Drain Fresh Water

[marksiemer]

I just purchased a new travel trailer and filled the fresh water tank. I see that there is a white handle at the bottom that appears to drain it when I am finished. However, I also noticed there are two other hoses, red and blue, do those need to be opened as well to drain fresh water when I am finished with it?

[PARAPTOR]

No, those are your hot and cold low point drains

Nothing to do with FWT draining
White one drains FWT

[marksiemer]

Originally Posted by PARAPTOR

No, those are your hot and cold low point drains

Nothing to do with FWT draining
White one drains FWT

Please forgive me, I am still new to this and do not know all of the lingo yet. What is a low point drain? I thought everything drained into wither the grey or black tank?

[canesfan]

The red and blue low point drains are used for winterizing. They allow you to drain most of the water from the plumbing system before you add antifreeze to it.

The white drain is to empty your fresh water tank when you need to. You don't need to drain the entire system every time. Might want to if it's going to be sitting idle for awhile. I only drain mine at the end of the season.

Your gray and black tanks are used when you are USING water (e.g. shower, toilet, sink), not when you are draining water.

[fourfourto]

Under the water tank should be a drain,its very slow.
the other ones are for winterizing to get h20 out of internal lines before using antifreeze.

[fourfourto]

to slow to post canesfan beat me to it

[PARAPTOR]

The black and gray tanks are associated with waste water, gray for sinks and shower, black for toilet

Low point drains as named is the lowest point for your rigs hot and cold water sources. Like if you want to drain your source water system hot and cold or say get all antifreeze out during dewinterize you would open these to get all out. AGIN lowest point of your rigs water source

[canesfan]

Originally Posted by fourfourto

to slow to post canesfan beat me to it

LOL, not as slow as Paraptor.

[PARAPTOR]

Soooo true small phone, bad eyes, etc. . Canesfan LOOK.

[Canonman]

Originally Posted by marksiemer

Please forgive me, I am still new to this and do not know all of the lingo yet. What is a low point drain? I thought everything drained into wither the grey or black tank?

You are correct in that all "drained water" does go into the holding tanks. What about the water that is in the supply lines going to the faucets and toilet?
You might want to google "winterizing" your TT as well as "summerizing". The low point drains are for completely evacuating your hot and cold water lines in preparation for winter storage. Besides emptying your tanks, you will need to "empty" the lines to each faucet, shower, toilet etc. In other words empty all the water from the lines before the drains as part of winterizing your TT. This is important stuff if you live in an area that freezes hard during the winter. Several good you tube videos to explain the process. If you need more help just ask

[PARAPTOR]

Draining FWT is like watching paint dry, although great time for adult beverages

[flybouy]

Think of a coffee or tea urn. You get the drink from the bottom of the urm (or tank) and if you leave that valve open you will empty the urn (tank). As previously pointed out, this makes draining the water lines easier, just open the drain valve and open the faucet that's the greatest distance away from the tank to allow air to enter.
Hope this helps.

[chuckster57]

The FWT doesn't need to be COMPLETELY empty. Think of it as an ice cube tray, as long as there is room for expansion it won't crack.

[marksiemer]

Thanks guys. So far everyone has been extremely helpful. So to add to my first question, how long can fresh water sit? Our camp is dry and the trailer will sit there most of the season. I have a 55 gallon drum in the back of my truck that I plan to pump into the fresh water tank each time I camp. Should I drain the FWT after each trip or us it okay to sit for a fee weeks at a time?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

[flybouy]

This could be helpful.. http://extension.psu.edu/natural-res...ing-or-cooking
From my experiences over the past 40+ years of boating and camping, heat is a huge factor, and of course the quality of the water to begin with. When you have those hot summer days any bacteria will be happy to grow.

[marksiemer]

Originally Posted by flybouy

This could be helpful.. http://extension.psu.edu/natural-res...ing-or-cooking
From my experiences over the past 40+ years of boating and camping, heat is a huge factor, and of course the quality of the water to begin with. When you have those hot summer days any bacteria will be happy to grow.

Thank you for the link. So, do you typically keep your tanks empty when not in use? Or what is your rule of thumb before emptying the tank and adding fresh?

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by marksiemer

Thanks guys. So far everyone has been extremely helpful. So to add to my first question, how long can fresh water sit? Our camp is dry and the trailer will sit there most of the season. I have a 55 gallon drum in the back of my truck that I plan to pump into the fresh water tank each time I camp. Should I drain the FWT after each trip or us it okay to sit for a fee weeks at a time?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

How long will it be sitting? Will you be constantly cycling water through it when you are there? If so, how often is that?

I've drank water from stock tanks, stock ponds, horse/cow troughs etc. most of my life. Granted, the older I've gotten the more I think about it. What I'm getting at is that water is pretty "forgiving" for lack of a better term unless we just put something in it that will hurt you....or let it grow, hence the question about the frequency of cycling the water.

If you are at the trailer and using water frequently every 2-3 weeks IMO you would be fine. I've let mine sit a month with no ill effects. I do sanitize the water system each year. I don't know that I would want it to sit some place for months without draining it......you just can't see what's going on in there

[CrazyCain]

Originally Posted by PARAPTOR

Draining FWT is like watching paint dry, although great time for adult beverages

LOLOL

[edward]

Look for the tube with the petcock on the drain. Removing it would let it drain faster.
The drain just behind the rear axle near the center of the trailer. Put a plastic ball valve might make things easier. Be sure only to twist the cap. In my case the entire pipe was turning and had to unscrew it, only to find that it was a threaded. I got the pipe removed and screwed in a plastic valve. Professional plumbers toronto might help you in this matter.

[gearhead]

I've drank Falstaff beer but I don't drink RV tank water.
Bourbon or bottled water.
Actually you would be ok if the water you are hauling and refilling with is municipal water with some chlorine in it. Just drain it and the end of the season.