On a few occasions I have glanced at the breather line to my water tank and wondered why the manufacturer used black fuel line hose for this location, as opposed to clear vinyl tubing like everywhere else.
That picture was taken after I removed the breather line. Because, on closer inspection, it isn't a black hose. It's clear vinyl that has turned solid black with mold.
I replaced the line as soon as I noticed, of course.
A couple weeks ago I became very sick all out of the blue. I had a fever for several days, bundled up shivering and sweating in the van in the SoCal sun, lungs and head filled with mucus. It was real work to leave then van even to buy groceries and it took almost two weeks for me to be confident I was getting over it. My left ear is still plugged with mucus and I can't hear out of it much. After noticing this black mold in my water system I'm wondering if that wasn't the cause of my illness.
I add bleach to my water tank when I fill it, because I get my water from a variety of sources and I can't be assured it's all potable. I don't drink it, I only use it for showering, dishes, and such. Still, there is a lot of opportunity for contact.
If there's a moral to the story I suppose it's to be suspicious of any part of your water system which 1) has the opportunity to become wet, and 2) does not stay submerged fully. A dark, semi-damp place is the perfect habitat for mold.
That picture was taken after I removed the breather line. Because, on closer inspection, it isn't a black hose. It's clear vinyl that has turned solid black with mold.
I replaced the line as soon as I noticed, of course.
A couple weeks ago I became very sick all out of the blue. I had a fever for several days, bundled up shivering and sweating in the van in the SoCal sun, lungs and head filled with mucus. It was real work to leave then van even to buy groceries and it took almost two weeks for me to be confident I was getting over it. My left ear is still plugged with mucus and I can't hear out of it much. After noticing this black mold in my water system I'm wondering if that wasn't the cause of my illness.
I add bleach to my water tank when I fill it, because I get my water from a variety of sources and I can't be assured it's all potable. I don't drink it, I only use it for showering, dishes, and such. Still, there is a lot of opportunity for contact.
If there's a moral to the story I suppose it's to be suspicious of any part of your water system which 1) has the opportunity to become wet, and 2) does not stay submerged fully. A dark, semi-damp place is the perfect habitat for mold.
