Have you recently noticed that the water coming from your RV’s tap has a foamy appearance? This is actually more common than you may think, however it isn’t necessarily something you should be worried about. While there are several reasons this may happen in your RV, camper, fifth wheel, etc – one of the most common reasons is because of leftover RV antifreeze lingering in your pipes. When mixed with water, antifreeze can take on a “soapy” or “foamy” appearance, and even discolor your water slightly. But no worries! If you are using the proper stuff, RV antifreeze is non-toxic and a tiny bit in your water won’t harm you.
So, if you have noticed this problem happening right after you winterize your camper, this would be the most probable cause. However, some RV owners have expressed different circumstances in which they have seen this foamy water coming from their faucets. One RV owner said that this issue only occurred when they turned on their “hot” water. Another, only noticed foamy water when using their kitchen sink, but had normal water coming from the bathroom sink and shower.
If you only notice this foamy water coming from one area (such as your kitchen sink) exclusively, then you may want to check your faucet itself. Just try cleaning out the faucet pipes, or letting the water run for a couple of minutes to see if the foaming dissipates. If the foaming goes away after some time, it was likely just leftover antifreeze residue. You might see this problem happen again every year, but just keep repeating the same process each time to resolve it.
However, if you are noticing this issue at every faucet in the house, then you will need to resolve this issue by going straight to the water tank itself. When the antifreeze has not been properly rinsed from your freshwater tank, it will impact the water you place inside afterward. To resolve your issue of foamy water, you should flush the tank again, at least once. You should also inspect (and likely replace) your anode rod. This is will help cleanse your water and keep it free of any lasting antifreeze residue.
Once you have cleaned your tank, most of the problems should be resolved. However, you should also flush your pipes and lines once again with water. Leave the water running through them for some time, so that you can be sure everything is out. When you are done flushing everything, you can turn on your faucet and let the water run. You should see little to no foaming at this point. If you do see some, just let the water run until it has dissipated completely on its own, it shouldn’t take long.
If you are seeing foamy water coming from your faucets, even though you haven’t recently winterized your RV, then there is another common reason this may be happening. Having air in your water lines will allow oxygen to flow through, which will lead to your water having a soapy or foamy appearance. This often happens after you haven’t used your RV’s faucets for a while, like after a long winter of not being operated.
To resolve this issue, take a look at your water pump. A loose connection or filter screen will cause foaminess in your water. You should check the connection between your lines and the pump, as well as how tight your filter screen is on. If any of the lines or your screen is broken, this will also allow air to be flowing through. However, if anything is broken, you are likely to have leaking issues as well.
Another common cause for foaming would be your aerators are bad. These are located inside sinks and faucets and act as the screen that will filter your water. When they get filled with build-up or break altogether, they will often cause foaming and need to be replaced. Something one RV owner pointed out, was that if your camper is newly built, your aerators are probably filled with dust and debris from construction. If this is the case, you will need to replace them with brand new replacements.
Continue reading to learn more about the meaning behind different coloration and changes in your camper’s water, and how to fix these issues:
Why Is My Camper Water Cloudy?
Have you discovered that the water inside your camper is coming out looking cloudy? If so, there are a few reasons why this may happen. Unlike foamy water which is usually because by antifreeze lingering in your freshwater tank, cloudy water is usually because by air bubbles in your water.
This could be the cause of air getting into your water lines via the water pump. Usually, cloudy water will be more prominent when you run your hot tap. If you set this cloudy water in a glass and let sit, it should clear up. If it doesn’t, this is a sign that there is actually something in your water tank that is discoloring the water.
You should also check your anode rod, if it is clogged, you should probably just replace it. It also wouldn’t hurt to flush out your freshwater tank, just to be sure that nothing is contaminating your water. Bacteria build-up could also be a likely cause of cloudy or discolored water. If you are sure to drain and rinse your water tanks after every trip, you shouldn’t have any bacteria or dreaded “slime” leftover that could possibly hurt your water.
Depending on where and how you are filling your water tanks, you could potentially be filling your tanks with hard water. Hard water will have a cloudy look because it hasn’t been filtered in any way. Even your avoid rod wouldn’t be able to filter hard water enough to take the cloudy appearance away. Hard water isn’t necessarily bad for you, but it can be difficult on your pipes and lines, and cause rust to build up much faster than normal. You will want to flush out all your tanks and lines super well, and then replace the hard water with normal water.
Some people also confuse “cloudy water” for foamy water. If your water has a white, foamy, or soapy look to it, you should check out your water tank to make sure it has been flushed with all chemicals and antifreeze. Discoloration in your water is usually because something is in your freshwater tank that shouldn’t be. Another cause to look out for when inspecting your water tanks and water pumps would be rust. Rust build-up can cause harm to your water.
Check out some of these helpful products to help you keep your water tanks clean and free of unwanted discoloration and chemicals:
RV Water Heater Tank Rinser
This RV water heater flush wand is made of stainless steel and has a rubberized non-slip handle that is cold and heat resistant to ensure it will last season after season. It can not only spray forward but also to both sides, which can remove the scale and anode piece inside the water heater more effectively. The water heater flusher comes with a 1/2″ quick connect adapter and a 3/4″ garden hose adapter. Easy to install and use. Check it out here!
10 Pieces Faucet Adapter Kit
This adapter kit includes the most common male and female sizes and is compatible with most faucets and sinks. This would be a great it to have on hand in your RV, especially if you find yourself changing the adapters often. Check out this excellent kit that is a must-have for any RV, camper, or fifth-wheel owner!
Anode Rod for RV Water Heater
Replacing the anode rod in a water heater before it fails can slow down corrosion inside the tank and significantly extend the life of the water heater. This pure high-quality magnesium anode rod is made from top-quality magnesium which is non-toxic and entirely safe for the human body! A magnesium water heater anode rod protects your tank better and lasts longer than aluminum/zinc rods.
We hope this article helped you determine why your RV’s water is foamy. Sharing problems and solutions can make RV living so much easier. So if we didn’t include something that you have experienced, please leave a comment below to share with others. Until then, enjoy, be safe and have fun RVing!
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