How to keep the freshwater tank tasting and smelling sweet

G

GxK

New member
The informative thread on odors related to the head prompts me to ask:

What is the best treatment for keeping the freshwater tank tasting and smelling sweet?

We were shocked the other day at the foul smell that came from the faucet when we hadn't used the boat for only five days.

--Georgs
 
Personally, I'd throw in 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach before refilling it, then let it sit for an hour or so and siphon/pump it dry. A piece of plastic tubing pressed over the faucet and thrown over the side of the trailer will siphon it dry nicely after a couple of pumps to start the process.

If it's really foul, do it twice.

Once clean, there's stuff available at Camping World which will supposedly keep water sweet. I don't trust adding more chemicals so we carry bottled water for drinking and if we carry a full tank for washing/cooking, I add a teaspoon of Chlorine bleach just to be safe. We do the same thing in our RV.

Don
 
I'd recommend a great little book by "the head mistress" - Peggie Hall - Get Rid of Boat Odors. She has a section on commissioning or refreshing a water tank. Basically, it's a chlorine solution soak > rinse > white vinegar solution soak > rinse > fill. Plenty of used copies on amazon, but their discounted price is about the same.

Cheers,

Bruce
 
The stinkiest thing that comes from the boat water tap is old, reheated water from the hot water tank. Even one time of reheating the water can release tons of sulfur dioxide (rotten egg smell).

The secret there is to avoid reheating water. You can run the hot water tank thru the tap, or drain it before plugging in the heater.

What I try to do is to use water from the hot water tank most of time, even if I'm away from shorepower until it is no longer hot.

I too sometimes put about 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach in the water, fill the tank and drain it, or just use it for cleaning with the chlorine in it. I usually do not drink the tank water, but do have a cheap, Walgreen's filter pitcher which filters out all but the plastic taste which I have used to make coffee at times.

Even chlorine will not stop the smell of reheated hot water tank water. Our tank has a handy drain valve which could drain it all out. I have the habit of using all the remaining hot water cleaning up before leaving the boat and AFTER shutting off the 110V Water Heater breaker switch.

'Hope this helps,

John
 
I fill the water tank with one of those white drinking water safe hoses, and drain the tank after each trip-if I remember. I’ve also found pumping the first few squirts down the drain before drinking any; the water takes on the hose smell if not used for an hour or so no matter what.
 
We follow Sneaks on both our RV and boats. As he says, carry separate drinking water (or drink Vodka). Zelpha
 
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