Newbie question Fresh Water Tank Drain

[ep120794]

New owner 1999 Tropical 6356 36 footer on Ford. I am confused on how to drain the fresh water tank. Instructions say to open the drain valve for the water tank, but they don't say where that is. It also says to open the hot/cold lines at the outdoor shower. Is this where the water will drain from? Finally how do I get bleach into the tank? Through the drain valve opening? I do have an anitfreeze inlet if that helps.

Thanks!!

[mike9999]

On my dolphin the drain valve is behind a small panel (8x12") that is held by 4 screws. Near the water hookups.

I put in bleach by putting it in the fresh water hose, then hooking up the hose.

mike

[jlyon69]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ep120794 New owner 1999 Tropical 6356 36 footer on Ford. I am confused on how to drain the fresh water tank. Instructions say to open the drain valve for the water tank, but they don't say where that is. It also says to open the hot/cold lines at the outdoor shower. Is this where the water will drain from? Finally how do I get bleach into the tank? Through the drain valve opening? I do have an anitfreeze inlet if that helps. Thanks!!

I basically went through the same thing with my '99 Dolphin 5330. Since they are the same year, perhaps the setup will be the same. My manual basically says to open the hot/cold lines at the outdoor shower and no mention of a drain. So I decided to remove the bed to get a good look at the water tank, fill lines and other related plumbing.

The tank fill line enters the tank at the top. So there is NO WAY water is going up hill to drain out the shower. I found an outlet at the bottom of the tank which fed a 'T'. One line went to the intake on the pump and the other continued horizonally to a drain valve. There was no line connected to the valve to route the water under the coach. So I removed the valve and put a 90 on and routed the drain line under the coach. Then I put the drain valve on the end of the line. Now I can just reach under the coach to drain the tank.

While I was right there with the pump exposed, I decided to put in a by-pass system to pump anti-freeze through the coach from a jug. A few extra feet of line, a T and 2 valves and I was in business.

For bleach I do what mike9999 does, just put some in the hose and proceed to fill the tank.