de winterizing without bleach

[anon125]

the pink stuff has been in the water lines and I assume the water tanks. for 3 1/2 years.
now we need to get it out!
there were many ideas on this so I thought we would ask the experts.
how should we do this so everything is healthy to drink from.
for de-winterizing the MH will be at an RV park with city water - probably chlorinated.
we do not like using bleach - heard it can cause damage somewhere.(to the MH plumbing)
vinegar and baking soda anyone?
thanks all

[DutchmenSport]

coolmom42, If you simply use a swimming pool chlorine tester kit on the water coming from the faucet on city water, you'll be surprised how much chlorine is already in the water. Try it, if you'r on city water. When we lived in town, I paid the price to have my water analyzed. The chlorine content was awful ... almost scary to drink! But that did explain why all our laundry faded so quickly and whites were really WHITE without needing bleach... for 16 years! We used filtered and bottled water at home to drink to KEEP from getting the chlorine.

All I'm saying is, if you take the time to test your city water, you'll see sanatization in a whole new way.

There's nothing wrong with doing your own sanitazation method, nothing at all. But if you're on city water, more than likely, you don't need to. There again, the only difference between doing it yourself and doing it with city water, is the strength of the chlorine. The stronger the chlorine, the less time it takes to sanitize.

[coolmom42]

DutchmenSport wrote:
If your camper will be connected to city water, you won't need to sanitize. Hook up to the city water, flush the pink out, and just use the water in the camper normal. (for a week or so, I'd use bottled water to drink), after that your system should be sanitized because of the chemicals in the city water. The difference between city water and your own bleach water solution is the strength of the chlorine.

Now, if you are on a well, you'll want to use chlorine-water solution, but not needed if on city.

This is ABSOLUTELY WRONG WRONG WRONG. And not just wrong, but DANGEROUS.

A water system sitting with antifreeze in it (or with just water in it, for that matter) can harbor all kinds of mold and bacteria. These are NOT anything you want on your hands from washing, on your body from showering, and POSITIVELY not to drink.

I would use 1/2 cup bleach/15 gallons of water. Drain everything as best you can, fill the tank, run through all faucets. Drain the tank again. Partly fill the tank, pre-dilute the bleach in about a quart of water, add the bleach, finish filling the tank. Open all faucets until you smell the bleach coming out. Let this stand for about 12 hours. Then drain and flush again several times with clean water.

[AllegroD]

I leave mine in for 2-4 hours. Enough for the bleach to sanitize, then flush.

[anon125]

so it is okay to leave it in for a day or 2. thanks
who knew the national fire protection assn. help with RVS!!!
do I have to join to get a copy of that?
thanks

[TechWriter]

anon125 wrote:
how many hours can the bleach solution safely be in the pipes?
thank you

Essentially forever because bleach breaks down over time.

Remember, you're not using full strength bleach (which would be 1 gal bleach for each 1 gal of water tank capacity). You're putting in a pretty dilute solution.

The recommended dosage is either 50ppm (1/4 cup bleach for each 15 gal of water tank capacity) or 100ppm (1/2 cup bleach per 15 gal capacity).

• For a 50ppm bleach solution, at least 4 hours.
  
• For a 100ppm bleach solution, at least 1 hour.
  

These times & recommended solutions from "Standards on Recreational Vehicles" (NFPA 1192, 2011).

[anon125]

how many hours can the bleach solution safely be in the pipes?
thank you

[DutchmenSport]

If your camper will be connected to city water, you won't need to sanitize. Hook up to the city water, flush the pink out, and just use the water in the camper normal. (for a week or so, I'd use bottled water to drink), after that your system should be sanitized because of the chemicals in the city water. The difference between city water and your own bleach water solution is the strength of the chlorine.

Now, if you are on a well, you'll want to use chlorine-water solution, but not needed if on city.

[AllegroD]

westend wrote:

darsben wrote:
So you never drink city water?
The risks of using the bleach to kill all microbes that can harm or kill you and afterwards thoroughly rinsing with fresh water are much less than leaving the tank untreated. If you are very concerned bring bottled water to drink.
But as for me the sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is the only way to go.
Makes sure you run the solution through all the pipes.

X2

X3

Anon, Use bleach and flush the lines. No harm will come to you or your rv systems.

[powderman426]

Are you certain it is in the tanks?? If it's only the lines it shouldn't be to difficult. Be sure to let the bleach solution sit in the lines for a few hours instead of just flushing it through.

[anon125]

thanks all

[Johno02]

BTW, the bleach, if used as directed, will hot harm anything, either your tanks or pluming, IF USED AS DIRECTED! It would not be good to leave it in the tanks or lines for an extended period,as there is a possibility of damage to systems exposed to full strength bleach for an extended period of time. Following a good cleaning, the clorination in city water should be sufficient. Please note however, that the chemicals and minerals in city water can and will create pwoblems in any system after a period of time. Witness the mineral buildup on your faucets and fixtures in your home.

[TechWriter]

anon125 wrote:

we do not like using bleach - heard it can cause damage somewhere.

You heard wrong. Bleach won't harm plumbing, gaskets, or you when used in recommended strengths -- typically either 50ppm (1/4 cup bleach per each 15 gal water tank storage) or 100ppm (1/2 cup bleach per each 15 gal).

[Johno02]

To Answer your question, probable just flush the entire system well, at least until the water quite foaming from the antifreeze. Then refill fresh water tank with chlorine bleach solution, let it sit overnight, then flush through all faucets, and drain completely. Unless there is blace stuff showing in your water lines, refill with clorinated city water and you are finished! Note that by having antifreeze in the fresh tank that long, the taste will be difficult to get rid of, and will probably take some time and a lot of water to get rid of. Its not harmful if you want to drink it, but is fine for washing and such.

[oldakerw]

darsben wrote:

darsben wrote:
So you never drink city water?
The risks of using the bleach to kill all microbes that can harm or kill you and afterwards thoroughly rinsing with fresh water are much less than leaving the tank untreated. If you are very concerned bring bottled water to drink.
But as for me the sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is the only way to go.
Makes sure you run the solution through all the pipes.

edit
added thought; Are you against vaccinations for children? They pose a risk as well.

Scary thought which has and probably will continue to lead to reoccurrence of long eradicated children diseases.