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Old 04-23-2014, 05:39 PM   #1
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How long to drain frest water tank?

I ask because I was surprised at how long it took. Just bought yesterday. The fresh was full when I was leaving the dealer and the valve was open to drain. I drove for 7 hours and still had water coming out of the fresh water low point drain. Not the 2 for the lines, only the one for the tank. I will have to investigate to see if there is a blockage or something. Just wondering if this has been seen and what the regular drain time is. I believe I have an 80 gallon tank - I haven't had time to run through all of the paperwork, nor is my memory the greatest.
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Old 04-23-2014, 05:51 PM   #2
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I have a 90 gallon tank only filled it once and it took forever to drain. I think it just has a very small line to drain.
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Old 04-23-2014, 05:53 PM   #3
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I have a 90 gallon tank and it takes a while. There is a lot of water that needs to make it out those very narrow drain valves. Also, if you are traveling, the water sloshes around, so you might be getting some water that normally doesn't make it to the drain might still be coming out. FW tank drains are often mounted on the side of the tank, and not the bottom. Also, the bottom of the tank often distends when filled, so you may actually have several gallons of water left in your FW tank even when the water stops coming out.
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Old 04-23-2014, 06:14 PM   #4
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If you Imagine a 1 gallon milk jug being filled by the drain....x80 ..... It takes a long time.

Also, in some states you will get pulled over for water draining while driving, even if it's fresh water
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Old 04-24-2014, 09:51 AM   #5
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Is there a reason (other than $) that they can't put a real drain line on those tanks?
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Old 04-24-2014, 09:59 AM   #6
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I apologize for asking but how often should the fresh water be drained? I have only camped twice and have not drained fresh water tank, not even sure how? sorry
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Old 04-24-2014, 10:13 AM   #7
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I apologize for asking but how often should the fresh water be drained? I have only camped twice and have not drained fresh water tank, not even sure how? sorry
At home I always run the water a bit to draw a glass of water. While we don't use our fresh water tank often, I alway drain it when we're thru using it. You should also do a search here on how to sanitize it. But others who actually use theirs should have a better answer.
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Old 04-24-2014, 10:17 AM   #8
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When full mine takes hours to drain, not 7, but ~3 hrs.
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Old 04-24-2014, 10:34 AM   #9
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Is there a reason (other than $) that they can't put a real drain line on those tanks?
That's kind of what I was thinking. I'm going to put it on my list to check that next time I have the rig in the driveway. It might actually be worth the trouble to put a bigger valve on those drains...

Also, I agree, it takes a long time, but nowhere near 7 hrs. My theory on your issue is there's a little left that shakes out after driving...?
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Old 04-24-2014, 10:42 AM   #10
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To speed things up, why not flip the pump switch on and open the faucets around the RV and then just open the grey tank to empty the water?

Or again, instead of going through the grey tank, open the low point drains on the waterlines... the pump would speed up the process I'm sure
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Old 04-24-2014, 10:47 AM   #11
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To speed things up, why not flip the pump switch on and open the faucets around the RV and then just open the grey tank to empty the water?

Or again, instead of going through the grey tank, open the low point drains on the waterlines... the pump would speed up the process I'm sure

That is my plan from now on. It would be a matter of a few minutes compared to hours. I would have done that from the start, but I was leaving the dealer and didn't have any option. I really wanted to get that water out so I didn't have to carry it for the 7 hour drive.
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Old 04-24-2014, 10:59 AM   #12
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Not sure why your dealer actually filled it up, but I would sanitize it just to make sure it is properly cleaned
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Old 04-24-2014, 11:15 AM   #13
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I was buying it new and they had to test everything.
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Old 04-24-2014, 11:58 AM   #14
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Not sure why your dealer actually filled it up, but I would sanitize it just to make sure it is properly cleaned
+1. I don't think they sanitized mine, and it was kind of funky until I sanitized it before our last trip. Luckily we don't use the water in the tank for much other than on the road potty stops or washing hands after dumping...

I ran the pump while dumping mine, and gave up after about 10 minutes. I didn't feel comfortable running the pump that long. So I just put on what DW affectionately refers to as my "patience hat" and waited for it to drain on its own. I think it took about 2 hrs or so. I made myself busy with other things while I waited.
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Old 04-24-2014, 12:27 PM   #15
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I rarely dry camp, so I only keep "some" water in the tank, like 5 gallons or so.
I never have to winterize, so I keep water in the tank year round.
In California, we are permitted to allow clean water to drain out on the highway (model is a truck with ice cooling and draining the water off). But I prefer to keep some in the tank for things that come up.
I sanitize every couple of years, seems to have worked. If you live in a very hot climate, have or get water from questionable sources or sources with a lot of "stuff" in the water, you may need to do things differently.
When I sanitize, I do not fill the tank, just enough water to fill the WH and all the pipes. I sanitize on the way to or from a full hook-up site, so sloshing takes care of the tank internals. The solution will have at least 2 hours to work on whatever crud is present, then I drain, run fresh water, refill the tank with ~5 galons and I am good to go.
If I am dry camping, then I fill with more water, maybe to the full point, use an external filter to knock down whatever is present in the water and have fun.
I carry a 5 gallon portable rank filled with water from home, and use that if I run dry.
If possible, I drain out whatever remains the morning I leave and then refill with my water from home when I park the trailer (I store ~20 minutes from home).

Good Luck!
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Old 04-24-2014, 01:11 PM   #16
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I fully drain after every use. The water heater I typically drain to, but I may leave water in it up to two weeks. I sanitize every spring. It is on my mod list to replace the drain valve with one with less internal restrictions. If I recall, the drain tube is 3/8 or 1/2 inch, but the outlet of the valve was like 1/8".
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Old 04-28-2014, 02:24 PM   #17
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I removed the tiny drain valve and installed a plastic toilet valve which just screwed in. My fresh water tank now drains in about 10 minutes rather than several hours. Cost of upgrade was about $5.
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Old 04-28-2014, 03:16 PM   #18
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I removed the tiny drain valve and installed a plastic toilet valve which just screwed in. My fresh water tank now drains in about 10 minutes rather than several hours. Cost of upgrade was about $5.
Can you post up a link to that valve?
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Old 04-28-2014, 03:45 PM   #19
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The valve was a standard toilet shutoff valve available at any hardware store. It had 1/2" male pipe threads and that is what screwed into the tank. Here is one on Amazon for $9. http://www.amazon.com/Angle-Simple-S...+shutoff+valve
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Old 04-28-2014, 03:54 PM   #20
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I ran the pump while dumping mine, and gave up after about 10 minutes. I didn't feel comfortable running the pump that long.
No need to worry about the pump. They are very robust and can actually run dry without damage. Some years back I was dewinterizing and sanitizing my system. Apparently when I was draining the fresh water tank, I forgot to turn the pump off. I went in the house, ate dinner, relaxed a while, and went to bed. The next morning I went outside and was near the trailer and heard a faint vibrating sound. It was the pump. It ran all dry and was running all night long. I filled the tank again and it took a bit but once the pump re-primed itself it worked fine after that. Never had any trouble with it.
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