Fresh water tank

Barbt

Guest
How do I stop my fresh water tank from losing water while I travel - it seems to syphon out from the overflow and when I get to my destination I have hardly any water left.
 
fresh water tank

no, there's no leak - we've had all that checked - the water just seems to slosh into the overflow and then out. Even if we only half fill the tank we seem to have little left at the end of our journey - help!!
 
How about blocking the overflow or removing it?

I don't see why you need an overflow anyway ;)
 
Hi

What form of overflow do you have? Is a hole in the top of tank or a valve or pipe or???
If a pipe are both ends firmly connected to something

Richard
 
I'm not sure why you need an overflow. Is it simply the drain for the tank and the tap has been left on?
 
Fresh Water Tank

If the overflow was originaly just a hole in the top of the tank and someone has fitted a pipe this could cause a syphon to occur as you are driving try removing the pipe for a trip or two ---- any pipe going in the tank could cause this syphon effect when water starts to slosh around.
Alf
 
My Hymer is fitted with a pipe in the filler pipe that acts as a breather when water is drawn off. It also drains the excess from the filler neck if the tank is overfilled. When I drive if the tank is brim full it can drop some water from this pipe. There are baffles in the tank to prevent excess slopping about.

The OP does not say what type of tank is fitted. Is it a water container or a properly designed tank? What motorhome is being used?

John
 
fresh water tank

Motorhome - Autocruise Valentine - 2001

The tank is a properly fitted water tank. The water sloshes around and then goes out of the overflow while we are travelling - would it be ok to block the overflow?
 
If it is a purpose made motorhome tank then it should be sealed apart from the overflow (assuming that the filler and any inspection cover is properly tightened).

What you can do is to modify the overflow pipework. You would need to fit a short vertical section of pipe from the tank outlet and connect that with flexi pipe (or rigid plastic if you wish) to the existing.

If your overflow comes out of the top of the tank and you are short of height, then fabricate a large U bend into the system. The only downside to that would be draining it in Winter.

Basically, you are stopping a free flow by putting an obstruction of sorts into the line. If you were to overfill your tank by mistake, the excess water would still run out as it is still an open ended pipe.

I tend to travel with the minimum of water but I check in advance for places I can fill up just before (or at) my destination.
 
Barbt said:
Motorhome - Autocruise Valentine - 2001

The tank is a properly fitted water tank. The water sloshes around and then goes out of the overflow while we are travelling - would it be ok to block the overflow?
Click to expand...

If you can tell us more about the overflow then we will be better able to help you.
 
I have looked at my fresh water tank this afternoon after reading these post. I have an overflow pipe protruding out from the top/side of the tank.
 
The tank overflow usually operates as a breather as well, the end of the pipe should only protrude into the tank by a few mm, if it goes lower in the tank water will continue to siphon until level with the bottom of the overflow.

Ideally the overflow should be at the highest point in the tank.

The breather part of the overflow is required to make sure that when water is drawn from the tank it does not cause a vacuum and suck the tank out of shape - rare but can happen if the filler cap has a good seal.

If you have a hot water service it will have an overpressure or frost valve which might be open and will siphon water, just double check that the frost valve has not opened and is causing your problems.
 
I've got a similar set up on my Autotrail. During my first few trips away I couldn't understand how I appeared to use so much water - until a friend following me one day commented on the amount of water sloshing out on every bend.

Easily cured by sticking a cork in the end of the overflow before traveling!
 
I suspect it is an air entry as opposed to a water outlet which should have either a simple one way valve or should be fixed well above the tank to prevent it syphoning or sloshing out. I would not bung it up as its there for a reason and I would forget to remove the bung:) Something like a piece of rubber gas pipe with a loose cap on it should sort the problem.
 
Our Kontiki is the same and on a long journey the way I drive I can loose about a quarter of a tank. I dont care though, its the Mrs who is Anal about water, women cant see to live without it for some reason.
 
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