Sanitize freshwater

donandmax wrote:

Rescue16 wrote:
Not sure if this is right or wrong, But just did mine yesterday. Cleaned out the Water Tank with Bleach and water mix. My water heater I use white vinegar to help clean the scale build up by filling it and then turning the water heater on and bringing up to temperature. After it has been brought up to temp I shut it off and the next day I drain it and then flush it with fresh water until it runs clear and no more smell of vinegar. Has worked for me for years.

How do you get vinegar into your water heater ? 6 gal. of vinegar ??

I use the bypass at my water pump I have hooked up to pull the Antifreeze into the system. This time I ensure all the water faucets are shut off and the Water heater bypass is set back to normal position and the water pump draws the vinegar into the system and fills the water heater. After it is heated and drained I flush with fresh water until it runs clean and not longer has vinegar smell.

I would sanitize especially if you fill from places other than home. Some small towns and shallow wells are questionable.

Brian

I'm probably guilty of over sanitizing my system. It gets sanitized at the end of summer as that's the start of my camping season. then somewhere around Jan I can't remember if I ever sanitized it this year so I do it again. Come May I might do it again just to be sure.

I also fill the water heater when I sanitize because there is some water in the bottom even after I drain it.

Oasisbob wrote:
In all my RV years I have never heard of "sanatizing" your FW system. I always flush and re fill. Go figure.

X-2 never did it because its a waste of time !! Just flush and go...

Rescue16 wrote:
Not sure if this is right or wrong, But just did mine yesterday. Cleaned out the Water Tank with Bleach and water mix. My water heater I use white vinegar to help clean the scale build up by filling it and then turning the water heater on and bringing up to temperature. After it has been brought up to temp I shut it off and the next day I drain it and then flush it with fresh water until it runs clear and no more smell of vinegar. Has worked for me for years.

How do you get vinegar into your water heater ? 6 gal. of vinegar ??

All three trailers I have owned spoke to sanitizing the water system each year. While I am not the ultra paranoid type I do sanitize each spring. I drink water from the tap, drink water from the garden hose and run with my fridge on too!

Don't worry about the HW tank. Bypass it and clean the FW tank and lines and you should be good to go. The heat of the HW tank will take care of any little bugs that you might miss.

In all my RV years I have never heard of "sanatizing" your FW system. I always flush and re fill. Go figure.

Not sure if this is right or wrong, But just did mine yesterday. Cleaned out the Water Tank with Bleach and water mix. My water heater I use white vinegar to help clean the scale build up by filling it and then turning the water heater on and bringing up to temperature. After it has been brought up to temp I shut it off and the next day I drain it and then flush it with fresh water until it runs clear and no more smell of vinegar. Has worked for me for years.

I don't have a filter, but I would think you would replace it at the beginning of each season. So, yes, I would replace the filter.

If you don't have a water heater bypass, then yes, fill the water heater with sanitizing solution, also (you don't have to turn it on and heat the water, though). Be sure to open the hot water faucets (sink, shower, outdoor shower, if you have one), to circulate completely (assuming you were already going to run the cold faucets).

Same with when you are circulating fresh water to clear the sanitizing solution. Open all faucets.

Leave WH in bypass and don't put a filter in until your done sanitizing it.
I'm so happy to see threads like this rather than questions about winterizing and covers - it means camping season is almost here!!!!