Debris in new water tank

[Stars101]

As most of us know, TC's come from the factory full of "manufacturing debris"; saw dust, metal chips, wire snippets, extra caulk boogers, etc.

Well I looked into our brand new water tank b/c we had "floaties" despite flushing/sanitizing numerous times. My 9 gallon tank has saw dust, a few metal chips and a melted plastic disc floating in it. And the "low point" drain is 1" above the bottom of the tank so it needs to be pumped out via the small fill port anyway.

I don't have room for a Brita filter or pitcher. DH is installing a 4" deck plate this weekend so I can reach in and remove the crud and also scrub the tank. Since our tank is so small (9 gallons) I can reach all of it from the deck plate port.

My previous TT probably had the same things in it but A) I never saw "floaties" in my water and B) I couldn't actually LOOK into that one.... so it didn't bother me like this is LOL. Now that I've seen it I gotta fix it. We mostly use bottled water but I also expect to be able to drink the water from my tank if I want to.

Plus, what would happen if those little curly metal chips went through the pump? Or into my water heater? Better just clean it up now.

Geesh - how difficult is it to make sure and keep the plug in the tank during installation? Or just being slightly careful knowing that this is someone's drinking water? Probably asking too much....

[Reddog1]

This photo is my "4" deck plate". It is the Water tank inspection/clean out hole. My suggestion is to install a hole larger than 4" if you can.

[Stars101]

I got the idea from RV.net

Netboy posted on 8/16/04 "Water Tank Inspection" in the TC forum.

Just do a search and you should find it. That said however, sometimes I can't get the RV.net search function to bring up stuff I KNOW is there. So just google it and it will pop right up. Lots of good photos and detailed explanation.

[Super_Dave]

Lovedays wrote:
What is this "4" deck plate" you speak of? If you get a chance can you post a pic after installation? I'm curious. Thank you!

Also know as an inspection port. Cut a big hole in the tank, mount a frame with a screw cap.

[Lovedays]

What is this "4" deck plate" you speak of? If you get a chance can you post a pic after installation? I'm curious. Thank you!

[Reddog1]

Super_Dave - No taste from my tank. Could be cause it is 26-years old. 😄

MN Ben - I have a filter before my pump, the kind that comes on the pump. About all it does is filter out what you can see. :C

Buzzcut1 - There are exceptions, but probably 95% of the time I fill my tank at home. Same water I drink at home (over 24 years). The crude I am referring to is from the TC filler to the tank. Too late for a hose filter.:(

Years past, I researched installing a filter system in my TC. To be effective, it would have to filter the water after the water pump. After much research, I concluded there is more hype than filtering. 😞 About all you could really do, is filter out smaller particles. I found no filtering system practical for filtering out stuff that makes you sick or kills you. Not saying there is none, but saying I could not find it. :h

Very difficult installing a filtration plant in a TC, and it would be a huge cost. Finally concluded get the chunks at the water pump filter, and use your teeth to strain before you swallow. Brush your teeth to remove the small particles. :B

[Buzzcut1]

i run a filter at the end of my fill hose. it gets clogged within a few months but it keeps the crud out of the tank.

[MN_Ben]

You should have a filter just prior to your 12v water pump.

[Super_Dave]

FW tank = doing dishes. Even if I was 100% sure about no contaminants, I just can't stand the taste.

[Stars101]

Reddog1 wrote:

BuckBarker wrote:
Boogers?

No, not from the nose, but from the hose. Actually, if you sip the water through your teeth using them as a filter, you can prevent drinking most of it.

LOL - we just call the excess sloppy caulk "boogers" 🙂

[Reddog1]

BuckBarker wrote:
Boogers?

No, not from the nose, but from the hose. Actually, if you sip the water through your teeth using them as a filter, you can prevent drinking most of it.

[BuckBarker]

Boogers?

[Reddog1]

You might be surprised as to how much garbage you get from the filler, when filling the tank. On my filler, I have about 3-foot of hose from the tank to the outside of my TC. Supposedly it is clear plastic, but in reality it was black inside. I replaced the hose, and in one year, it was almost black again. I have added the Deck plate, and can see flakes of stuff coming out of the filler hose into the tank. I understand the growth to be algae or some kind of mold. Nothing growing in the tank, just the hose. As I recall, the same stuff is also in the tank vent hose. I have found nothing to prevent this growth.

I do drink the water from my tank, and have since 2005. Not dead yet, so must be okay. I have never seen any of the flakes in the water after filling a glass.