Sanitize Fresh Tank & Bleach

Kills on contact...doesn't kill on contact...
Who knows....but does it take extra work to leave the solution in the pipes for an hour or so just to be on the safe side?

Bullet 14 proves nothing.

1/2 cup of bleach in 40 gallons of water will immediately kill on contact. The average swimming pool at 3PPM is less than 10% of the bleach/chlorine content per gallon than the ratio of 1/2 cup to 40 gallons. The ratio 1/2 to 40 we are discussing is greater than 90% stronger in sanitizing then the average swimming pool at 3PPM. 1/2 cup to 40 gallons is the equivalent of shocking a pool and still a stronger ratio.

This article reinforces what wing zealot has stated, there is a certain amount of time involved with a bleach solution disinfecting the tank and supply piping. Look at bulleted item #14.

wing_zealot wrote:
Since I am not going to be coming over to your camper and partaking in a glass of water David, I have no dog in this fight. For the rest of you, I "highly" suggest you read your Owner's Manual or Google it and make up your own mind.

I agree with this. Bleach doesn't always kill on contact - that's the stuff of advertising. Letting it sit for a reasonable length of time makes sure it works.

Since I am not going to be coming over to your camper and partaking in a glass of water David, I have no dog in this fight. For the rest of you, I "highly" suggest you read your Owner's Manual or Google it and make up your own mind.

wing_zealot wrote:
David, you are comparing a 1/4 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water to 1/2 cup of bleach in 40 gallons of water. I stand by my statement (bad advice) - you are free to do as you please (or you could do as the Owner's Manual recommends).

I understand the dilution ratios are different but the amount of beach used is still more than adequate. If 1/2 cup of bleach (Recommended amount for 40 gallons) sanitizes in 3 hours it will do the same in 1/2 hour. If the dilution ration was too low it would not sanitize in 1/2 hour, 3 hours or 3 days.
Your process is fine I’m just stating that with the recommended amount of bleach added to the typical RV tank there is no reason to wait hours to flush.

David, you are comparing a 1/4 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water to 1/2 cup of bleach in 40 gallons of water. I stand by my statement (bad advice) - you are free to do as you please (or you could do as the Owner's Manual recommends).

wing_zealot wrote:
"really no need for this since bleach kills anything immediately" - Bad Advice!
I Hope no one is influenced by this.

How is that bad advice? Bleach kills on contact. Bacteria, germs and virus do not die a slow death bleach kill’s immedaitly. Leaving it in the system does nothing except prolong the job.

Not that I believe much from our government but this is from the CDC regarding sanitizing with bleach.

The following two bleach-and-water solution strengths are recommended by the CDC:
Strong Bleach Solution
• Recipe: ¼ cup of bleach to 1 gallon of cool water OR 1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 quart of cool water (add the
bleach to the water in either case).
• Minimum contact time: 2 minutes
Weak Bleach Solution
• Recipe: 1 tablespoon bleach + 1 gallon of cool water
• Minimum contact time: 1 minute

"really no need for this since bleach kills anything immediately" - Bad Advice!
I Hope no one is influenced by this.

I fill my tank and add 1/2 cup bleach. I run the pump and allow bleach to get in all lines. I bypass the WH while doing this. I allow it to sit 1/2 hour but really no need for this since bleach kills anything immediately. I then fill and drain tank a couple times and flush system with city connection. I never smell bleach after this.