "old folks" are still around. In 20 years of owning RVs I've never once sanitized a water tank. Guess I've just been lucky. I suspect you are more likely to get sick from bleach ingestion than from anything in the tank. People worry about the darndest things these days. 🙂

What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

The OP hasn't used the tank, forever. A mild sanitizing/flush is appropriate, if for nothing else but taste and peace of mind.

[Jframpey]

Hey Cocky, I live just up the road in Weddington, NC. I'm actually camping on the shores of Lake Keowee until Friday am when we'll return home. I lived thru hurricane Hugo., which devastated our area. When I get home I'll refill the freshwater tank and park the trailer in an open area away from trees that could fall on it. I already have a supply of fuel for the generator.

Most importantly make sure you have sharp chains and supplies for the chainsaw! And remember, if it's bad enough you can pack up and drive out of the effected area after it's over.

[hohenwald48]

If all this "sanitizing" is necessary it's a wonder any of us "old folks" are still around. In 20 years of owning RVs I've never once sanitized a water tank. Guess I've just been lucky. I suspect you are more likely to get sick from bleach ingestion than from anything in the tank. People worry about the darndest things these days. 🙂

[ken56]

As I hear it, the only issue about drinking from a garden hose is if the water sits in it for an amount of time, especially if the hose sits in the sun, then the chemicals from the hose leach into the water, thus the funny taste. I would think that running the water for a few minutes will rid the chemicals from the fresh water coming behind the stale water. Have at it. Also, more chlorine is not better so stick with the 1/4 cup per 15 gallons of water ratio.

[AJR]

One thing not mentioned (I think) is use an inline filter while filling. I suspect you do have some kind of filter.

I run two or three minutes’ worth of water through any hose I use for filling the tank. Then I add the filter and fill till full. I always keep the tank full during the summer. I drain & refill and refill once or twice if it has been real hot for a while and the camper has not been used.

I have a forty gallon tank. In the spring I put maybe two cups of bleach in it and fill as described above. Pump out the pink stuff (with valves still in winterize position) with that water and let it all set over night. Drain & refill twice with fresh water the next day. Pumping the new water through all the lines. By the third fill the bleach smell is all but gone (think city water smell).

I think in your case you should not have to pump the various stages above through your lines. Just do the sanitizing and refilling of the tank.

I use my tank water for everything. Never been sick from hose water. Now one time my dog would not drink campground water. So I waited to the next stop to refill.

Hope this all for nothing. Stay safe.

[Cocky_Camper]

To answer some questions, yes, I drink from a "hose pipe" all of the time. I don't know why, but I have always heard that it was a BIG NO for a TT.

As far as sanitizing the tank, well, we have never used it, and I'm not sure about the previous owners. So I'd rather be safe than sorry. My thinking is to fill the tank up for drinking, and I will fill some old coolers up to flush the toilet just in case.

Some posted about leaving now... As mentioned, we are about 150 miles inland. As of now, we are supposed to get get some rain, but that it about it. We don't plan to leave, but we just want a plan B for if the power was to go out. (We have the battery's charged, the generator is full, and back up gas cans). It is not "expected" to even make landfall, but of course the outer bands will be over land.

[Old-Biscuit]

1/4 cup household bleach per 15 gallons for sanitizing fresh water tank
Fill tank let sit for 2 hours then drain/rinse (if doing just tank)

Garden hose.....
Haven't you ever drank from one?
Funny taste if any but safe

Fill up that fresh water tank, load up that TT with supplies (non-perishables)
Cool fridge (level rig)
Check tires/adjust pressures
Propane----battery charged

Get that TT ready to GO
Fill tow vehicle fuel tank

AND GO before you need to.
Waiting just puts you in the middle of chaos

[wanderingbob]

Any CLEAN hose should work in this situation . Put a little chlorine in the tank . You will be fine . When storing a hose most recommend screwing the to ends together to keep insects out , I do not do that as I have seen what grows in a closed, moist hose ! Leave the ends open but run the hose for a minute or so before filling to wash out any insects !