How do you sanitize your fresh-water tank and lines?

[hedgehopper]

The instructions that came with our rig use a lot of water. In scarce-water Colorado we do not want to use more than necessary. How do you do yours?

[StirCrazy]

ernie1 wrote:
Captain Phab contains "Viable non pathogenic bacteria suspension". What's that? How does it work?

Where did you see that? the one I linked to is sodium percarbonate and other acids in a blend, but mostly the sodium.

[ernie1]

Captain Phab contains "Viable non pathogenic bacteria suspension". What's that? How does it work?

[StirCrazy]

I used to use bleach but I got tired of the flushing for hours after to remove the taste/smell, so I decided to try Captain Phab purge tank cleanser and I loved it. a bit more cost than bleach but you fill up the tanks with this in it, let it sit overnight drain, then fill again for a rinse and drain and you're done. no taste or anything.

[austinjenna]

While others debate the merits of different approaches, let me say that pouring bleach or any other liquid into the water tank is difficult. I used to use a flexible funnel, but all of the accordion folds held a lot of bleach that would drip everywhere, including on my pants and shoes.

The solution I found was a horizontal funnel found at auto parts stores used for filling brake fluid reservoirs. It is smooth and bent.

Here is one example: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Line-99239-Funnel/dp/B0722TS26D

Just pour the bleach into your fresh water hose - then put that into your tank. There is no need to buy anything else to do it.

[toedtoes]

Blacklane wrote:
While others debate the merits of different approaches, let me say that pouring bleach or any other liquid into the water tank is difficult. I used to use a flexible funnel, but all of the accordion folds held a lot of bleach that would drip everywhere, including on my pants and shoes.

The solution I found was a horizontal funnel found at auto parts stores used for filling brake fluid reservoirs. It is smooth and bent.

Here is one example: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Line-99239-Funnel/dp/B0722TS26D

I got a "beer bong funnel". It has a smooth tube and is bigger and longer than other funnels. And it has a valve at the end so I can get everything mixed IN the funnel before it starts flowing into the tank.

Beer Bong Funnel

[Blacklane]

While others debate the merits of different approaches, let me say that pouring bleach or any other liquid into the water tank is difficult. I used to use a flexible funnel, but all of the accordion folds held a lot of bleach that would drip everywhere, including on my pant.

The solution I found was a horizontal funnel found at auto parts stores used for filling automotive fuel tanks. It is just the right shape for filling RV water tanks as well.

Here is one example: https://www.amazon.com/Replace-8U5A17B068AD-8U5Z17B068A-8U5Z17B068B-Mountaineer/dp/B0B87XG738

[Bobbo]

While I have the fresh water tank full enough of bleach water to run through all of the water lines, I fill my water heater too. Doesn't cost any extra. YMMV.

[Grit_dog]

Some of y’all make this RV thing seem far too complicated….

[Boon_Docker]

Bobbo wrote:

Boon Docker wrote:
Wow, lots of useless answers on how to use the least amount of water.

To the OP, try this:

Fill fresh water tank with 15 gallons of water and 1/2 cup household bleach.
Tow your trailer around for about 10-15 mins to slosh the bleach mixture around.
Bypass the water heater, then pump the mixture through the hot and cold water lines.
Leave mixture sit for a few hours then drain the tank and fully fill with water. Run the fresh water through each hot and cold line for 15-20 secs. You are done.

Works fine for me.

Do you not feel the water heater needs disinfecting too? Some water sits in it all winter.

If there is a rotten egg smell in the hot water then I sanitize the water heater. If not I don't bother with it.

[bigfootford]

Pour tap water into a gallon jug. Put it anywhere you want. Leave it for 5 years and see if there is anything bad in it. You know the answer.
Now if you were to put some dirt in there with it what do you think would happen?

A bud of mine and some of you know him, Reddog1, got an old 60's trailer to tear down because he wanted the frame. We took the freshwater tank out of there and was curious what it looked like on the inside. There was no slime, mold or dead living matter in there. It was clean. It did smell a bit of plastic.
Jim.

[MFL]

Bobbo wrote:

3 tons wrote:
Bobbo said:

“Do you not feel the water heater needs disinfecting too? Some water sits in it all winter.”

If you want to disinfect it, just turn it on for an hour or two…

3 tons

It takes a temperature of about 170 degrees F (77 degrees C) to disinfect water. How hot does an RV water heater get?

I hoping not 170, but may get to 140?

In my experience leaving a sanitizer in the water heater over night, will help clean the visible cr@p out of it, that you can see, using an inspection light.

Jerry

[Bobbo]

3 tons wrote:
Bobbo said:

“Do you not feel the water heater needs disinfecting too? Some water sits in it all winter.”

If you want to disinfect it, just turn it on for an hour or two…

3 tons

It takes a temperature of about 170 degrees F (77 degrees C) to disinfect water. How hot does an RV water heater get?

[austinjenna]

I use a cup of bleach in my 60 gallon fresh water tank. I pour the bleach into the hose first as its easier for me that way then fill the fresh water tank up.
I bypass the water heater - that has its own sanitizing way.

Turn on the water pump
Go to each faucet and turn it on until you smell bleach then move onto the next faucet.
Do all the faucets, shower, outdoor shower, toilet etc...
You only need to let it sit an hour or 2 after that the bleach solution is diluted and wont really do anything.
Then I turn on all the faucets and pump it through until the tank is empty. You might want to open your sewer valves so there is no overflow.

I then fill up the fresh water tank again and pump it through all the faucets and I might do that twice. Then you should be set.

For the hot water tank I use vinegar and fill that up and let it sit, usually overnight then drain that and I use the little hot water wand to rinse it all out.

Then turn the hot water bypass back on and you are done.

Its inevitable that you will use a lot of water sanitizing everything.

At least this is my method.

[3_tons]

bigfootford wrote:
Ok, so what do you do with well water? Buy bottled water to drink?
Our wells in our Oregon property was less than 20'... Wonderful water!
As a kid all the farms I visited and lived atl were on wells...That was down in the Fresno area, some of the water tasted like sulphur but we all drank it. Cows lived right over some of the wells....

For me, that hose and the place I get water from is critical and has been for over 50 years of RV and trailers. I always make darn sure that hose is MINE and I make sure it does not touch any ****...

Jim.

Ha! Well Jim, there you go again injecting a bit of sorely needed common sense !! :S

FWIW, my dear old Grandad (RIP) was a farmer and a willow branch ‘Well Witcher’ (in today’s modern vernacular, ‘Water Douser’), in the old ‘backwards’ poverty stricken South…Oddly, many folks there tended to live past their 90’s and often in their 100’s…I seriously doubt many of them ever heard of chlorine - in fact, some might likely have called it a useless yankee trick - lol!!

It truly amazing just how distant we’ve strayed from our roots…

3 tons

[bigfootford]

Ok, so what do you do with well water? Buy bottled water to drink?
Our wells in our Oregon property was less than 20'... Wonderful water!
As a kid all the farms I visited and lived atl were on wells...That was down in the Fresno area, some of the water tasted like sulphur but we all drank it. Cows lived right over some of the wells....

For me, that hose and the place I get water from is critical and has been for over 50 years of RV and trailers. I always make darn sure that hose is MINE and I make sure it does not touch any ****...

Jim.