A couple gallons of water + tank treatments for overwinter storage in the mine?

[steelmooch]

Hello, all...thanks for your time and consideration. 

Our TT has been on its last camping trip for the season.  Thanks filled and dumped, re-filled with clean water and dumped again. 

I'm sure the tanks are clean within reason, but we've not done anything special with wands, treatments, etc. 

Would you add some water + tank treatment packs to the black and gray tanks for 5 months of storage in an underground mine?  Another approach? 

Thanks! 

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I probably would NOT add water or chemicals, but I see no problem if you choose to do so.

 

[kdbgoat]

I wouldn't leave any water in the tanks if you expect below freezing weather. If you want to leave a liquid in them, use RV antifreeze.

 

[Larry N.]

I wouldn't leave any water in the tanks if you expect below freezing weather. If you want to leave a liquid in them, use RV antifreeze.

Far enough underground (most mines?) and it won't freeze.

 

[glen54737]

I stored in the limestone mine in Kansas City didn't put any water in the tanks but had to verify the propane was shutoff. It's 62 degrees in there year round. 

 

[Back2PA]

Steelmooch, you store at Brady's Bend, right? I stored my previous rig there. Was always a weird feeling driving a motorhome into the side of a mountain.


I used to put about 5 gallons of water in the gray and black tanks, and fill the fresh water with slightly heavily chlorinated water, running each faucet until I could smell the chlorine. That way everything stayed wet, and I never ended up with foul water from a faucet.


I used to buy a couple of their dehumidifier buckets, no idea if they actually worked. Pretty humid down there and never had mildew problems so maybe they did.

 

[steelmooch]

Thanks, everyone! 

Scott - pretty nearby at Toy's Underground Storage in Cabot, PA.  An old limestone mine turned winter storage facility. 

You're right...it feels pretty strange driving down in.  All of the places they spray-painted blaze orange...where presumably someone touched/scraped once...also keeps you on your toes.   

It's not supposed to drop below 60 in there, so freezing isn't a concern.  Thanks to everyone for the suggestions! 

Happy Travels! 

 

[Rene T]

I would also put a tablespoon of vegetable oil in the toilet and traps. The will stop the water from evaporating. I do it every year at my house when we leave for FL for 6 months. Water never disappears.

 

[steelmooch]

Thank you for that insight!  Will do. 

 

[cerd]

I would make sure that you wand out the black water tank. I didn't do that after one of our weekend trips this year. One month later, we had a bunch of flies in the cab when we took it out camping again.

It turns out, there was some waste that didn't flush out when I dumped it. Flies got in there and had a gay ole time. They ate the heck out of my legs while I was sleeping. We thought that they were coming from outside. Coincidentally, we had a leak develop from the line that the toilet was connected to and I had to take out the toilet for a full diagnosis and it seems that the toilet was also not sealed properly. I found fly eggs inside of the shell for the toilet; not even in the tank. From now on, I am going to make damn sure that I wand the toilet and tank and add treatment, to kill any bugs that may have gotten inside.

I am currently remodeling the bathroom due to the water damage from the leak and I will be adding a fitting to use the wand, powered from the onboard pump and the freshwater tank.

 

[Gizmo100]

I would also put a tablespoon of vegetable oil in the toilet and traps. The will stop the water from evaporating. I do it every year at my house when we leave for FL for 6 months. Water never disappears.

WOW ...Great idea for the home. We have 4 bathrooms and it's just the 2 of us now. Every week I run water in the 2 unused bathrooms to keep the water trap filled. THANKS

 

[Rene T]

WOW ...Great idea for the home. We have 4 bathrooms and it's just the 2 of us now. Every week I run water in the 2 unused bathrooms to keep the water trap filled. THANKS

Here are the results of a test I did:

http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,88969.msg801468.html#msg801468