As I've reported on these forums over and over, we use our camper as much as possible all year round at home. We do travel as much as possible, but when home, we're always in the camper. We keep it stocked and water in the tanks, and I have ability to dump my holding tanks in my septic system at home.We live in the country and our water supply is on a well. We have hard water with a lot of iron. A few years ago we went with a Kenetico water system for the whole house. But the outside faucet bypasses the system.Meanwhile, when we had our hot tub, I did a little extra plumbing and added an attachment (quick mount) for a garden hose on the hot side of fauct for the washing machine to use to fill our hot tub.Well, I found out that if using this hook-up for the camper, I am able to get filtered soft water filled in my fresh water tank in the camper. It works well, and no more red staining in the camper.Well, a couple days ago I filled the water tank in the camper. The tank is 50 gallons. About an hour later, I wanted to take a shower, and wasn't thinking about having just filled the tank. Well,.... when I tried taking that shower, I turned on both hot and cold and it was scalding hot! I immediately turned off the hot water and it never went cold! Still scalding hot! Then I remember ... oh yea! I filled from the house.... hot water! I then thought about RV.net. Strange time to think about this web site, hum? but I did anyway! And I thought to myself? The water heater in the house is set of 170 degrees! It's HOT! I want it hot! and I thought to myself, no wonder I just got scaled! Even an hour after filling the tank, the water was still incredibly HOT! I then thought... well ... I'm in good shape! I'm sure all this HOT water just sanitized my fresh tank and all my lines! Who needs bleach? :)

Be very very careful if you have strangers come to your house and use the hot water. At 170 you are asking to get burned. I find the 135 temp on the mh wh too hot for safety.

:hBesides visitors, grandchildren also come to mind.

That hot water in the plastic water holding tank could soften the tank material and cause an issue while it is hot and softened. I am not sure I would do that.

It's never a good idea to consume the water from any hot water tank. It's full of unwanted minerals and sediment.

I'm not a scientist, but my guess is that there are bacteria that can survive in 170 degree water. I would stick with the tried and true sanitizing method with bleach.

How to sanitize the fresh water tank without even trying

colliehauler
Explorer III
May 29, 2017
I put a soft cold water spigot next to the hard water spigot for the camper.
westend
Explorer
May 29, 2017
There's absolutely no need for a residential water heater to be set at 170f. There are a lot of reasons why it's wrong.
DougE
Explorer
May 29, 2017
Standard plastics will soften in continuous exposure to 155* temps. That's why cpvc piping for hot water is a different material than the cold water pvc.
Commercial hot water installations run at 155* for sanitation. (Old construction guy).
rockhillmanor
Explorer
May 29, 2017
Just go to Houston in summer temp 114 degrees.

My very first newbie trip in my very first MH was to Houston in the summer. Certainly not the smartest thing to do.

Long story short I had mechanical problems and a cop escorted me off the highway to a fairgrounds close by to await repair.

After THAT long hot day with problems, once safely in the CG without hook ups, so I was using my fresh water tank, I went to take a cold shower to cool off.

OMG shockingly the cold water was so hot it almost burned me as I tried to open the shower door to get out!!!

Duh. My fresh water tank was located on the inside back of the back of the MH. The water took on the ambient temperature of the outside air which was HOT HOT. :S
rexlion
Explorer
May 29, 2017
Some like it hot..... ;)
DutchmenSport
Explorer
May 29, 2017
Dutch_12078 wrote:
According to numerous online sources, bacteria generally don't survive at temps above 120?, but many viruses require temps in the 165? to 212? range to kill them off.

Well, looks like I came close, but maybe, not close enough here!

I think the weather finally got warm enough that I could really tell how hot the water was. Until just very recently, we've still had cold and very cool weather. The water hose, stretched about 200 feet to reach the camper, along the cold ground, no doubt cooled the water in the past. But with finally warmer temperatures, and the ground NOT frigid cold any more, looks like the heat retained very will along that 200 foot journey.

I think I'll be switching that set up in the laundry room to the cold side now. We no longer have the hot tub, so don't need the connection on the hot side any more. The cold runs through the the water filtration and softener system too.

About being so hot? When we moved into the house, the water heater was set there. Previous owner said to not mess the the water heaters or the air conditioners and they'll run forever. Ever since we've moved into this house, I've never touched the temperature on the water heater, and both air conditions have never been serviced. And all 4 appliances are still working marvelously. We actually have 2 water heaters in the house, because the house takes such a large foot print. The one in the kitchen and upper portion of the house is set about 130. The lower portion of the house is set much hotter. (that's also where the washing machine is). The hot water runs cold initially for about a minute (both heaters) before it gets too hot. Everyone in the house is aware of the temperature. The only time we've run the water heater cold was filling the hot tub.

But looks like I'll be switching to the cold side so I can still fill the trailer with conditioned water now! I will say one thing though, for water traveling through 200 feet of hose, there's absolutely no rubber hose taste! I have dedicated hoses just for the camper.
darsben1
Explorer
May 29, 2017
redacted
MFL
Nomad II
May 29, 2017
Well Dutchmen...I'm with the nay sayers! Hot water in the fresh tank? NOPE, but I can see the advantage of a lengthy hot shower.:)

Jerry
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
May 29, 2017
According to numerous online sources, bacteria generally don't survive at temps above 120℉, but many viruses require temps in the 165℉ to 212℉ range to kill them off.
RoyF
Explorer
May 28, 2017
I'm not a scientist, but my guess is that there are bacteria that can survive in 170 degree water. I would stick with the tried and true sanitizing method with bleach.