Drain and change fresh water tank or not

[Rgpracer]

Do you drain and change the fresh water tank in between trips, drain and leave empty until you get ready to go, or leave it near full when sitting for a few weeks?

Getting ready for my 3300 (ish) mile trip, and just curious.

Thanks

[tfgd21bhe]

I drain the tank and water heater and leave empty. If more than a week or two between trips I also open the low point drains and drain the water lines. That said I have no idea of that's the optimum way of doing things.

[Rgpracer]

I drain the tank and water heater and leave empty. If more than a week or two between trips I also open the low point drains and drain the water lines. That said I have no idea of that's the optimum way of doing things.

Thanks tfgd, makes sence, I haven't done it, but will drain the tank now and water heater and prep for fresh.......do you apply any bleach before fresh water added?
Thanks again.

[Second Chance]

Being full-timers, our situation is a bit different than yours, Ray. I do, however, dump and refill the fresh tank with new water every couple of months. Prior to travel, I make sure there's about 20 gallons in it to flush the toilet and wash hands on travel days. There are a couple of places we've stayed where the water service would come and go (usually because of work on the water systems). In those cases, I would fill up the tank when we got there and top it off when the water was on so we could continue to shower, wash dishes, etc. I don't travel with a full fresh water tank except in the southwest when high winds (35 MPH+ crosswinds) are forecast. I figure 600 - 800 lbs. down low makes for good ballast (a theory left over from my sailing days).

Rob

[WhittleBurner]

When in between trips if it's only 2 or 3 weeks we leave it alone. When parked in FL we keep the tank full periodicaly drain and refresh . If the water system goes down, usually for repairs we can still shower and flush. For drinking and coffee we use purified bottled water unless water quality is good.. Especially in FL.. The water is not that tasty

We always travel with about a third of a tank for rest stops etc.

[Wileykid]

I am in the same camp, in that I will leave the fresh water in the tank, if it is only for several weeks or less. Anything longer, and I drain it, although I do not drain the water heater. Many years ago, I left my fresh water tank about 3/4 full for several months, it was a bit of work cleaning out all the green slime (algae) that had grown in it.

[livinthelife]

Do you drain and change the fresh water tank in between trips, drain and leave empty until you get ready to go, or leave it near full when sitting for a few weeks?

Getting ready for my 3300 (ish) mile trip, and just curious.

Thanks

Depends, if it's going to be around 2 weeks or more before next trip, we drain. If it's the next week, we leave it in there.

We generally travel with 1/4 - 1/3 fresh water, just in case an emergency pit stop is needed.

[dryfly]

What's the benefit of draining the water heater? I can see not leaving water in it for months, but once the water is heated and cycled out of the heater why drain?

[offtohavasu]

Being in Southern California, I fill it before I store it. The trailer is our backup for "The Big One". I drain it (water the plants) to about a 1/3 full when traveling for restroom breaks.

[tfgd21bhe]

Thanks tfgd, makes sence, I haven't done it, but will drain the tank now and water heater and prep for fresh.......do you apply any bleach before fresh water added?
Thanks again.

I bleach sanitize at the beginning of the season and if the trailer has had to sit for a few months with no use.