Thread: Water tank woes

Yeah, that's been weird ever since you've had it. The plastic tank in the caravan only starts to taste funny if the water sits there for weeks, but fresh water in it each time is fine. That's decades old, so my experience says go plastic.

I'm sure others will have other thoughts.

Solder?

Sounds strange to me. I hope they used a silver solder and not lead.
Maybe the solder is leeching into the water. If it were mine, I'd use a plastic tank with suitable protection from stones.

What are you using to fill it ?
A garden hose will make it taste like ... We'll never mind it's tastes like garden hose .
Get a food grade hose and try it .
Also rinse the tank with either vanilla essence , I carb of soda or cheap option ...red cordial .
In my experience steel , whether stainless or not will taste " funny " plastic is a safe bet .

My stainless tank has never tasted funny but always filled using food grade hose. However I am changing to plastic due to leak issues at spot welds. Plastic can also taste wrong if incorrect plastic used.

Scott

I did wonder about the type of solder used, but this is the first time I've ever had taste issues with stainless, but I have had it with plastic. That being said, it has been a long time since I've had a bad taste from plastic, but then again, I generally only have the bottled water especially these days.
Is there a better type of tank to get, or will most RV/Van places just have the right units?

My camper has a plastic tank and when we bought it new in 2011 our water the first time we used it tasted like Polystyrene

We flushed it a couple of time`s using the bi- soda trick and all good since.

I never leave water sit in the tank when it is not in use , Although i do use a garden hose to fill it with no strange taste so that is myth busted at our place

Can't throw any definitive light on your tank issue although lead in the solder may be a possible one. What about the actual lines/pipes/hoses? I would assume that it wasn't caused by the pump.

As a tank cleaning product I have never used anything but citric acid (usually powder but on occasions actual lemon or lime juice). However our 2 x 60L poly tanks on the Adventure were never a problem and were filled by the closest garden hose for over 10 years.

The Kimberley only has 1 x 70L tank and so I have been investigating additional options. Send a PM and I can give you every website link in Australia.

Funny I have met several people in my travels who have had camper trailers with stainless tanks that have split open, usually at the baffles.

The theory told to me by one is that the weight of water causes the sheet to flex , work harden then crack, which calls into question the practice of using stainless for water tanks regardless of how attractive it is in theory.

On the other hand my bog stock 65 litre plastic tank soldiers on, although one did wear through after about 12 years including lots of off road and had to be replaced for the princely sum of $85.
Regards Philip A