Bleach in water fresh water tank

[grahampconrad]

I heard from a friend,after you stored your fifth wheel for six months in storage you should put half a cup of bleach in the fresh water tank? Is this a good idea and why? Thanks in advance

[Flapper]

ETCrockett wrote:
After draining the bleach out of my fresh water tank, I would put a small bottle or white vinegar in the tank and fill with water and let set for 4 hours or over night. Then drain and refill with just water and drain again a couple of times. This will dilute any bleach residue left on the inside of the tank. If I'm de-winterizing, I will run the bleach through the lines from the fresh water tank (bypass hot water heater) to flush all the anit-freeze out of the supply lines. If I do that, I will also run the vinegar solution through the supply lines until the bleach smell is gone and then flush the lines with fresh water after rinsing the vinegar from the fresh water tank. Now your whole system is sanitized.

Enjoy your water!

Just pump the bleach water to all the faucets, showers, etc. Bleach is a highly effective sanitizer. Vinegar not very much, especially with the very, very low concentration you suggest. So just skip the vinegar step, and flush the bleach out with plain water.

[Flapper]

one_strange_texan wrote:
After the overnight soak with the bleach solution, I drain and pump a baking soda solution into the system from the fresh water tank. I leave it in the system for a while before draining and refilling the system. This neutralizes the bleach more efficiently than just a flush.

Ummm - no it doesn't. I have a 25,000 gal. swimming pool and use both - very concentrated liquid bleach as a sanitizer, and Baking Soda to control the pH (acid/base level). Per my commercial level test kit, neither has any effect on the concentration of the other. Ditto for those that claim vinegar neutralizes bleach - also no effect. You're doing no harm to equipment or yourself, just wasting money and effort. Just flush with plenty of water.

[one_strange_tex]

After the overnight soak with the bleach solution, I drain and pump a baking soda solution into the system from the fresh water tank. I leave it in the system for a while before draining and refilling the system. This neutralizes the bleach more efficiently than just a flush.

[ACZL]

I agree as well w/ MFL's suggestion and also w/IdaD. Where i differ is that that after fresh tank is full, I fill hot water tank w/ on-board pump/water and the run thru the whole coach's faucets until I smell bleach.. Don't forget outside shower and laundry hook-ups. Let sit 24 hours, drain the whole thing and repeat.

What I started doing a couple years ago is what IdaD said. Pour a little bleach (from the total amount appropriate for your system) into end of hose that you attach to house and rest into neck of fresh tank. On our new coach, I cannot pour directly into the coach, so I put rest of my "total" into end of hose that attaches to coach and then ran water thru it. Dog/ cat still alive.

[IdaD]

I pour some into the hose and then stick the hose into the filler spout, then when I turn it on the bleach shoots into the tank. Fill and let sit, then flush a couple of times. I do it at the start of each season.

[Clarryhill]

Another follower of MFL's method...

[Mel_B_]

I boondock at a ranch where I hunt boar, I have a 35 gallon barrel that I fill from a spring that we put a garden hose in years ago. I put two full CAPS of bleach in the barrel, then drive about a mile back to camp and pump the water into the 5th wheel and with two caps of bleach we can smell it in the water. It doesn't take very much bleach to kill all the germs.

[GPG52_]

All of the above are great guidelines.
Here is an interesting website that deals with making water potable (not necessarily sanitizing a holding tank), but of interest is the various types and concentration of Sodium Hypochlorite in different bleach products.
http://modernsurvivalblog.com/survival-kitchen/bleach-water-ratio-for-drinking-water/

Also noteworthy is to watch that you get regular bleach, some of the new products today have additives to enhance the cleaning process in your washing machine... so be aware to read the label first.

My 2c worth but do your own research. Personally, not withstanding sanitizing the holding tank, I use bottled water for direct consumption. Better safe than sorry.

Enjoy
GPG

[ETCrockett]

After draining the bleach out of my fresh water tank, I would put a small bottle or white vinegar in the tank and fill with water and let set for 4 hours or over night. Then drain and refill with just water and drain again a couple of times. This will dilute any bleach residue left on the inside of the tank. If I'm de-winterizing, I will run the bleach through the lines from the fresh water tank (bypass hot water heater) to flush all the anit-freeze out of the supply lines. If I do that, I will also run the vinegar solution through the supply lines until the bleach smell is gone and then flush the lines with fresh water after rinsing the vinegar from the fresh water tank. Now your whole system is sanitized.

Enjoy your water!

[Pipeman]

What MFL said......

[coolmom42]

MFL wrote:
I use 1/4 cup of bleach for each 15 gal of water. The idea is to kill any contaminates that may have grown in the tank over storage. I run this through my entire system, including WH, and let sit over night. Then drain tank, WH, flush system, once or twice.

I do use a whole house water filter system, as we drink the tank water.

Jerry

This.

[MFL]

I use 1/4 cup of bleach for each 15 gal of water. The idea is to kill any contaminates that may have grown in the tank over storage. I run this through my entire system, including WH, and let sit over night. Then drain tank, WH, flush system, once or twice.

I do use a whole house water filter system, as we drink the tank water.

Jerry

[rbrand]

What I have done is put a cup of bleach in the tank a few gallons of water and go for a drive. Let the water/bleach slosh around. Drain the tank, add some water, and flush the system until you can't smell or taste the bleach.

[RoyF]

Why: to kill bacteria and mold.

After six months, I would drain the tank and go through the sanitization process on a full tank of water.