Fresh Water Tank - Leave some water in? or empty it?

[kdanielson]

So, I'm a newbie, so no rolling your eyes back when you read this questions

My wife and I just purchased a 2016 Thor Miramar and have been taking a few short 'shakedown trips' to get a feel for things... so far we love the coach and the lifestyle.

Anyway, our current pattern is 2 weeks out and 3 to 6 weeks back home.

The question I have is, what should I do with the water in the fresh water tank between trips? Should I empty it after each trip? or should I leave some water in it - say a 1/3 full?

I'm concerned about the water stagnating...

Thoughts?

[TurnerFam]

we've been fulltiming for over two years and have never 'emptied' out water tank, even when parked for months. there is really no 'go bad' time frame for water if it is held in the tank and no 'foreign' objects can get in - as you move in the 'home' you also help keep it from sitting still. Unlike water sitting in a holding pond, exposed to the elements, water in a sealed water tank, not exposed to the sun or outside elements, is perfectly fine for many, many months, if not even longer...

[fotofx]

I agree, also have a Miramar.. I never empty it

[sky_blue]

I empty mine once a year when I sanitize the fresh water system.

[schreinertms]

I sometimes add Camco TastePURE Drinking Water Freshener to the tank if I do not empty it and know that it will sit for several weeks.

[EV2]

Originally Posted by schreinertms

I sometimes add Camco TastePURE Drinking Water Freshener to the tank if I do not empty it and know that it will sit for several weeks.

Other than for freezing temps, this is best practice. The small amount of chlorine will prevent acquiring a stagnant taste when setting for extended time.

[kdanielson]

Originally Posted by gbrown

I empty mine once a year when I sanitize the fresh water system.

gbrown,

I noticed that you added a 'Oxygenics Body Spa Shower head'...how do you like it?

We need to do something because the show head water pressure is so low we can barely rinse the shampoo out of our hair.

[vkb]

We are happy with the Oxygenics Shower Head ....it seems like the shower head is, always, one of the first things we change out when we move into a new motorhome !

[Joe-FL]

When in hot temperatures I have never attempted to keep fresh water in a plastic tank for more than a month or so at a time. In all of our years of boating we learned that it would get "skanky" during the very warm weather. We would either change it out or add something to it. A little bleach or a product sold at Walmart called Fresh Water will keep it smelling good for showers and such.

[blw2]

I used to believe that the chlorination in my city water would be enough to keep things sanitized.

Did a little research. Not that I put a lot of faith in the govt agency, I found the CDC had some guidelines for water stored.... as in a water pitcher in your fridge.... and the recommended residual chlorine for a relatively short time (on the order of a day or two, can't remember exactly) was higher than what I have coming out of the tap.

Anyway, what I do is keep my tank full. I figure stuff might be a little bit less likely to grow. Also gives me an emergency water supply.
Then when i get ready to go.... if it has been "a while" and IF i have time, I'll dump and refill. Getting ready to go this weekend, and its been sitting about 8 weeks.... so I plan on dumping it. I'm not afraid of it but figure freshening it up won't hurt!

[tenbear]

I sanitize my fresh water tank in the spring when I de-winterize the MH, then I put about a quarter to a third of a tank into it. If we are going to have hookups we just leave the water in the tank and use it for water on the road, replacing the water as required.

If we are not going to have hookups I fill the tank. When we are going to have hookups again I drain it down to a quarter full.

I repeat the whole thing again the next year. Never had a problem.

[ander12]

K,

Even tough we do not own A Miramar yet (Its on the sopping list for the very near future) we installed the Oxygenetics in our current rig and LOVE IT!! One of the best investments you can make in a rig. Especially if you boondock!!
Andy

[SuperD]

Words of caution: If you leave water in the tank in hot weather you run a huge risk of growing Legionella in the water, learned about this from reading on CDC and it is a real problem.

Legionella loves warm or hot water and is becoming more common in water systems around the country. Bleach will kill it.

I'm not trying to scare anyone, or making any recommendations to anyone, just want you to be aware it is a real problem. I work in infection control and read reports from facilities around the country, nasty stuff and don't want any of my fellow RVers ill.

[suenmike]

If we are traveling a distance we keep enough water to hold us until we get to our destination, but not full due to the drop in fuel mileage this would cause. We add a couple of Dixie cups of bleach into the water 2 X s a year to avoid contamination and rotten egg smell, then flush thoroughly.