Freshwater hose storage and mold

[NJKris]

I don't notice a stink. Vent holes not a bad idea as long as not on bottom! I don't even hit them with sanitizer, just a quick rinse. And air it out in sun at next campground or home.

 

[Tentmaker]

Very true … I put the holes just under the rim near the top … nothing better than a few hours in the sun … I hate packing up in the rain

 

[Aussieguy]

For a hose tote and storage of inline filters regulators etc

I used a laundry basket
Plenty iv ventilation an won’t hold water
Resides in my pass through as that’s the only outside storage I got

Cut the basket down to size so it fits through the hatch

2 years not a sign of any mold to the baskets hoses filters or pass trough compartment

I do try to remove as much water as possible before storing
Joining the hose is a good idea…. Just can’t remember to do it

 

[jimmoore13]

I've been using a large fabric shopping bag to store my hose and fittings. I keep the gravity feed adapter and other fittings in a plastic ZipLok bag...but do not seal it.

I fairness, however, Colorado is quite dry compared to many states. No mold here, but that could just be good luck.

 

[kenandterry]

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.

Hey Kris……your remedies sound a lot like airing your dirty laundry.
Just sayin’.

 

[PhilFromMaine]

I never use the lid on my fresh water bins. You want them to be completely dry when being stored. If you thoroughly drain the hose and store it in an open bin, it will dry out in no time.

I store my blackwater hose in the rear bumper cavity. I purchased those Camco magnetic bumper end covers that are perforated so that air passes through the bumper cavity all the time especially while driving.

 

[Tentmaker]

My 15TB has very small storage bays … I use a grocery store hand basket for my drinking hose … which I can stack on a small Sterilite bin … all my bins are tiny … stacked two high so they can fit through a 12 inch hatch door

 

[reidfo]

I never use the lid on my fresh water bins. You want them to be completely dry when being stored. If you thoroughly drain the hose and store it in an open bin, it will dry out in no time.

I store my blackwater hose in the rear bumper cavity. I purchased those Camco magnetic bumper end covers that are perforated so that air passes through the bumper cavity all the time especially while driving.

My stinky slinkies go in the bumper too. I did just buy new bumper covers after I lost one on the way home last trip. The sewer hose was hanging about a foot out of the bumper when I got home.

I got vented ones, but I didn't know about magnetic ones.

 

[essarebee]

The key is ventilation. I'm repeating what others have said, but this is the only thing that will take care of the problem. Storage bins need airflow, but the pass-through storage itself is airtight. My damp rug, hammock, canvas chairs, gloves, etc. get stored there. At home, I open the 2 storage area doors and place a small fan inside and blowing through the compartment for a couple of days. I worry about squirrels getting in there, but it hasn't happened and it would be hard for even those acrobats to accomplish. I am in the habit of leaving the doors cracked open much of the time. Hinged at the top, I have the bottom open a few inches and rain can't get in and it's hardly noticeable that they are open. Sunlight will work much better on items than bleach, and a breeze will dry things.

 

[reidfo]

The key is ventilation. I'm repeating what others have said, but this is the only thing that will take care of the problem. Storage bins need airflow, but the pass-through storage itself is airtight. My damp rug, hammock, canvas chairs, gloves, etc. get stored there. At home, I open the 2 storage area doors and place a small fan inside and blowing through the compartment for a couple of days. I worry about squirrels getting in there, but it hasn't happened and it would be hard for even those acrobats to accomplish. I am in the habit of leaving the doors cracked open much of the time. Hinged at the top, I have the bottom open a few inches and rain can't get in and it's hardly noticeable that they are open. Sunlight will work much better on items than bleach, and a breeze will dry things.

I do keep the AC running to dehumidify since I live on the water. My passthrough is not air tight, and the tote lids fit pretty loosely, so I guess I figured that was good enough. Definitely will be a new plan for my next trip, which will likely be this winter. And yeah, I prepared for that too with a heated hose that I ran to Walmart to buy on my last winter trip when it got down to around 18F.

 

[Chuck_S]

Clue #1: Mold grows on dirt.

-- Chuck

 

[reidfo]

Clue #1: Mold grows on dirt.

-- Chuck

Dirt grows in campgrounds. But point taken.

 

[LittleBill]

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........

I basically do the same and so far haven't seem any sign of mold. After pulling out of storage I do somewhat sanitize the hose (run bleach solution through it when adding bleach to tank). I blow out the hose and filter though before storing and connecting the hose ends together.

Be safe -

 

[MGD1961]

We place our hose. Filter. Ect in a plastic bin too. WITH NO COVER. Let’s everything dry out. We use heavy plastic fish totes that are stackable.

https://www.memphisnet.net/product/...8_Tupf57JsoN4WJtzfX5l_SX1_Q5LlcRoC8cUQAvD_BwE

 

[Mookie58]

We use a heavy duty plastic laundry basket to store our coiled water hoses, electrical cord, and water filter, fittings, etc. The relatively open sides of the basket allows for some air circulation in the TT storage area. At first I felt somewhat silly when I would slide out this laundry basket as opposed to a standard storage tote, but the more I used it, the more I felt it was a better alternative.

 

[correpat]

Never Had A Mold Problem

I use an inline filter with a brass elbow right off the RV. When I pack up, I leave everything fitted together and attach the hose end to the elbow after emptying the water from everything. I do detach the pressure regulator and place it in the padded shipping box with a small desiccant pouch. I place several larger desiccant pouches in the open round plastic holder for the hose. I’ve never closed the water hose up in a bin with a lid and I’ve never found water in the storage bay. I inspect the filter ends before hooking up at a new site just to confirm there isn’t anything strange growing but I’ve never found anything.

 

[Dakota 1120]

I think I'm using the same one I bought 2 years ago. Kept in fridge between seasons.

I bought an in line water filter some 10 years ago and never have used it..so it's still in the plastic wrap from the factory and never had a water issue at a campground.
Of course, we do not drink campground water either - we drink bottled water, u picked up at a grocery store. a case at a time and kept in the cooler.

With the water hose, we screw the ends together and dump in maybe a half teaspoon of Sodium Dochlor with the water in the hose so totally disinfected. Before use, simply hook to the campground faucet and run a few gallons of water thru it to flush it out...and unlike bleach, NEVER any ugly aftertaste. Also use Sodium Dichlor to sanitize the fresh water tank.

 

[Robmikc]

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.

It just a carbon a filter… absolutely no disinfecting properties. Imagine what can grow in it over the “years” you think they will last. There’s a reason manufacturers say to change them every 6 months in your fridge or water purifier system and it’s not because they clog. If they clogged you wouldn’t need a reminder !

 

[correpat]

I change my filter every six months. I travel a lot and I’m an infectious disease nurse. Same system we use overseas in third world countries - drain, cap the ends, air dry during storage and flush with hot water before use. Bleach and chemicals degrade the hose, filter and fittings. My system works fine for me and I’m glad you have a system that works for you. The original author obviously doesn’t have a system that works; I was just providing the original author with yet another way of stowing the water hose, etc. and I don’t use a filter so I can drink the water; I use the filter to reduce mineral deposits in my plumbing system, weird odors and discolorations in the sinks and toilets. Also, I buy specialty filters, not carbon only filters.

 

[SailingOn]

storage bag

I've been using cylindrical, waterproof bags with a drawstring top. Amazon has them, look for RV Storage Bags.
Water hoses, electric cords and small parts, things that coil up like air compressor hose fit in them nicely. Unlike plastic buckets the volume adjusts to match the contents, and you can squeeze them into odd shaped spaces.
The colors and net top make contents easy to identify, and stuff dries nicely.
I store my extra sewer hoses in one and put it in the propane locker where it won't contaminate anything.