Do you need to sanitize a water tank that's never been used?

[OregonMan]

Hi guys I've seen videos online about sanitizing your fresh water tank in a travel trailer using a little bleach and water. Is this necessary if your fresh water tank has never once been used? I do not plan on drinking the water, just plan on using it for the sink, toilet and possibly the shower. The fresh water tank has never been used in this trailer and it is a 2018 model. Thanks for any info.

[Grit_dog]

JRscooby wrote:
I talked to a guy that full timed. He claimed he put a quart of vodka in tank at every re-fill.

In his tank or the rv tank? Lol

[JRscooby]

I talked to a guy that full timed. He claimed he put a quart of vodka in tank at every re-fill.

[Huntindog]

Sanitizing does waste a lot of water.
I did it once, in my first used TT. It took MANY flushes to get the bleach smell out of it. And yes I followed the instructions in the manual as to how to do it.
My subsequent coaches have all been new. I have never sanitized any of them. I do use good city water, which has some free chorine in it.We do not drink it or make ice, brush our teeth etc. with it. We bring along a few cases of bottled water for that. No issues in 30 years.
I suppose if ones water source is suspect then it might be a prudent thing to do.

[phillyg]

Yes.

[mockturtle]

Yes.

[Lantley]

Be it just saw dust, dirt, critters or bacteria. Sanitizing is a good idea simply because its not that hard to do. Its cheap insurance vs. ignoring the issue.

[dodge_guy]

I would! I do it twice a year. Yep nice I’m the spring when it gets dewinterized and then mid summer because it may sit for a while

[toedtoes]

If it has never had water in it, then sanitizing isn't necessary - it's the stagnant water that causes the bacteria/algae/etc, to grow in a tank.

However, I agree with valhalla360 that it wouldn't hurt to fill, drain/run through pipes, then fill again - to get any dust, sawdust, etc, out that might have gotten into the tank or pipes. It will also let you check for leaks before you head out on your trip.

As to sanitizing in general, some folks do some don't. I only sanitize right after I buy a used RV (don't know what prior owners do) and then only if I notice a change in the smell/taste of the water. However, I don't normally leave my tank filled for long periods of time unused. My logic in regards to "I don't/do drink from the tank" is that if I am washing the dishes, utensils, glassware, cookingware, etc, then I expect the water to be potable. If I'm only using it to bathe in and/or the toilet, then I don't need it to be potable.

[Lwiddis]

"59 years old a couple of days ago"

You are just a kid, Mitch!

[klutchdust]

I don't sanitize my tanks and I drive with my propane turned on to keep the fridge cold. Even drove with the water heater on and warming the water. I don't buy extended warranties, pick up raw chicken with my hands and make my own laundry detergent. Living on the edge..........even drank warm water from the garden hose as a kid.

[MitchF150]

This topic comes up as much as running your fridge on propane while driving.. 🙂

In the end, it's up to you what you want to do for you and your rig.. You will get more 'votes' for sanitizing as you will for 'no big deal' as that's just the way these things go.. But, in reality, it's probably 50/50 because those that don't are not just gonna praise the fact that they don't.. ha, ha..

For the record, I have not put an ounce of 'bleach' in my tank and I drive with the propane on the fridge.. Living on the edge I guess?? 🙂

That's just what works for me and I'm good with it.. If Joe Smith does not agree, that's fine... He can do what he wants and we still both get down the road.

I do a lot of other things that would probably get me banned from here or society as a whole too... 59 years old a couple of days ago, so just gonna go with it.. 🙂

Good luck! Mitch

[Draggo]

I don't drink the water out of my tank but still sanitize it every spring when I prep the trailer. Doesn't take that long.

[pianotuna]

Sanitize

[Lwiddis]

Absolutely! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Filling it and dumping will get the dust etc. out. Adding bleach is easy. Run the bleach water through the water lines too.