How to find the right RV Freshwater Tanks & Inlets AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in RV Freshwater Tanks & Inlets
- Tank fit
- Measure the available space and the existing fitting locations before choosing capacity; match length, width and height, not just gallons. A replacement tank has to fit the existing bay and line up with its plumbing connections.
- Material
- Use only food-grade polyethylene tanks meant for potable water. Non-potable tanks can taint the water and may not be approved for drinking water.
- Inlet type
- Match the type: gravity fill (open port), city-water inlet (hose thread with a built-in check valve) or a combination inlet. City and gravity inlets plumb in differently. A failed check valve lets city water back-feed the tank or leak out of the fill.
- Thread and port sizes
- Confirm the outlet, vent and drain thread sizes (often 1/2-inch NPT on outlets) and the cutout size for exterior inlets. Inlet cutouts and tank fittings vary, so a mismatch means cutting the sidewall or adding adapters.
- Vent
- Every gravity-fill tank needs a working vent line. Without a vent, filling backs up and the pump can collapse the tank or pull a vacuum.
Brands that matter
- Valterra: City-water and gravity inlets, check valves and fittings.
- Camco: Replacement inlets, fill caps and inlet check valves.
- Class A Customs: Replacement freshwater tanks in many sizes.
- Icon Technologies: RV holding and freshwater tanks and related fittings.
What to avoid
- Tanks not stated as potable or food-grade.
- Replacing an inlet without checking whether the old one had an integral check valve.
- Undersized vent lines on a gravity-fill tank.
Questions
Why does water come out of my city inlet when the pump is running?
The check valve in the city-water inlet has failed. Replace the valve or the whole inlet.