Refreshing cllosed fresh water system

[Dixie_Flyer]

I have a 2015 3611rl Montana with a closed fresh water system, How do you sanitize the fresh water tank. There is a vent located at the rear of the camper to vent the system, this is where you used to fill the fresh water tank, but now you turn a knob at the city water connection to transfer water to the tank. Getting bleach back to the tank is a problem.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Weldon wrote:
To sanitize 21/4 tsp. bleach in water. Or
1 cup bleach for 60 gallons- 3 hours. Or
2 cups bleach for 60 gallons - 1 hour.

Thanks

[Weldon]

To sanitize 21/4 tsp. bleach in water. Or
1 cup bleach for 60 gallons- 3 hours. Or
2 cups bleach for 60 gallons - 1 hour.

[mike-s]

As an alternative, you can use Iodophor, which is safe for plumbing materials. It also doesn't have the strong taste which chlorine does. The only downside is it tends to stain plastics yellow/brown, so don't leave any treated water standing in a sink or toilet.

Star San (phosphoric acid - the stuff in Coca-Cola - and dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid - scary name, but non-toxic) is another excellent sanitizer, doesn't stain, leaves no taste. But, if not flushed out, it will foam like soap. But that can be useful, too, for sanitizing the tank. Fill it part way with the proper mix (1 oz/5 gallons), drive around a bit, and the foam in the tank will sanitize the unfilled part of the tank better than relying on other sanitizers splashing around.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Mel B. wrote:
I have used bleach in all my rvs for years, However my son bought a new trailer in 2011. I can't think of the brand off the top of my head. But in his books and info from dealer I read that if bleach is used in FRESH or BLACK tank it would void warrenty, my son called the dealer and was told that bleach damages o-rings, rubber gaskets ETC. Anyway I still use bleach in my Montana, but I thought I would throw it out there.
Mel

Thanks for the information. I can see how too much bleach could damage rubber seals. In a deluded solution used sparingly I still think it will be okay,

[Mel_B_]

I have used bleach in all my rvs for years, However my son bought a new trailer in 2011. I can't think of the brand off the top of my head. But in his books and info from dealer I read that if bleach is used in FRESH or BLACK tank it would void warrenty, my son called the dealer and was told that bleach damages o-rings, rubber gaskets ETC. Anyway I still use bleach in my Montana, but I thought I would throw it out there.
Mel

[Dixie_Flyer]

jplante4 wrote:

fireman41 wrote:
Fill the garden hose with the proper amount of bleach before you hook it to the camper.

Do the whole water system while you're at it.

1/4 cup for every 15 gallons, fill the tank, let the bleachy water runs through the water system (hot and cold) for a while then let it sit for a couple of hours.

Drain the tank and refill with fresh water. flush out the piping until you can't smell bleach at the faucets.

I put 2-1/2 cups of bleach in the tank by putting the bleach in a garden hose and then connecting it to the city water supply inlet. I used the pump in the camper to flush all lines including the hot water tank. I then filled the tank with fresh water and ran that through the lines as well. Then I dumped the fresh water tank again and filled to 1/4. I hope that cleans the tank and lines.

[rockhillmanor]

Flexible funnel fits into any fresh water inlet.

I use this funnel to add bleach to clean tank AND all the water lines too by pumping it from the tank thru all the water lines.

I also use this method to add antifreeze to winterize the entire RV by pumping it from tank thru out all the lines.

[jplante4]

fireman41 wrote:
Fill the garden hose with the proper amount of bleach before you hook it to the camper.

Do the whole water system while you're at it.

1/4 cup for every 15 gallons, fill the tank, let the bleachy water runs through the water system (hot and cold) for a while then let it sit for a couple of hours.

Drain the tank and refill with fresh water. flush out the piping until you can't smell bleach at the faucets.

[mobeewan]

Can you mix some bleach and water in an aquatainer and use the winterizing connection to pump it into the tank, then top the tank off with city water?

[Dixie_Flyer]

fireman41 wrote:
Fill the garden hose with the proper amount of bleach before you hook it to the camper.

That is a better idea than what I thought about. Thanks

[fireman41]

Fill the garden hose with the proper amount of bleach before you hook it to the camper.