Posted 2010-05-09 7:01 AM (#119921) Subject: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
Picking up my first LQ trailer this week and wondering how long the fresh water stays fresh? We live in the Midwest and it will start to get very warm soon. We will most likely go to a show every weekend (day shows), will the fresh water stay fresh from week to week or will it need to be drained? Is there such thing as cold water in an LQ trailer in the summer or is it all luke warm at best?
Posted 2010-05-09 10:37 AM (#119933 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Member
Posts: 37 Location: Minnesota
I have wondered this too. And also, if you DO leave water sitting in the tank for, say, a couple of weeks, do you have to treat the tank for potential mold or bacteria before you use it?
Posted 2010-05-10 8:18 AM (#119957 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
I drain my tanks on my living quarters and my RV as soon as I get home. Usually I will open the drain on it shortly before I get home and let it drain out the last little bit home, so I can close it right back when I get home. I have put water in that has "soured" in the tank. When that has happened, I'll add a small amount of bleach to the tank, fill it, let it sit for a day, then drain it and flush it. I have found it is much easier to drain it when not being used than to get the "sour" out of it.
Posted 2010-05-10 8:29 AM (#119958 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
What about the temperature of the water in the fresh tank? If you are at a show in a warm day do you have cold water by the end of the day or is luke warm and hot your choices?
Posted 2010-05-10 9:35 AM (#119961 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Veteran
Posts: 134
I always drain my tanks the minute I get home. I might be finicky but I don't like the taste of water out of my tanks. I always carry a cooler full of ice and bottled water. That way I always have something ice cold to drink especially if it is really hot. I put the cooler in the bed of my truck when travelling along with any sandwich fixings. That way it is easy to get to. Beats eating fast food and trying to pull in somewhere with a big rig.
Posted 2010-05-10 9:45 AM (#119964 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
I have wondered this also. If we dont use all our water showering or washing dishes (we like to grill and I hate plastic silverware and coffee cups) we drain it when we get home. Doesnt take long to fill a 30 gallon tank the night before you leave. But I also dont drink the water from my tank. I have a box in my stud divided stall full of bottled water. I throw a few in the fridge if its hot weather. A LQ has a fridge, right ? Thats what its for. LOL Since hot summer is here I have been thinking of using the additive to prevent yuck in the tank. Often I sit a bottle of water on the bathroom vanity and use that for teeth brushing. There is just some phobia about drinking water out of that plastic tank I just cant get around.
Posted 2010-05-10 10:50 AM (#119968 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
I agree- I don't drink the water in the tank- strictly for brushing teeth and washing up. I buy bottled water and then I can keep it cold in the fridge.
Posted 2010-05-10 1:42 PM (#119987 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
We have to use well water most of the time and I drain it on the way home and try not to have to use it more than a couple of days without draining and refilling it. It is a pain, but our well water gets stinky fast.
Posted 2010-05-10 4:28 PM (#119992 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Veteran
Posts: 231 Location: Illinois
Can you tell us what the stuff you get at WalMart is called...I just had to deal with this situation this week...skunky water in the tank..PEEEuuuuu... and I never drink it either...taste is way funky..
Posted 2010-05-11 12:40 PM (#120008 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Regular
Posts: 85 Location: Galahad, AB, Canada
In our RV we empty and refill after each trip - it takes a short time so it isn't a big deal.
I've never had skunky water by going this route. And I'm different than most of your posters as we drink the water out of our holding tank. The taste is fine because we don't put addictives in the holding tank. Once a year I'll put 1/2 cup bleach in the tank when its full of water, allow it to sit for an hour, drain it, fill the tank and add 1/2 cup baking soda and let it sit again for 1/2 hour, then fill and run through plain water a time or two. By doing this I have cleaned my tank from bacteria, and basically got back to a normal taste. I just admit that i hate the taste of bleach, so I do my best to really rinse the tank well following.
For those of you who don't drink out of your holding tank - do you cook with it? If not, do you actually carry enough bottled water to boil potatoes and vegetables, mix with iced tea, add to soup, etc? That sounds like a real pain to me! And if you don't trust your water to drink, then do you trust it to wash dishes? I would have to wonder if that wouldn't leave a residue that could be a problem if the drinking waters a problem.
Call me old fashioned, but I hate the whole concept of bottled water. I hate paying for water when I have good well water. And all the studies I've read indicate that bottled water has as much bacteria and chemicals as out of the average well. I would agree that bottled water is better than water kept in a tank that isn't clean or safe - no one needs to pick up a parasite or bug from water! For me the answer is to keep chemicals out of my holding tank, to clean it well once a year, to allow it to totally drain after each use, and then to refill with clean water for each trip. It takes a few hours the first time of the year, after that only 15 minutes or so to fill everything.
Posted 2010-05-11 12:59 PM (#120009 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
I usually buy a 24 pack of bottled water and leave in the trailer. I do not cook when at a horse show! I might make some noodles or coffee but cook? Hardly! Granted, I am not camping and having to rough it but when i am at a show the last thing I want to do is cook.....
Posted 2010-05-11 5:35 PM (#120016 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Veteran
Posts: 229
Paracadista, I only drain the hot water tank when I winterize. On my trailer, if you open the outside access door, you can access the plug that drains the hot water tank.
Posted 2010-05-11 10:26 PM (#120032 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Tips for Keeping Water Fresh in an RVIf you turn on a faucet in your RV’s kitchen or bath and are hit with the smell of rotten eggs, that’s a sure sign that it’s time to freshen your RV’s system. Although some well water contains sulfur, which can lead to the smelly spray, the likely culprit is a buildup of bacteria in your freshwater system.Don’t wait until the water starts smelling before you sanitize. It’s a good idea to flush your recreational vehicle’s water system once or twice a year to keep your water fresh. Here’s how to sanitize your RV’s water supply system:1. Begin with your freshwater tank about half full.2. Turn the water heater off and wait for it to cool.3. Add a cleaning solution to the water tank. Here’s where opinions differ. Most people agree that using a household bleach solution is the most effective way to cleanse the bacteria (Note: always dilute bleach with water – about ¼ cup of household bleach for each 15 gallons of tank capacity); however, some people prefer to use milder cleansers like dish detergent, baking soda or vinegar. The bleach solution is the most effective sanitizer, but make sure you flush and rinse well.4. Next, using the water pump (not the external water supply) turn on every hot and cold faucet in the unit, one at a time, letting the chlorinated water run through them for one or two minutes. You should be able to smell the chlorine.5. Top off the RV freshwater tank and let the solution soak overnight if possible.6. Completely drain the system by flushing the faucets for several minutes each.7. Open the freshwater tank drain valve as well as the hot water tank drain plug and drain.8. Close all of the valves and faucets and drain plugs.9. Fill water tank about half full again with fresh water.10. Drive your RV around the block to let the water slosh around, which will help rinse the system.11. Flush each faucet for several minutes each repeating until the tank is again empty. (Make sure you are using the water pump and not an external water supply.)12. Fill the tank again. The water should now be safe to drink but if the chlorine odor is too strong, flush with baking soda or vinegar and repeat the freshwater rinse.Remember: Never turn on your water heater while it is empty.This article was brought to you by Good Sam RV Emergency Road Servicehttp://blog.rv.net/2009/04/12-tips-for-keeping-water-fresh-in-an-rv/
Posted 2010-05-12 9:44 AM (#120048 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Veteran
Posts: 123 Location: Indiana
A good prefilter on your hose when your are filling your tanks will help as well. Some well water has a lot of iron in it, and you can get that sulfur smell from that. Check with your local Rainsoft, Kinetico, Culligan etc store and get that attament. Even a carbon filter would help you with the taste issue.
Posted 2010-05-12 11:19 AM (#120053 - in reply to #119921) Subject: RE: How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
Cowgirl-h, I dont think there is anything wrong with the water in our tank. I dont mind washing dishes with it. Sometimes I do use it to rinse my teeth. Its more a personal phobia thing. Also while I can drink regular bottled water, I cant stand the taste of water from most plastic, like the tanks, or plastic drinking glasses. At home I like water in glass glasses. Most of the cooking we do is on the grill so doesnt require alot of water. We do make a couple pots of coffee a day though. The steps that you use to get up into the GN bed area have storage under them. I keep 3 gallon jugs of water under there for making coffee and cooking. That leaves more water for showers and dishes since I dont like plastic silverware. We prefer to fix our meals so do have a good bit of dishes. 30 gallons of water can go pretty fast with 2 taking showers. We are usually gone 3 or 4 days at a time when at a competition. Speaking of which I am leaving Thursday for a competition at the beautiful Hill County State Natural Area in Bandera, Texas, and will not be home until late Monday.
How long does your fresh water stay fresh?
