Fresh water tank help

[xavier]

I have a flagstaff 206ltd with an 11 gallon fresh water tank. I used my tank this weekend and when done I drained the water. There is still some water left in the tank which is below the drain line. Its maybe a half inch across the bottom. Two questions.

1. Is it ok to leave it there? I'm going camping again in 2 weeks.

2. How do you completely drain the fresh water tank? I was able to get some out by raising and lowering the camper via the tongue jack but there is still a bit in there.

Thanks in advance!

[jtstromsburg]

I don't think you'll ever get all if it out. I leave some in mine all the time and use some bleach once a year to kill any bacteria. We drink bottled water too, do I don't get too worried about it.
Joel

[Jeep4Two]

If you aren't drinking it, the consensus around the forum is to sanitize one or twice a year and when winterizing.

I try to leave the drain valve opened on the way home. Gets a lot more water out with all the sloshing around.

[xavier]

Thank you both!

I dont plan on drinking the water. Just mostly for washing dishes and brushing teeth/washing face. I don't even drink the tap water at home since in my town it tastes like dirt.

I was more worried about having standing water in the camper creating mold/mildew issues. The dealer got me paranoid about moisture in the camper.

[MotocrossCamper]

We use our fresh water for drinking on every trip and I have never had a problem. Our water from home comes from about 200 feet below the ground and i would much rather drink it then bottled water. We usually only have a week or 2 in between trips, and I'm not one to worry about bacteria though. My tank is only 25 gallons so if it's going to be hot out while the camper is sitting I will fill it and drain it a couple times in between trips. It's the air that causes the bacteria growth so your better off leaving it full for a week and then drain and refill before you leave.

[TURBS]

Drink our water all the time.
No ones fallen ill.

[OutdoorsinCO]

Originally Posted by jtstromsburg

I don't think you'll ever get all if it out. I leave some in mine all the time and use some bleach once a year to kill any bacteria. We drink bottled water too, do I don't get too worried about it.
Joel

What ratio do you use for adding the bleach?

Just came back from my first trip with my banshee b-3.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Drink our water all the time.
No ones fallen ill.

Just the owner of the 5er and he was known to be just a little "touched" in the head several years ago, but don't think it had anything to do with drinking the water from the fw tank.

[jtstromsburg]

Originally Posted by OutdoorsinCO

What ratio do you use for adding the bleach?

Just came back from my first trip with my banshee b-3.

A quick search will come up with a few threads on this. I use 1/4c / 15gal of water, mix in a couple jugs and ash this to your fw holding tank. You can add it through your fw hose to help sanitize it as well. turn the pump and faucets on till the treated water comes out, then turn it off and let sit over night or at least a few hours. Dump the tanks and re fill with clean water and dump that. Ready to go at that point. Again, this is only my method and there may be better ways.

Joel

[DGrissom]

Originally Posted by OutdoorsinCO

What ratio do you use for adding the bleach?

Just came back from my first trip with my banshee b-3.

Clorox bottles used to carry instructions for sanitizing water for drinking. If it is just making sure of what's currently in the system is safe then sanitize the water that's in it based on the instructions.

I've seen a number of recommended methods for sanitizing the fresh water tank and system. I just selected one that seemed to be repeated most consistently on the internet and went with that method. (Amount per gallon of bleach to the system and dwell time before rinsing, etc.). I can't remember the specifics. I'll probably just research it again do the same thing again when it's time to do it again.

Actually, I think this what I used (From the Aliner manual):

Multiply the potable water tank gallon capacity by .13 for a four hour treatment, or by .26 for a one hour treatment. This will give the liquid ounces of common household bleach required for disinfecting the water system.

Add the proper amount of bleach to a container with water and mix.

Pour the solution into the water tank and fill the tank with potable water. Turn on the electric pump and open all faucets including showers. Shut off the faucets when you smell chlorine.

Allow the proper treatment time (as determined in step 1) before draining the tank and refilling with potable water.

** PURGE THE PLUMBING OF ALL BLEACH SOLUTION. **




The sanitizing procedure outlined above is in conformance with the approved procedures of RVIA ANSI A119.2 and the U.S. Public Health Service.


I hope this helps...

[Jeep4Two]

Remember thee is a difference in "common household bleach" as it used to known and today's most common 'ultra' bleach.

Ultra tends to be 6% calcium hypochlorite, while the old school bleach was more like 3%-4%.

That will play I to any formula you use.

[billy bob]

Same as Motocross Camper our water comes from our own well. and I run it through our R. O. system. the potable water tank on our 5th wheel is 33 gal. When we are going on a long trip to campgrounds that have hookups, I fill the tank with our well water and that is what we drink and cook with.
Once a year I clean the tank with bleach I add one quart of bleach to the tank, fill the tank, turn on the pump and run water to each valve untill I get a strong smell of the bleach, let set for a day then drain & flush. I don't drain the tank unless its going to freeze.

[Mark and Linda]

I just flushed out my fresh water tank this morning. I had it partially filled up on the last trip. I drained some out, flushed the commode several times, and also ran the faucets to put some in the gray tank. I did a good flush on all systems before the next trip next week. I even ran my hot water heater for a checkout.