When to purge all water from tanks?

[Allistah]

Hey all --

We have a Shockwave 5er and will be using it about every 2 weeks.

Would it still be recommended to drain all of the fresh water tanks after each use? I'm leaning on the yes side but I wasn't sure if it was really the best thing to do since we will be using it fairly frequently.

Also, since the unit is new, should I go through a sanitize process with the bleach just to be sure or are they pretty much clean when you get the units new off the lot?

Thanks,

-Allistah

[jtstromsburg]

Yes to sanitizing even though new. When we camp at least every two weeks, I don't drain the fresh tank, but sometimes drain the hot as it gets stinky faster. We seem to use and cycle thru water enough to not bother with draining though.

[PhoneDude 8289]

We sanitized our unit when we bought it new this past december. With the heat of our Texas summer it has become habit to dump after every trip. Doesn't take long and we refill with fresh water from home before our next trip . With our previous units we sanitized every spring, will do the same with this one.

[donanddona]

At eight pounds per gallon, why would you want to carry the extra weight. I normally fill during setup and open the drain on the way out. Even if I use the on site water connection. It gives a good flush of the tank system. Just remember to shut the pump and water heater off during transit....

[ColoradoRick]

Originally Posted by donanddona

At eight pounds per gallon, why would you want to carry the extra weight. I normally fill during setup and open the drain on the way out. Even if I use the on site water connection. It gives a good flush of the tank system. Just remember to shut the pump and water heater off during transit....

Excellent point!!

[MtnGuy]

I don't drain my fresh water tank but once a year.......in the fall when I winterize.

If I don't use much water from the tank during a dry camping trip, I will pump the excess into the black and gray tanks so those will dump better. I will watch my fresh water tank gauge, and when the 1/3 light goes out, I stop the pumping. I like to keep some water in the tank for toilet flushing and hand washing while on the road.