Fresh water question

[Jim Schush]

After owning our Motorhome for 5 months, we have just got got round to reading the manual in detail. One of the recommendations is that we should drain all the fresh water out of the system after every trip and then clean out the system.In 5 months we have not done this and have had no side affects, does this sound right. Sounds to much like hard work to me.

 

[Wendo55]

I only drain when there's a risk of it freezing when left. I suppose I might do it more often if it was left unused but I'm away in it every chance I get!

 

[pappajohn]

Does it also tell you how to clean out the system... The sequence of cleaning and with what ?

Let me answer that...... NO!

Written by someone brought up in a sterile environment and covering their own arse.

Algea and bacteria generally need sunlight to breed... Your tank and pipes will rarely see daylight.

 

[Madcaravanner]

WE only drain when we are not using the van for a while ( even when parked up I use the van for an art studio)

When we plan on using abroad is the only time we sterilise before and after a trip

And as we never leave the van unused there's no need tank is on-board not under slung and the water heater is right next to it so it should never freeze
the waste tank is always open at home so never has water left in so as it's under-slung it doesn't get chance to freeze

 

[TinaLes]

If the van is being sat unused for a couple of weeks or longer I drain the fresh water tank, dont know why really as the tank is weather proofed between floors inside the van and .....we only drink or make Tea/Coffee with fresh water or bottled water, as I cant stand the taste of water stored in a caravan or motor home.
Les

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[gus-lopez]

In 5 months we have not done this and have had no side affects, does this sound right.

In 5 years I haven't either

 

[ymfb]

We only use the water for boiling, showers and toilet. We have never cleaned it in 2 years, so far no deaths.

 

[Stealaway]

After owning our Motorhome for 5 months, we have just got got round to reading the manual in detail.

And that's where you went wrong - that and buying a German van.

We never clean the water system - we don't even drain it except in the winter to stop any damage to the taps (freezing).
Don't worry about it youll be fine - or at least no worse than me








ps - I have a German van

 

[Makingtrax]

If you use the van regularly and keep emptying and filling up, the fresh water tank stays fairly clean. If it’s left standing for a while empty out the water and leave the taps open to air the system.

If you want to clean the water tank because you’re worried about drinking or cleaning your teeth in the water, then use vinegar or citric acid. It works well, fairly cheap on eBay and will help get rid of any limescale, particularly in the boiler. There’s plenty of YouTube clips telling you what to do.

Personally I wouldn’t use chlorine based sterilisers for health reasons, unless you are careful and rinse the tank out very well.

We don’t clean ours out every year, mainly because we use the van a lot and the water is clean. Also we tend only to drink it in tea, after it’s been boiled.

 

[tony_g]

As others have said, the tank is not exposed to sunlight which might encourage algae to grow and, in any case, the water you refill with is, presumably, potable..ie chlorinated. So why would you need to do anything? However, if you get home and leave the van 'inactive' for a significant period, you might feel more secure if you drain down, refill with tap water plus a handful of Puritabs, drain, flush through and start again. Me? I wouldn't bother.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Richard n Ann]

Algea and bacteria generally need sunlight to breed..

Sunlight contains a bit of ultraviolet rays so I disagree. Plants need sunlight. Bacteria needs moisture and warmth

 

[davidathomas42]

Also in the don't bother group.

Its filled with tap water that has the usual cleaning agents from the water factory

mainly its just used for showering. Washing Pots and brushing teeth and the van gets used at least once a month and refilled so cant see any point. You don't clean your house pipes and they have been in for over 50 years now.

 

[mfw]

My water tank felt slimy inside so i cleaned it out - i now drain it if it sits for more than a couple of weeks and leave the tank dry - but my tank has a drain plug fitted so to pull plug in tank and set boiler draining takes less than a minute tank is dry then - my tank is a black one and under seat so no sunlight problems but side of tank felt slimy.

If draining tank was time consuming id probably only do it end of year when temperatures start dropping

 

[The Wino]

I always drain after every trip as I think the chlorine in the water dissapates after a while. I have never got around to using a cleaner though.

 

[scotjimland]

Every time you fill up you are sanitising the tank and pipework with the chorine in the tap water.. more than enough to keep it clean and fresh.. however, if it's left standing for a while it can become a bit stale, so I generally drain down after each trip.. flush and refill before next trip.

in 40 + years of camping, caravanning and motorhoming , have never bought bottled water, no one has ever been ill from drinking fresh tap water stored in a water carrier, Aquaroll or storage tank ..

I don't understand the logic of this.. It's safer to drink tank water than bottled.. for both the environment and your health !!

If the water has a 'taste' it's either in your imagination or the system is contaminated and cleaning with a proprietary cleaner such as Puriclean should do the trick .

Advertising has a lot to answer for, including trashing the seas and oceans with plastic..

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[jdk62]

I always dilute our fresh water......

 

[mfw]

Have noticed when abroad that you see some people wash their toilet cassettes from the same water source that people get their drinking water supply from so if always replenishing not too bad but leave it sitting to long probably a good chance harmful bacteria would grow

 

[scotjimland]

Have noticed when abroad that you see some people wash their toilet cassettes from the same water source that people get their drinking water supply from so if always replenishing not too bad but leave it sitting to long probably a good chance harmful bacteria would grow

disgusting people..

If I suspect this, I spray the tap with a dilute bleach which I also use for washing around the top of the cassette.. .. then let the tap run to flush it before using my own hose connector..

the same reason I never use a hose that is connected to the tap..

 

[Just smiffy]

Every time you fill up you are sanitising the tank and pipework with the chorine in the tap water.. more than enough to keep it clean and fresh.. however, if it's left standing for a while it can become a bit stale, so I generally drain down after each trip.. flush and refill before next trip.

in 40 + years of camping, caravanning and motorhoming , have never bought bottled water, no one has ever been ill from drinking fresh tap water stored in a water carrier, Aquaroll or storage tank ..

I don't understand the logic of this.. It's safer to drink tank water than bottled.. for both the environment and your health !!

If the water has a 'taste' it's either in your imagination or the system is contaminated and cleaning with a proprietary cleaner such as Puriclean should do the trick .

Advertising has a lot to answer for, including trashing the seas and oceans with plastic..

Agree Jim... how many people drink water from plastic bottles that have been standing in a yard somewhere in full sunlight for what could be months....

But because they buy from a shop possibly out of a fridge unit they think it’s great...

 

[scotjimland]

Agree Jim... how many people drink water from plastic bottles that have been standing in a yard somewhere in full sunlight for what could be months....

But because they buy from a shop possibly out of a fridge unit they think it’s great...

indeed. also
Tests on major brands of bottled water have found that nearly all of them contained tiny particles of plastic.

Plastic has now been found it the human gut

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Tea Bag]

Hi.
If the unit has been stood 3/4 months i drain down and refill to go away again for no other reason than it makes me feel better and some of the places i refill from while away may,just may.. be not so good.
Tea Bag.
PS. I have a tap at the end of the drive.........(This helps)

 

[DBK]

If you have a gauze filter on the inlet to the water pump it is worth looking at it occasionally. Ours has a clear cover and is easy to get at. Earlier this year the filter was partially blocked with some sort of brown mould which had come out of the water tank. I drained the tank and flushed it through then filled it and added sterilising tablets. Left it overnight then drained and flushed it again.

The problem is you can't be sure of the quality of the water you are using to fill it. We had leaves in the water when we filled it at a France Passion site once.

 

[Burgo]

My water tank felt slimy inside so i cleaned it out - i

Not sure but I think that's what's called Bio Film. Our Gaggia coffee machine has a water tank and that feels 'slimey' if not cleaned regularly, but as far as I know it's not dangerous???

 

[Silver-Fox]

Agree Jim... how many people drink water from plastic bottles that have been standing in a yard somewhere in full sunlight for what could be months....

But because they buy from a shop possibly out of a fridge unit they think it’s great...

Out of interest did you ever give Dolly’s tank a clean out?

 

[Just smiffy]

Out of interest did you ever give Dolly’s tank a clean out?

I sterilised it with my own solution every day mate......





No, I did have a loook in it though and it was clean as a babys bottom....

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[mfw]

Not sure but I think that's what's called Bio Film. Our Gaggia coffee machine has a water tank and that feels 'slimey' if not cleaned regularly, but as far as I know it's not dangerous???

Just looked up biofilm and i would imagine we are talking same type of slime says it is living and dead bacteria obviously due to tank sitting with water for an amount of time with no movement of vehicle or water throughput