Freshwater Tank flush

[Seute Deern]

Hello, after I bought my 2005 Hunter 38, I was told the fresh water tank was barely used at all.
So I filled it up with cleaning chemicals and wanted to flush, but could not find a drain or other valve to empty the tank quick, running the faucets and use the pressure pump I assume is not the way to do it. Can anybody tell me how to do it and in case there is a drain where is it?

 

[JamesG161]

How about a wet shop vacuum cleaner though the level sensor hole?

No drains on my 2 fresh water tanks.
_____
My spring cleaning is done by normal use, with out Clorox, but my method is not the common way in the forum.
My Tanks are Aluminum and Clorox will react with Aluminum.

We just use the "treated" water as normal and do each tank once a year. We seldom use that water for drinking.
Jim...

 

[quadrille38]

On my 38 the water tank is under the V berth. The plumbing connects to the tank in the storage area accessed at the front of the berth. You could disconnect the pex plumbing from the tank, attach a hose to it and drain it to the bilge.

The only other way is to run the faucets.

 

[SG]

We always use the freshwater pump because we want to flush the whole system. (Our pump is a 4 gpm Shurflo.)

Flushing whenever we don't cycle the tanks every week or two keeps them fresher. We seldom have to use a shock treatment with chlorine bleach. If you're on a non-chlorinated system, you might have to add a LITTLE chlorine occasionally. I'm a believer in minimalism with chlorine unless you have the goo of life growing in your tanks. If you taste or smell it -- you need to flush it and add just enough chlorine to kill the bugs. Ultimately you need not to just treat the tank, but the system. I think the hoses are often a worse problem. Every line needs to be flushed.

In the tank, you use muliples of 1/2 oz's. I think just a background chlorination is 1/2 oz per 10 gallons.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Actually draining the tank via the faucets is the right way to do it because you need to flush out the plumbing too. I recommend you recommission the system...you'll find complete instructions on this site if you search the plumbing and sanitation forum archives for "Fresh water maintenance." (They're also in both editions of my book, btw...see link in my signature for the newest one).

 

[Hunter Ad Bot]

And now a word from the sponsor...

Legend-era interior teak oil

This is the factory teak oil used on the interior of the Legend-era boats. In stock for fast shipment.
See the product

 

[FastOlson]

I used to use the pressure pump to completely drain out our tank, but with 38 gallons, it seemed like extra wear on the pump.
(I have replaced that pump before, when it died, and it was expansive.)

A friend of mine put me onto the idea of using a small "bilge pump" with a long hose and a two conductor wire long enough to reach from inside the tank to a 12 volt plug in. I still run some thru the tubing and faucet, but the bulk of the water is now pulled out much faster, and the end of the hose is clamped into the galley sink.

Our tank has a couple of 6" clean out ports that I added, so a small Atwood pump can be inserted sideways and down to the bottom of the tank. I bought this little centrifugal pump new for about $15., and it's reserved for this purpose only.
BTW, if you do not have a clean out port, I strongly recommend that you install one. It's great to be able to drink clean water from the tank, just like we would at home. Regular cleaning of the tank is the key.

Cheers,
Loren

 

[Seute Deern]

How about a wet shop vacuum cleaner though the level sensor hole?

No drains on my 2 fresh water tanks.
_____
My spring cleaning is done by normal use, with out Clorox, but my method is not the common way in the forum.
My Tanks are Aluminum and Clorox will react with Aluminum.

We just use the "treated" water as normal and do each tank once a year. We seldom use that water for drinking.
Jim...

 

[Seute Deern]

Using a shop Vacuum sounds doable, but flushing the hoses makes sense.Thx

 

[Seute Deern]

On my 38 the water tank is under the V berth. The plumbing connects to the tank in the storage area accessed at the front of the berth. You could disconnect the pex plumbing from the tank, attach a hose to it and drain it to the bilge.

The only other way is to run the faucets.

 

[Seute Deern]

OK, disconnect the plex plumbing is definetly a rather quick way to empty the tank. Will do that,thx.
Flushing the whole system via pump makes sense, too.

 

[Seute Deern]

Actually draining the tank via the faucets is the right way to do it because you need to flush out the plumbing too. I recommend you recommission the system...you'll find complete instructions on this site if you search the plumbing and sanitation forum archives for "Fresh water maintenance." (They're also in both editions of my book, btw...see link in my signature for the newest one).

 

[Seute Deern]

Sounds good thx, for the help.

 

[Seute Deern]

I used to use the pressure pump to completely drain out our tank, but with 38 gallons, it seemed like extra wear on the pump.
(I have replaced that pump before, when it died, and it was expansive.)

A friend of mine put me onto the idea of using a small "bilge pump" with a long hose and a two conductor wire long enough to reach from inside the tank to a 12 volt plug in. I still run some thru the tubing and faucet, but the bulk of the water is now pulled out much faster, and the end of the hose is clamped into the galley sink.

Our tank has a couple of 6" clean out ports that I added, so a small Atwood pump can be inserted sideways and down to the bottom of the tank. I bought this little centrifugal pump new for about $15., and it's reserved for this purpose only.
BTW, if you do not have a clean out port, I strongly recommend that you install one. It's great to be able to drink clean water from the tank, just like we would at home. Regular cleaning of the tank is the key.

Cheers,
Loren

I like the idea of the bilge pump this seem to be a set up which can help. Not sure adding a clean out port.
Thx, for the reply I received good ideas and help.