Gasoline in fresh water tank

[rsg33]

Is there a product or procedure to sterilize Pex water lines in a coach that has been subjected to gas in the water system? The water tank will be replaced, but replacing all the lines will be a monster job. Water heater is an Atwood with an alum tank. Pump will also be replaced.
Any tricks?

[agesilaus]

DrewE wrote:
I'm assuming gas means gasoline here, and not some gaseous compound.

According to what I found with a quick googling, gasoline doesn't particularly attack/affect PEX tubing. If it were mine, I would perhaps try rinsing thoroughly with water, then letting water with dish (or dishwasher) detergent sit in it or preferably circulate through it for a time, and then thorough rinsing again. I'm not suggesting this is a foolproof, hospital-grade procedure; just that offhand it's an approach I likely would take.

Ditto and I spent 32 years doing chemical cleaning. Just so long as the whole system is flushed, tank included, you should be OK. Your nose will tell you if it is clean. I would not replace the tank until I do a couple of flushes/soaks and they fail.

[RJsfishin]

The only problem is there is no way to completely drain the water tank. A 1/4 to 1/2 inch is not going to drain. So a person could be flushing many times before getting all the gas out.

[2oldman]

Op not back.

[2oldman]

RV daytrader wrote:
come on...how many here used to siphon gas from the gas tank years back and get a mouthful of gas???...!

Using a clear hose is a good idea - unless you really like the taste of gas.

[RV_daytrader]

come on...how many here used to siphon gas from the gas tank years back and get a mouthful of gas???...I did many times and still alive!....I would flush the water system with soapy water, rinse, flush with vinegar solution. rinse again and call it good!

[SaltiDawg]

Ralph Cramden wrote:
...

They way things go on these boards the fear mongers will eventually have you ripping the entire system out and replacing it or possibly totaling the entire rig.

Wow! May I assume you advised Ed Norton to use garlic to stave off werewolves? :R

[3_tons]

rsg33 wrote:
Is there a product or procedure to sterilize Pex water lines in a coach that has been subjected to gas in the water system? The water tank will be replaced, but replacing all the lines will be a monster job. Water heater is an Atwood with an alum tank. Pump will also be replaced.
Any tricks?

Before starting, buy a short length of pex and set it in gasoline for a period of time, then inspect to determine if it was irreversably affected...

I would remove the anode at the hot water heater and make up a threaded fitting to a garden hose connected to a WARM water source...Before starting flush, try pouring a fair amount of alcohol into the hose (which will pick up trace gasoline amounts) then repeat warm water flush with dish soap..Open up faucet taps to their mid-way positions...After the initial flush, you should be able to continue on with the water heater lit and operating...

3 tons

[Tom_M1]

mbopp wrote:
I know vinegar takes the gas smell off my hands. And I use 1 qt vinegar in 5 gallons of water to get the chlorine smell out of the water lines after I sanitize them.

A friend of mine had a nasty smell in his refrigerator. Tried everything to get the smell out. The only thing that worked was setting a pan of vinegar in the fridge. I don't know if putting vinegar in the water tank and lines would work, but it would be worth a try.

[time2roll]

I would use some Dawn liquid dish washing soap same as used to clean wildlife after an oil spill.

[ScottG]

An acquaintance of ours has a high end yacht and when an attendant went to fill the tank with diesel, he put it in the water tank instead. They ran it throughout the boat.
Ins paid for the repair and the only way to fix it was to replace everything the fuel came in contact with. So all lines, tanks, etc had to be replaced.

[maillemaker]

How anyone can mistake a water cap for a gas cap I have not clue. they are nothing alike and the water cap is often locked behind a door..

On my rig the water door and the gas door are both unlocked by the same key and are just a couple of feet from one another. I'm not sure a gas nozzle would fit in the fresh water hole, but I guess from this story it might. And the gas hole has a screw-in cap behind the access door.

But I guess if you were having a senior moment...

Steve

[mbopp]

I know vinegar takes the gas smell off my hands. And I use 1 qt vinegar in 5 gallons of water to get the chlorine smell out of the water lines after I sanitize them.

[wa8yxm]

I would try a straight spring time de-winterization steralization

1/4 cup bleach per 15 gallons of water.. Flush all lines. Drain

then Baking soda. as much as you can get to disslove well flush all lines, drain.

THen clear water. Flush all lines

If you go heavy on the soda and a little remains it will not hurt you , you won't likely taste it. and it may help if the multiple rinses does not get it all out.

As some said you may need a new ater pump.

How anyone can mistake a water cap for a gas cap I have not clue. they are nothing alike and the water cap is often locked behind a door.. THough I was just looking at a motor hom (Afrin? By Tiffin where I commented to the owner that the water fill access often took the same key for nearly every motor home. and then proved it by taking out MY key and opening the door.. and 2 more

ONE was the door behind which the gas cap hides.. all 3 took same key as do the two such panels on my Ride.
THen re-fill

[mobeewan]

Could also have been an act of vandalism and if so would probably be covered by insurance. A lot of trailers just have the tank water fill covered by a twist off cap or flip open cover.

[Ductape]

I'm pretty sure it's sterilized already. 😉

There won't be enough left after a single flushing to be a health concerns. Taste and odor are your problem. Dawn detergent is the go to product in marine oil spills.

I just wouldn't drink it for a tank or two and it'll be all over.