Is the RV Doctor wrong?

1/4 cup of bleach to 15 gallons of water.

We always use potable water and have never sanitized our tanks in 25 years of driving. This is an "old wives tale" and is a waste of time. Potable water has chlorine in it already..Do as you wish but we're still here and healthy.

donandmax wrote:
We always use potable water and have never sanitized our tanks in 25 years of driving. This is an "old wives tale" and is a waste of time. Potable water has chlorine in it already..Do as you wish but we're still here and healthy.

Not a "wives tale". Your fresh water tank can grow bacteria that could, under the right circumstances, kill you or at least make you very sick.

Man, after reading some of these posts, I'm sure glad I didn't buy a used rig!

donandmax wrote:
We always use potable water and have never sanitized our tanks in 25 years of driving. This is an "old wives tale" and is a waste of time. Potable water has chlorine in it already..Do as you wish but we're still here and healthy.

Potable water is safe to drink, it does not mean it has chlorine in it. If it comes out of a well or spring it does not contain chlorine, ie if you are at a campground that is outside city limits there is no chlorine in the water. Sanitize your tank.

Oasisbob wrote:
Yes, in time, bleach will surely damage your seals. What's wrong with good old soap and water? That's all I ever use. Why would one want to sanitize the tanks? Probley hard on the dump station enzymes also.

You only sanitize the fresh water tank, not grey or black so it has no effect on dump station enzymes as you use the low point drains to empty the fresh tank after it sits with diluted bleach (at levels close to municipal water)for a period of time.

Every grocery store in the country sells distilled water in gallon jugs. Its cheap and doesn't have an off taste. I use it for coffee, cooking and scrubbing my teeth. I stay at FHU parks, so I never haul more than half a tank of "fresh" water for the toilet.

jfkmk wrote:

Not a "wives tale". Your fresh water tank can grow bacteria that could, under the right circumstances, kill you or at least make you very sick.

Perhaps, but there is a time frame on it. What is it? If one sanitizes their tank today, how long is it good for? The more water they put into that tank, the less the sanitizing is effective. How long does it take? How many tanks of whater before should it be done again?

Man, after reading some of these posts, I'm sure glad I didn't buy a used rig!

Someone is seeing the light! The fresh water tank is only one of the worries you will have.

wbwood wrote:

jfkmk wrote:

Not a "wives tale". Your fresh water tank can grow bacteria that could, under the right circumstances, kill you or at least make you very sick.

Perhaps, but there is a time frame on it. What is it? If one sanitizes their tank today, how long is it good for? The more water they put into that tank, the less the sanitizing is effective. How long does it take? How many tanks of whater before should it be done again?

Man, after reading some of these posts, I'm sure glad I didn't buy a used rig!

Someone is seeing the light! The fresh water tank is only one of the worries you will have.

Yeah, you're right. You could sanitize today and something can get in the tank tomorrow. The literature that came with my trailer recommends at least twice a year.

wbwood wrote:

jfkmk wrote:

Not a "wives tale". Your fresh water tank can grow bacteria that could, under the right circumstances, kill you or at least make you very sick.

Perhaps, but there is a time frame on it. What is it? If one sanitizes their tank today, how long is it good for? The more water they put into that tank, the less the sanitizing is effective. How long does it take? How many tanks of whater before should it be done again?

It varies. I use city water and only sanitize the tanks if I have let them sit over a month without draining and refilling. If I was on well water, it would probably be 2 weeks instead.

With regular use, I am constantly rinsing the system.

cccougar wrote:
Getting ready to sanitize my tanks and I just came across a video from a speaker at a RV show describing how using bleach is no good. Over time it eats away at seals and such. He recommended hydrogen peroxide.
Now RV doctor, RV Garage and others always mention bleach. What are everyone's thoughts on this?

Don't believe everything you see on the internet.