How to Fill Your Water Tank (Safely) + Common Mistakes
Filling your water tank sounds simple — but doing it the right way helps prevent bad taste, contamination, pump issues, and “why is my water system acting weird?” moments at camp.
This guide covers best practice for Mars caravans. Your filler location and exact setup may vary by model/year.
What you’ll need
- A clean hose (ideally food-grade/drinking-water safe)
- A clean rag (to wipe the filler area)
- Optional: in-line filter (handy for caravan parks and remote taps)
Step-by-step: filling your tank
- Choose the cleanest water source available. If in doubt, use a filter.
- Rinse your hose (run water through it briefly before filling).
- Wipe the tank filler area if it’s dusty or dirty.
- Insert the hose into the filler and begin filling slowly.
- As the tank approaches full, reduce flow.
- Overfilling can cause splashing and unnecessary mess.
- Some systems may overflow from a breather/overflow as they reach capacity — that can be normal.
- Once filled, remove the hose and secure the filler cap firmly.
- Turn the water pump on and run a tap briefly to confirm flow (especially if the tank was empty).
Common mistakes (and what they cause)
- Using a dirty hose: bad taste/odour and possible contamination
- Leaving the cap loose: dust and water ingress risk
- Filling too fast: messy overflow and can stir up sediment in older tanks
- Not priming after empty tank: pump runs but no water (air in lines)
- Storing water too long: stale taste and potential growth (sanitise periodically)
After filling: quick “prime & purge” routine
If your tank was empty or you’ve been in storage, do this:
- Turn the pump ON.
- Open the cold tap closest to the pump (if you know which one).
- Let it run until flow is steady (no sputtering).
- Repeat briefly at other taps/shower to clear remaining air.
What if the pump runs but there’s still no water?
- Confirm the tank actually has water.
- Leave a tap open for 30–60 seconds to allow priming.
- Check the pump fuse and pump switch.
- If the pump continues to run with no water, log a ticket (include a short video).
Good habits for clean, great-tasting water
- Use a dedicated “drinking water” hose (don’t use the same hose that lives in the dirt).
- Don’t store water for extended periods without refreshing it.
- Sanitise your system periodically, especially after storage or hot shed conditions.
- If you’re in doubt about water quality, filter it and/or boil for drinking.
What to include in a support ticket (if needed)
- Your model + year (and VIN/chassis if available)
- Was the tank completely empty before filling?
- Does the pump run when a tap is opened?
- Short video: opening tap + pump sound + flow/no flow
- Photo of your control panel (pump switch area)