Freshwater hose storage and mold

reidfo

Senior Member
RV LIFE Pro
Joined
Aug 13, 2023
Messages
465
Location
Bayou Vista, TX
I keep my freshwater supplies in a clear plastic bin in the passthrough storage. I last camped in August. I drained the freshwater hose, and stored it, the Camco filter, and the regulator coiled up in the bin. I also keep spare anode rods, thread tape, clean nitrile gloves, sprayer attachment, etc. in there.

This past weekend I pulled out the bin to hook up the hose at home. The bin (from Home Depot) doesn't have a super tight fitting lid, but still it was very wet when I pulled it out and everything was covered in mold.

Obviously I need to rethink my storage options and procedures. How do y'all store these things after camping and not grow mold? I know some connect the hose ends together, but what about things like the inline filter?
 
That is interesting.

We keep ours in a cheap plastic tote I do connect the hose ends so nothing crawls in.... our hoses, regulator, Y,s etc.. The tote is just kept inside the trailer........Never had any mold ......been doing this for many years........


:signhavefun:
 
That is interesting.

We keep ours in a cheap plastic tote I do connect the hose ends so nothing crawls in.... our hoses, regulator, Y,s etc.. The tote is just kept inside the trailer........Never had any mold ......been doing this for many years........


:signhavefun:

I was a little surprised as well. I haven't opened up my black water tote yet either. Not sure what I'll find there. :eek: I'll be buying new stuff to replace what's moldy, but I want to prevent the problem in the future.
 
hose lines together = more mold. Dark and wet, and warm. put some bleach and water in a spray bottle and spray your gear and let it sit outside one afternoon. Hose it all off. I try to remember to open the sewer parts bin and let it sit in the sun till completely dry.
 
I was a little surprised as well. I haven't opened up my black water tote yet either. Not sure what I'll find there. :eek: I'll be buying new stuff to replace what's moldy, but I want to prevent the problem in the future.
WHAT??? Buying new because of some mold??? I love people who put BBQ grills out the curb because they got dirty. I clean 'em and use them.
 
I’ve used SNiPER Hospital Disinfectant for many years … Campers and Houseboats … seems to work as advertised
 
WHAT??? Buying new because of some mold??? I love people who put BBQ grills out the curb because they got dirty. I clean 'em and use them.

Buying some things new. The freshwater hose is a Zero-G, and it's covered in mold inside and out. The box of gloves... not gonna use those.

Thank you for your advice and what works for you. I'll adopt something similar to what you do. After I replace some stuff because of some mold. :D
 
I also have to say that I rarely re-use an inline water filter … perhaps if I know we will be camping again within the next couple of weeks … then I take the filter home, dry it out and store in fridge until the next trip
 
Buying some things new. The freshwater hose is a Zero-G, and it's covered in mold inside and out. The box of gloves... not gonna use those.

Thank you for your advice and what works for you. I'll adopt something similar to what you do. After I replace some stuff because of some mold. :D
Hahaha, yeah, good plan. I only store my black tank flush hose in the compartment with sewage goodies. Vinyl, so can be wiped pretty clean. Wouldn't recommend a zero -g type fabric covered hose for dump station duty.
 
I also have to say that I rarely re-use an inline water filter … perhaps if I know we will be camping again within the next couple of weeks … then I take the filter home, dry it out and store in fridge until the next trip
I think I'm using the same one I bought 2 years ago. Kept in fridge between seasons.
 
I also have to say that I rarely re-use an inline water filter … perhaps if I know we will be camping again within the next couple of weeks … then I take the filter home, dry it out and store in fridge until the next trip

Thanks. I have reused mine, but only within a couple of weeks. I just bought 6 new ones on Prime Day yesterday for almost half off. I should have bought more!

I think it probably a bad idea to leave the inline filter in the bin with the other stuff. I started this thread to learn and to let others learn from my mistake! So Thank y'all for all the comments.
 
Thanks. I have reused mine, but only within a couple of weeks. I just bought 6 new ones on Prime Day yesterday for almost half off. I should have bought more!

I think it probably a bad idea to leave the inline filter in the bin with the other stuff. I started this thread to learn and to let others learn from my mistake! So Thank y'all for all the comments.
I stocked up during other sales too, and they are just sitting. One filter lasts for years when you are only using it 30 nights RVing per year.
 
I stocked up during other sales too, and they are just sitting. One filter lasts for years when you are only using it 30 nights RVing per year.

I will add putting the filter in the fridge as part of my departure checklist. My RV fridge runs 24/7 from solar and shore power. I also keep the AC running to dehumidify while parked at home.
 
It will be interesting to see over the next few years if the flexible hoses stand up to the test … I’m trying zero g drinking water safe … manufacturer says the hose cover has MicroShield to prevent external mold and mildew
 
It will be interesting to see over the next few years if the flexible hoses stand up to the test … I’m trying zero g drinking water safe … manufacturer says the hose cover has MicroShield to prevent external mold and mildew
Been using them for years, zero issues. But I sanitize my hoses each spring when I do the RV plumbing.
 
I will add putting the filter in the fridge as part of my departure checklist. My RV fridge runs 24/7 from solar and shore power. I also keep the AC running to dehumidify while parked at home.
Good. You won't get in a testy exchange with wife when she ignores your checklist and leaves it in fridge at home!:rolleyes:
 
It will be interesting to see over the next few years if the flexible hoses stand up to the test … I’m trying zero g drinking water safe … manufacturer says the hose cover has MicroShield to prevent external mold and mildew

hmm. That's what I have, and my drinking water hose has nearly changed from blue to white.

I use Zero-G hoses at home too for the convenience, but I have had to replace several in the past 6-7 years.


EDIT: @NJKris, the hoses I replaced at home were not due to some mold. The hoses failed. :D
 
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I have a well at home, maybe high 30's pressure from pump. I saw one of those hoses blow at my sister's with their high pressure. I use a water pressure regulator at campgrounds, don't go higher than 50 psi. Also, I keep hoses out of sun when not in use. Sun ruins everything.
 
With all the moisture in your bins, makes me wonder if drilling a few vent holes would help keep some air moving and allow for evaporation to escape … I generally drill 4 one inch holes in my bins … the down side perhaps is allowing odor to escape … which is why I use SNiPER whenever I’m packing up
 
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