What the heck is that little tank for?

WildRumpus

You know the little door that's right behind the toilet? I opened it and peered into it today. There's a tiny little tank in it that looks empty right now and has a little overflow hose coming out of it. What the heck is it? Reminds me of the little overflow tank next to a radiator.

ChanW

Sounds like your Alde fluid expansion tank. It should have Alde glycol up to the 'minimum' line.

Nomad

Yep - As ChanW says - Dat be it.

Tabaz

It may have fluid in it. Put a flashlight behind it to check the fluid level. Several people have overfilled it thinking it was empty.  The Alde fluid is a light-colored green that is a little hard to see through the plastic.

Photomom

Should be a little above the Min line - the manual says how much.

Question - when the Alde tank is behind that door, where do they put the water pump?

ericnliz

WildRumpus, What year & model is your trailer? Thanks

deputydog

     Chan W-    If it is the Alde tank, it MUST be filled with glycol for the system to heat.   Make sure its filled to proper level or the heat will not work properly.

WildRumpus

OK, it's the Alde fluid tank. That would explain the green liquid that seems to always appear on my driver's side stabilizer.  I haven't used the heat yet on my 2016 CS-S since I've only owned it in the summer months.  Is it normal for a little overflow to drip on the stabilizer like that?

Nomad

No - It might if the overflow tank is too full though.

Verna

The Alde also supplies hot water, so if you use hot water, the Alde has to heat up, which would heat up the glycol. (Or at least that makes sense to me.)

Nomad

Sure about that Verna - Thought the glycol was just for heat and for hot water the Alde heat that directly.

USWildflowers

The glycol solution within the Alde is heated when you turn on the hot water. The difference between heating water only and running the "heat" is that the pump that moves the glycol solution to the radiators comes on when you turn on "heat." So there would be some expansion within the glycol system when you heat the water.