How do I drain the fresh water?

[VACMAN]

I wanted to drain the fresh water tank to sanitize. How do you drain the fresh water tank? Or did I do it right? In the water compartment, on the back side I found the (Low Point Drain), I used this, but it was very slow. Is there another valve to drain the fresh water, or is this it?...Vacman

[tmitchell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VACMAN I wanted to drain the fresh water tank to sanitize. How do you drain the fresh water tank? Or did I do it right? In the water compartment, on the back side I found the (Low Point Drain), I used this, but it was very slow. Is there another valve to drain the fresh water, or is this it?...Vacman

That's what I use, but I also run the water pump to speed the flow up.
Tom

[GaryKD]

Hi VACMAN,
You did the correct thing by using the low point drain located way inside the utility bay. It does take a while. I start the drain and let it go overnight. I am curious. Why are you sanitizing the fresh water tank?

[oemtech]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD Hi VACMAN, Why are you sanitizing the fresh water tank?

Probably because nasty stuff grows in there over time. I know most of us don't drink the water from the tank but it still isn't a bad idea though.

[VACMAN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD Hi VACMAN, You did the correct thing by using the low point drain located way inside the utility bay. It does take a while. I start the drain and let it go overnight. I am curious. Why are you sanitizing the fresh water tank?

Gary.. We never drink the water, we only drink bottled. But the reason I sanitized is the DW has a smell like a blood hound. And the last time out after a shower she told me the water did not smell that great, And after I took my shower I had to agree with her.. VACMAN

[tmitchell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VACMAN Gary.. We never drink the water, we only drink bottled. But the reason I sanitized is the DW has a smell like a blood hound. And the last time out after a shower she told me the water did not smell that great, And after I took my shower I had to agree with her.. VACMAN

The smell is most likely coming from the water, that has been left in the hot water heater. After a few showers, the old water that was left in the water heater will be flushed and the smell will go away.
Tom

["007"]

If you have split fresh water tanks you will have two low point drains. The over flow rubber bladders under the motor home you can place a wooden rod to open them up for quicker drain flow.
The egg smelling water is from your water heater drain out water thru plug on face just make sure electric heater element is off and the water heater is off, before draining.
You can run some of your bleach solution through WH also to get rid of smell.

[AFChap]

Quote:

I know most of us don't drink the water from the tank

Oh, really??? I doubt that is the case for most full-timers! I trust the water from my fresh water tank FAR MORE than I trust any bottled water I can buy!!!

[VACMAN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmitchell The smell is most likely coming from the water, that has been left in the hot water heater. After a few showers, the old water that was left in the water heater will be flushed and the smell will go away. Tom

I don't know for sure, but my coach has the Oasis heat and water, I don't have a hot water heater..................... And easy on the bottled water guys.. you can drink out of any holding tank you like..

[Chickadee]

Geeeeeze! Like AFChap, we too rely on our fresh water tank quite often, even for drinking water, ice maker water, cooking water, etc. etc. This is the first time I've read that....."....most of us don't drink the water from the tank....". If this were the case, there's alot of boondockers and drycampers who are going to be quite disappointed.....to speak nothing about all the sea going vessels who rely on fresh water tanks for months on end, and this is from an ol Coast Guard Medical Corpman who, among other things, was responsible for maintaining onboard fresh water!!!

If ya keep your potable fresh water tanks clean, flushed periodically and sanitized correctly, there's NOTHING wrong with relying on the water they contain. IMHO anyway!!!! Steve

[oemtech]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chickadee Geeeeeze! Like AFChap, we too rely on our fresh water tank quite often, even for drinking water, ice maker water, cooking water, etc. etc. This is the first time I've read that....."....most of us don't drink the water from the tank....". If this were the case, there's alot of boondockers and drycampers who are going to be quite disappointed.....to speak nothing about all the sea going vessels who rely on fresh water tanks for months on end, and this is from an ol Coast Guard Medical Corpman who, among other things, was responsible for maintaining onboard fresh water!!! If ya keep your potable fresh water tanks clean, flushed periodically and sanitized correctly, there's NOTHING wrong with relying on the water they contain. IMHO anyway!!!! Steve

As an ex Navy Corpsman, Army Field Medic, EMT/Paramedic I can think I can speak to water sanitation. Holding tanks that are used on a constant bases only need to be sanitize occasionally. But, let a 1/4 to 1/2 a tank of water sit for a while and then start using it for cooking and drinking may not be the best idea. Chlorine dissipates very quickly once exposed to air and sunlight.

[VACMAN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chickadee Geeeeeze! Like AFChap, we too rely on our fresh water tank quite often, even for drinking water, ice maker water, cooking water, etc. etc. This is the first time I've read that....."....most of us don't drink the water from the tank....". If this were the case, there's alot of boondockers and drycampers who are going to be quite disappointed.....to speak nothing about all the sea going vessels who rely on fresh water tanks for months on end, and this is from an ol Coast Guard Medical Corpman who, among other things, was responsible for maintaining onboard fresh water!!! If ya keep your potable fresh water tanks clean, flushed periodically and sanitized correctly, there's NOTHING wrong with relying on the water they contain. IMHO anyway!!!! Steve

Chickadee,, I agree with you 100% that the water is safe to drink out of the fresh water tank. As long as it maintained and used frequently. But I believe you will agree that if a tank has been sitting for a couple months, partly filled that even you would have 2nd thoughts about drinking it. Now you on the other hand, use yours daily and keep it maintained, I do not think that would be a problem at all, and is as safe as any bottled water. But as a whole a lot of RVers are not full time, and may let a unit set for a couple months before the next use.. So this is what some of the above posters are referring to.

[BCook57]

Vacman - I do not use the low point drain to empty the fresh water tank. I use the fresh water tank drain. It is located behind the low point point drains - you really have to reach way into the bay to reach it. I have an '07 DSDP model 4307.

The low point drain is there to drain any remaining water from the lines when winterizing.

[Ti5er]

SHORT STORY, Long ago our first rv was a well used one we tried to use the water system and it was so bad the black things plugged up the screens on the facets. I ended up removing the water tank (small one under bed) and it scared me.I put a chain in it with bleach and shook it around and uck it was bad.I then used a steam cleaner as best I could on the inside.Took a full tank of water with bleach to clean the lines.
Now our current Titanium is only 5 month old and I got the rotten egg smell last time out.Maybe our tank is different than others but the drain point still leaves a lot of water in the tank to set till next use.I sanitize ours if it sets a month with out use.I drain the hot water every time we use the trailer.