Fresh water drain valve

[j_a_wolfe]

Good afternoon all,
We just bought a 2012 36RL and I'm prepping for our first trip. I like to clean and sanitize after flushing the antifreeze but I have an issue. I've located what I believe to be the low point drains, a red and blue handled set of valves. Just forward of them is another small valve that I was assuming was the fresh water tank drain. It barely drips when opened. I've run a short rod up the tube to verify that the valve is open but there's an elbow preventing any further probing. Do I have the right valve and, if so, what could be keeping it from draining the freshwater tank?

TIA,
Jim

[Rick and Mindy]

Not sure, but have you tried opening a faucet inside the RV while the valve is open?

[j_a_wolfe]

R&M,
It's not like a lack of make up air. With the filling cap off, you should not get a vacuum. This is more like a valve or blockage allowing a tiny trickle.
Jim

[Rick and Mindy]

Maybe you could try a compressor and put a little pressure through the line and see if something is clogging the drain line. I wish I could give you some more answers but to be honest with you, I never use my freshwater tank. I don't boondock and I don't travel with water in the tank so I never really deal with that tank.

[hoosierguy]

Originally Posted by j_a_wolfe

Good afternoon all,
We just bought a 2012 36RL and I'm prepping for our first trip. I like to clean and sanitize after flushing the antifreeze but I have an issue. I've located what I believe to be the low point drains, a red and blue handled set of valves. Just forward of them is another small valve that I was assuming was the fresh water tank drain. It barely drips when opened. I've run a short rod up the tube to verify that the valve is open but there's an elbow preventing any further probing. Do I have the right valve and, if so, what could be keeping it from draining the freshwater tank?

TIA,
Jim

From what you are indicating, that is the fresh water tank drain valve. In my experience, the water does not drain very fast from the tank and can take a few hours. Usually a small stream about 1/4 inch in diameter.

[j_a_wolfe]

I'd already tried the air but went back and got a little more aggressive and that did it. I found the aerators partially clogged with a fibrous material. I think they must have left water in the tank and now I have algae in the tank. Nothing toxic but not very appealing either. We'll deal with it after the season.
Thanx
Jim

[hoosierguy]

Originally Posted by j_a_wolfe

I'd already tried the air but went back and got a little more aggressive and that did it. I found the aerators partially clogged with a fibrous material. I think they must have left water in the tank and now I have algae in the tank. Nothing toxic but not very appealing either. We'll deal with it after the season.
Thanx
Jim

I recommend that you sanitize the fresh water tank at least once per year with Chlorox.

[j_a_wolfe]

Hoosierguy~ We always clean and sanitize at the beginning of the season. If we go more than 45 days without using the freshwater tank, we re-sanitize. Doesn't take long and keeps the wooly boogers from showing up. We had a water heater go stinky once and we'll not do that again.
Thanx,
Jim

[atom ant]

I don't know about 2012, but there are two blue lines attached to the tank on mine. The drain has a valve, and then there is another non-valved blue line behind it a ways that flows water when the tank is near full. I valved mine but normally it does not have a valve (arrow in pic below).



I also have a white one between the low point drains that is another tank overflow, shown here with an arrow.



I use a turkey baster to blow air back up through that silly valved drain line. I think mine has turnings from construction in there, and fixing it is low on my list. If I see it start to trickle down, a few blasts from the baster gives me full flow for a while.