My freshwater is coming out blackish color

[Flame]

Silly question but how do I drain my freshwater tank? Seems like there is a valve under the couch?? When I flush the toilet the water that comes in is gray/blackish color. Didn't use to be that way. How do I solve this issue? After draining I assume I could run bleach water thru the system? I don't drink this water and basically all it is ever used for is flushing the toilet.

[chin_k]

There is a stop cock near the pump that drains under the floor. If you look under the coach, you will see a plastic tubing right above the dually on the driver side. When the stop cock is opened, the water should drains out. I usually drive my rig onto a ramp to help with the drainage, but it will take a llllooonnnggg time to drain. I think the water from the tank comes out of the bottom, and there is a tee where one goes to the pump, and the other goes to the stop cock (more of a needle valve).

Check with a flash light thru the PEX tubing to make sure it is clear. Maybe you can see where the water get discolored. I suspect either some cynobacteria (a type of blue green algae) or something that got oxidized in the supply line. Find out where the discoloration is cause by. I don't think you want to have the issue continue even if you just want to flush toilet with it.

[Kirah]

Yuck.

I have run bleach through my system several times, either as a response to odor (usually from the water heater, RIP) or just to kind of freshen things up after it had been sitting a long time in the heat. My main tip is to get one of those scoop-shaped automotive funnels, because it's otherwise really hard to pour bleach into the freshwater inlet.

[SMan]

Although we don't use our freshwater tank for drinking I add a little bleach to it when filling at least once a year. And yes those automotive ATF funnels are perfect for this!

[Scott]

I tiny bit of bleach is fine, but try to go easy, or skip it entirely. It's not friendly to the plumbing in high concentrations. If bleach is regularly needed to keep things bright, then there's probably something else going on. Most municipal water has trace amounts of chlorine in it anyway.

Flame, It sounds like something's askew. There aren't many components to the fresh water system, so isolating the issue should be straight forward. The first thing I'd remove/replace is the tank breather hose. They're usually disgusting. A foul breather hose wouldn't explain your situation, but it's still worth doing.

[chin_k]

Frame:
If the water in the tank is clear, then it is somewhere between the pump and the toilet. Is the water the same nasty color from the other outputs? ( bathroom sink, kitchen sink and the outside shower)

It can be a deteriorated head on the pump that give you the color. So did you find out where the discoloring starts?

BTW, the chlorine (or more likely, chloramine) in the water does not make it an effective disinfectant for the plumbing system.

[Flame]

Well, thanks everyone for your replies. I may have screwed up and jumped the gun. First off ...no I did not check the water color at any other receptacle and now I have completely drained the system. It really did not look bad coming out and had no apparent smell. I thought a little more might be better because I do not drink the water soooo, I mixed in about a whole quart of bleach while refilling the tank!! Now I find out that is BAD on the system. 2 things...should I go back and completely redrain the tank or should I drive around with it awhile and then drain? or can I leave that much bleach in there? Second thing...while filling the tank with a waterhose just stuck in the "fill" hole everything was going well. Water started running out so I knew it was full or overfull. There is a small "vent" hole to the right of the fill hole and something went "pop" and excess water started coming out of that!! I saw it "shoot" something out on the ground out of that hole but I cannot see a thing that it might have been. Didn't help I was working on a rock driveway. Anyway, was that hole supposed to be plugged? Was maybe it just a bug or dirt dabber popped out of it? I feel pretty dumb today!! Headin to Iowa next week and I need everything right!!

[chin_k]

The little plug that pop out is a very expensive and hard to find part! Just kidding, it is probably some dirt or bug that crawl in there. This is why some people put a filter in there to help with contaminant being sucked in when the water pump is working.

If you are worry about damage of the bleach, I would drain the tank, and refill it with fresh water, drive around a bit, and drain it again. There are chemical that you can use to neutralize bleach, but I don't think you want to go with that in this situation.

[Flame]

Alright Chin...you got me!! Never was so glad to hear you were joking!! I told my wife what you said and she said "Great,another comedian!!" Hah!! I'm just glad I didn't screw something up!! I took your advise and I actually have the "Land Shark" backed on a slope now and will let the tank drain out again overnight. Tomorrow I will refill and start over. Thanks for your help ….even though you scared the crap outa me! But I can take a joke. Even when it's on me.

[SMan]

Ummm when I add a little bleach I mean like 1/2 an ounce. A little goes a long way.