Caravan Water Tank Storage

Mine are empty and before we go away fill them up and use Tankkleena available at van places leave for a day and empty and refill

You can use Milton (baby bottle steriliser) just follow the directions on the bottle.

So far with my van no problems with storing half a tank of water for months with no additives.

Cheers

Hi Blackmax. Whenever I am on the last leg home I pull the hose off the tank and drain it and only put it back when next in use. As a matter of course I run a bit of water through it before reconnecting. Don't even bother with a hose clamp as it seems to hold water ok but I am only on the blacktop. Cheers

In our camper trailer and now the van, I've always kept our water tanks full as googs when the at home (to exclude air as far as possible - have not used additives) - never had any odour issues. Adelaide water is a chemical soup (we never drink the stuff), and has plenty of chlorine..... this might be part of my success :-o).

General consensus is to fill the water tank between trips.
There is little air in the tank and thus less chance for mould, etc. to grow.

One potential problem that may cause mould or mildew growth is the use of clear plastic tubing rather than "food quality" grade tubing, or water hose that blocks out light. The introduction of light via transparent flexible tubing induces the growth of "nasties" in the water system. If you have any "clear" or transparent water tube, replace with "food grade" tubing, usually solid white coloured with a blue stripe.

Apart from the above, no additives are required at all.
If the water tastes "tainted", drain the tank, add tank clean, or Miltons Baby Wash, or similar, fill tank with water and drain again after a couple of days.
Flush again with water and refill and you are good to go.

Bill.

hi blackmax
this topic has been discussed before so
you may like to read thread 79024 and then decide what you will do and what is more convient to you
also while on the topic of water

this thread 80124 relates to sourcing water while on the road and may be of interest also
cheers

Thanks to all for their replies to my issue. Great info from all you experts. Will give me some items to consider to ensure my water storage is sensible and effective.

We don't have reticulated water where we live, I must say that I have never considered draining the house tanks if we are going away for an extended period, so I also don't drain the camper tanks.

Pure water does not go off. We leave the water in the tanks - even if years between trips. It is better protected from light and chance of algal growth in the caravan tanks than in the household water tank.

Motherhen