Winter - water tanks

[IanJackson]

leaving boat over winter - should I empty the water tanks or keep them full?

 

[vyv_cox]

Look at the two photographs at the bottom of this page. That's what happens when you leave tanks, or in this case a calorifier and accumulator, full of water over winter. Even if it doesn't freeze where you are the water will acquire a taste in six months of stagnation.

 

[Blue5]

Look at the two photographs at the bottom of this page. That's what happens when you leave tanks, or in this case a calorifier and accumulator, full of water over winter. Even if it doesn't freeze where you are the water will acquire a taste in six months of stagnation.

Would dosing the tanks with Milton or similar help prevent stagnation?

 

[AIDY]

leaving boat over winter - should I empty the water tanks or keep them full?

empty water tanks and leave taps open, which stops the seals blowing...

leave fuel tanks full.

 

[vyv_cox]

Would dosing the tanks with Milton or similar help prevent stagnation?

Milton most definitely helps. The word is that lemon juice does also but I've never tried it.

Last year I left water in my tank in Greece when leaving in something of a rush in August. This July the water stunk of H2S. We dosed with Milton and flushed through a couple of times, completely eradicating the smell.

 

[Searush]

I usually leave my water tanks part full because of the hassle of draining them. If it freezes there is room for expansion. It is a s/steel tank & not so far had a problem, even when out of the water. But last winter was VERY cold & I was glad she stayed in the water. I don't worry too much about taste as the residal water is mostly used for cleaning in the spring.

I always drain the pump tho cos on the odd occasions I have forgotten, the pump has frozen & the casing cracked. It's an expensive repair/ replacement at around 80 squid.

 

[emandvee44]

Water Tanks

If your boat is located anywhere with any possibility of sub-zero temperatures, then empty the water tanks, and drain down the system, INCLUDING the stern shower, if you have one.(we got caught on this latter point two years ago - cost about £40 for a new shower head) - and, as someone else has said - leave all the taps open.

Cheers,

Michael.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I did drain the water tank completely last winter but forgot to open the taps...... with the result the galley tap 'popped' apart and had to get a new tap. It was a much better tap and cheap from B&Q. I'll remember to open the taps this winter. I didn't drain the calorifier and it was OK in the spring but after seeing that photo will drain this year!

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

If you are in a panic and cannot empty the water tanks at the time, you can throw a kilo of salt into the tanks and run the taps etc. momentarily, to get it through the system of pipes/calorifier/taps.
It at least stops getting frozen up.
You can then flush a couple of times in the spring.
Loos are the same, but perhaps anti freeze better.

 

[floebs]

I did drain the water tank completely last winter but forgot to open the taps...... with the result the galley tap 'popped' apart and had to get a new tap.

Apologies ahead for newbie question... I have one of those basic push/pull lever type taps on my galley sink - is it possible to 'leave open' this kind of tap?

I have emptied the water out of the tanks - by push pulling till I get air through the tap - not sure if I need to do anything else.

 

[LadyInBed]

On my previous boat which wintered ashore I drained the water tank, but not to let the water go to waste I connected the tank outlet to the engine and ran the engine. This emptied the tank and flushed the engine of salt water at the same time.
On my current boat which winters afloat, I have never (eleven years) drained the fresh water as it gets used when I am on-board (river mooring, no shore power).