% bleach to sanitize fresh water tanks
First time doing this chore. Most sources say to use household bleach 1/4 cup for every 15 gallons of fresh water capacity. Mix required bleach amount in some fresh water, pour into your tanks, fil...
Forum Discussion
Here's my two cents as a retired healthcare provider. I am concerned not only with the bacteria in the tank, but also in the waterlines.
So to that end, I use the 1/4 cup of Clorox bleach per 10 gal formula. Since my fresh water tank is 43 gal, I use a bit over a cup. I bypass my water filters and siphon the bleach into the tank. Then I fill my fresh water tank until I see water coming out of the overflow pipe.
At that point I run all the faucets and shower in the trailer so that I know there's chlorinated water in the lines. I let that sit for 24 hours. Then the next day I dump that chlorinated water, fill the tank with fresh water and run the lines, dump the rest of the water, refill the tank again, and then dump it again. This way I know I've gotten rid of most of the chlorinated water and I'm confident that the waterlines are fairly clean.
Biofilm in the waterlines is a big issue. Bleach is one of the better ways to kill the biofilm. There are other commercial products we used to use in the office but I'm not sure of their compatibility with our plumbing systems in the trailer.
So to that end, I use the 1/4 cup of Clorox bleach per 10 gal formula. Since my fresh water tank is 43 gal, I use a bit over a cup. I bypass my water filters and siphon the bleach into the tank. Then I fill my fresh water tank until I see water coming out of the overflow pipe.
At that point I run all the faucets and shower in the trailer so that I know there's chlorinated water in the lines. I let that sit for 24 hours. Then the next day I dump that chlorinated water, fill the tank with fresh water and run the lines, dump the rest of the water, refill the tank again, and then dump it again. This way I know I've gotten rid of most of the chlorinated water and I'm confident that the waterlines are fairly clean.
Biofilm in the waterlines is a big issue. Bleach is one of the better ways to kill the biofilm. There are other commercial products we used to use in the office but I'm not sure of their compatibility with our plumbing systems in the trailer.
