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Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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How Long To Keep Freshwater in RV Tank?
The question of “How Long To Keep Freshwater in an RV Tank” often varies depending on several factors, such as the quality of water, storage conditions, and the tank’s cleanliness. Regular maintenance of your RV’s water system can ensure your water stays fresh and safe for consumption.
- Freshwater in the RV tank lasts about two weeks.
- A clean, treated source and well-maintained tank can last two weeks.
- Sanitize the RV tank before filling it with bleach and water solution.
- Keep the tank closed when not in use to prevent contamination.
- Regularly check for changes in taste, smell, or color.
Perhaps you’re organizing a long trip and plan to stay in your RV for an extended period. Maybe you have two trips that just so happen to be very close to each other.
Whatever the reason, planning how you will store and use your supplies will be at the forefront of your mind for your trip. And water is more than likely going to be at the very top of the list.
As one of the most valuable of all your supplies and the one you use for several tasks, keeping water fresh and drinkable is paramount.
In this situation, the critical question on everyone’s lips is, how long can I keep freshwater in an RV tank? The answer to this can vary considerably, and it depends on many factors.
Generally, untreated water should not be kept in an RV tank for longer than two weeks. This is for several reasons: bacteria can grow, the healthiness of the water is compromised, and the water will no longer taste or smell very good.
There are, however, several ways you can keep the water from going bad and becoming undrinkable. Throughout this blog, we will address these issues and attempt to answer the questions surrounding RV water storage and good practice when you’re on the road.
How a Freshwater Tank Works
Understanding the inner workings of your freshwater tank is the best way to get to grips with how the whole process works and what you can do to aid and manage the device.
At a basic level, the fresh water tank is essentially a storage tank built into the structure of the RV underbelly. Most storage tanks are crafted out of fiberglass, though, nowadays, a number are also made from heavy-duty plastic.
However, if you use this water to turn on a tap or to flush the RV toilet, a small pump will draw the water from the freshwater tank and disperse it through the RV via a pressure release valve.
Dirty water from the shower or sink is sent to a grey water tank, and wastewater from a toilet is sent to a black tank.
Cleaning and Sanitizing your Freshwater Tank
Alongside maintaining a good and reliable water source, keeping a clean and sterilized freshwater tank is paramount to storing water, whatever you choose to use it for.
Even the smallest lingering water in your tank can be a breeding ground for microbes and bacteria. It is a good idea to sanitize your tank regularly, ensuring that no harmful germs remain in the system.
The easiest way to sanitize the tank is with simple household bleach, and the general ratio rule is around one gallon of bleach to every 12 to 15 gallons of water.
Once the tank is full of this mixture, take a little drive – the motion and time are enough to sanitize the tank and leave it heavenly sterile.
Safely dump this mixture and fill the tank with fresh water again; repeat this process until that unpleasant lingering bleach smell no longer remains. This will ensure that the tank is bleach-free and safe for human use.
Many RV manufacturers have introduced oxidizing compounds specially designed to clean freshwater tanks. The cleaning process is pretty much the same and is often preferable if you are traveling with young children and want to avoid the complications that bleach can bring.
Understanding your other RV Tanks and How they Affect the Entire System
As mentioned above, alongside the freshwater tank, your RV is home to two other tanks, both of which can affect the health and condition of your freshwater tank.
Understanding these two tanks is pivotal to better understanding the freshwater tank and your RV.
Gray Water Tank
Your gray water tank contains the runoff from both the shower and washing water and the water from any sinks inside the RV. There may even be two gray water tanks in larger RVs, fifth wheels, or travel trailers.
One of the prevailing things to remember with your gray water tank is the size of the drain, which is extremely small and easily blocked by trespassing waste.
For this reason, it is essential to take every precaution to ensure food waste does not enter the tank. Even the smallest food items can block this drain, and even worse, organic materials can contribute to mold growth.
Black Water Tank
The dreaded black tank is the most unglamorous of the three, as it holds the contents of the RV toilet waste.
Though the most intimidating of tanks, it is arguably the most crucial tank to manage regarding the general cleanliness and hygiene of the RV water and waste systems.
A fault here could affect the whole system and, in the worst cases, bring serious health issues to the RV occupiers.
There are a few good rules to follow when it comes to the RV black water tank, and practicing these can save a lot of trouble in the future:
- Use single-ply toilet paper; anything more significant will clog the tank and create trouble, even backing up your toilet.
- Always use water when flushing any waste; this will liquify any waste and keep the whole process flowing smoothly.
- Do not forget to sanitize your tank after dumping; this will stop any transaction of germs or bacteria.
Good Flushing Practices with Your Freshwater Tank
Though cleaning and sanitizing your tank can be a long and tiresome procedure, simply flushing it every two weeks will maintain a high level of hygiene.
Flushing can be as simple as running fresh water through the system, running the water in the shower, or putting a secondary hose down the toilet.
This general hygienic practice will save you a lot of time and effort in the cleaning and sanitizing stage. This will also be a great time to purge out the gray and black tanks, adding to the overall cleanliness of your RV systems.
Dealing with Mold and Algae in your Freshwater RV Tank
Mold
Mold and mildew are a natural part of life, and unfortunately, moisture, heat, and low sunlight are the perfect conditions to encourage growth. These are just the types of situations that exist inside a water tank.
How will you know if mold has got a firm foothold in your water tank, you might ask? There are several telltale signs, and trusting your senses is the best way to know.
Water contaminated with mold will often take on a specific unpleasant taste and odor. Certain discolorations can also occur in moldy water, but fear not; the procedure for fixing the issue is often simple.
Generally, bleach and your generic cleaning regime should be enough to flush the mold from your tank, but if it is a more severe case, this may not work.
A significant mold colony on a porous surface can secure microscopic roots and take a firm hold. General bleach will destroy the surface mold, and to the naked eye, your problem is solved.
However, the mold will return shortly – apparently out of nowhere, and your problem remains.
To spare yourself from going through this bleaching process time after time, use a specifically designed and formulated chemical that utilizes oxygen.
These chemicals include Sodium Hypochlorite, Chlorine Dioxide, or granulated Hydrogen Peroxide.
Though the majority of us would squirm at the thought of bathing in mold-infested water, it would not compromise our health by doing so.
A small percentage of the population may receive minor skin irritations from such water, but the chances of this are meager.
If you have a history of rashes or similar irritations, bathing in moldy water is not advisable, and extra steps should be taken to ensure mold is not present inside your freshwater tank.
Algae
Algae inside your freshwater tank are seen as a less biologically harmful substance compared to mold. No one will likely be happy with drinking or bathing in algae-infested water.
Like mold, the alga is an organism that thrives in sunlight, heat, and humidity, yet it can easily survive in the sunless cavities of your freshwater tank.
The longer your water tank has sat in the heat of a warm summer’s day, the more likely it is to develop an algae problem. Another way algae can grow is if your RV tank is fitted with a heater, as artificial warming will have a similar effect to the natural sun.
This is more prevalent if your heater spends extended periods off or you use camping generators as your primary power source.
Again, a common practice for dealing with an algae problem is to flush it out with bleach, similar to how you would deal with mold. Although bleach may get you by for a short time, using an algicide is much more effective.
These are specifically formulated algicides designed for freshwater tanks and can be purchased from several camping supply shops.
Correct Procedures for Filling Up Your Freshwater RV Tank
Suppose you are new to the RV world or unaware of the correct procedure for filling up your fresh water tank. In that case, you may be unintentionally contaminating it, leaving it prone to bacteria and, in turn, marking it with a shorter life.
You can pop the garden hose inside with some freshwater tanks and fill it up. Although this may work, it is considered poor practice in the RV world.
Doing this allows tainted flavors and possible bacteria to seep into your water tank, forcing you to empty it sooner than you would normally.
It is better to practice using a purpose-built white filling hose. These are designed to fit snugly, not allowing any contaminated tastes or smells to enter your tank, but they can also be broken down into smaller sections that are easy to clean and sanitize.
Drinking from your Freshwater Tank
One of the most common questions RV users ask is, ‘Can I drink from my freshwater tank?’. As is generally the case with RVs, it depends on several factors.
The general cleanliness of your tank will significantly affect the quality of your freshwater. It may be prone to bacteria if you have neglected to treat or clean your tank regularly. In this case, boiling the water before you drink it is a must.
Another factor is where you get your water from to fill your tank. If you randomly fill your fresh water tank from an unknown source, caution is needed before pouring it into your drinking glass.
If you fill your tank with a trusted source, such as your home tap, you should be okay with drinking it as you wish.
Even with a clean tank and a reliable source, many RV campers still choose to boil all their water before consuming it or buy bottled water to take on board.
This approach assures you are 100% free from any contaminated water, and more water can be saved for washing and bathing.
Timescales for Washing and Bathing in Tank Water
As noted before, drinking water from your freshwater RV tank after two weeks is not recommended. But don’t throw away that water from the tank just yet.
There are other ways to use the water after these two weeks have lapsed. After two weeks, water from the tank is still perfect for washing clothes and cleaning the dishes, and it can even be used to shower.
You may notice that the water has an unpleasant odor after these two weeks, yet it should not be an issue when using it and cleaning products.
If it takes on a slight plastic smell, this could be the heavy-duty plastic tank itself – something that can happen faster in high temperatures.
Can you use vinegar to sanitize the RV’s freshwater tank?
You can use vinegar to sanitize your RV’s fresh water tank. This method is a popular alternative to bleach, which can leave a residual taste.
The vinegar method involves adding white vinegar to approximately 35 gallons of water in your tank. Once the vinegar solution is prepared, turn on your water heater.
You can use a hose adapter to connect a hose from your kitchen sink faucet, directed out the door and into your water tank fill. This method of sanitization is both safe and effective.
Summary
On average, freshwater in an RV tank can be kept for about two weeks, provided it is from a clean, treated source and the tank itself is well-maintained and sanitized. Before filling, it’s recommended to sterilize the tank with a bleach and water solution to eliminate any lingering bacteria or contaminants.
Additionally, it’s advised to keep the tank closed when not in use to prevent any potential contamination from external sources. It is also crucial to regularly check for water quality changes within these two weeks.
Any taste, smell, or color alterations could indicate contamination and require immediate attention. Therefore, while the two-week timeline serves as a general guideline on ‘How Long To Keep Freshwater in an RV Tank,’ the actual duration can vary based on these factors.
Proper maintenance and regular monitoring thus play a pivotal role in ensuring the freshness of water in your RV tank.
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