How often should I sanitize?

[Sinnettc]

How often should I sanitize my fresh water tank? We often have several weeks between trips; it will be about a month this time. So far we've been in CGs with full hook ups and decent water, so the water in the tank is primarily in case we need a stop along the way. I drain the tank at the end of our trip so there's not much in there when the trailer is sitting down at the lock up.

I'm a bit generous with the bleach and the water I dumped at the end of this trip was still smelling a bit bleachy, even though I'd filled & drained the tank after the bleach treatment.

Should I sanitize before each trip or is there some kind of guideline on when it should be done?

[ezrydrs]

Do any of you use Camco 40206 TastePURE Drinking Water Freshener or any other additive in your fresh water tanks? I was just curious if it was worthwhile to use throughout the season.

[Sinnettc]

Thanks all. Guess I can let DW use the bottle of bleach for other things now. 😄

[rbpru]

We bought a used rig and sanitized it in February when we were in the south. We drained it in March when we got back to the cold. I will refill, flush and refill again, when we leave in July.

We use mostly CG water when availible.

[Go_Dogs]

We sanitize about twice a year. Don't forget to run the bleach solution through the white hose to sanitize it, too. Also, don't forget the outside shower. When we hook up, I always wipe the faucet with an antibacterial wipe, and run the water before I attach the hose. That blows the spiders out! Plus, just in case a dog peed on it!

[engine31]

Spring and fall for us. I use about 2 cap fulls of Clorox per full tank of water run it through the system drain it and refill with fresh water run it thru the system and drain then I am ready.

[dadmomh]

Pretty much the same as wmoses. Sanitize in the spring when we dewinterize. We rarely carry more water in the FW tank than to allow for a bathroom/handwashing break. If you know that you're TT is going to be sitting in the hot weather for a while, suggest you drain the FW tank....we didn't - as we usually do - and after a few weeks we started getting a funky odor. Finally tracked it down to the water left in the tank. Had to re-sanitize and we were good. We always camp with at least water/electric and when we can FHU. We use the hookup water for dishwashing and showers, but we installed a PUR faucet mount filter for drinking/cooking. We don't like the idea of a zillion empty plastic bottles in the landfills, so this works best for us.

[Escargot]

I routinely sanitize the FW tank in the early Spring. Once in a while I will sanitize some other time during the year but it's more of a psychological factor than anything else.

Coffee is the only thing I don't use water from the tank for... just because...

[TexasShadow]

once a year, usually. we're on a well, so our water is not chlorinated. if your home water is treated, you don't have to worry about it, just run a tank through it before you start out and then fill it with fresh and go.

[Caveman_Charlie]

I don't drink the water from my tank. I sanitize it once during the spring and leave the tank empty between my weekend trips. The dog drinks the tank water and seems fine with this. Of course, the dog also drinks from my home toilet too. lol

[W_E_BGood]

Sinnettc...I sanitize our fresh water tank once in the spring in the de-winterizing process using Camco FreshTabs. The process is MUCH easier (for me) and smells better afterwards than using bleach. So far, no problems...qualifier: we rarely "drink" from our fresh water tank (we carry gallon jugs of bottled water just because we prefer the taste) beyond sometimes rinsing our mouths after brushing teeth. We still wash our dishes with it and the dog seems fine with it too.
I'm not sure if geographic location might have anything to do with the development of bacteria in the "stored" tank (i.e. do warm year-round southern climes help create a more prolific growth environment?).

For the FreshTabs, I mix one tablet in a glass of warm water, pour it in the tank, add 15 gals of water, run pump water through all the pipes, drive trailer around the block, drain everything and flush once with 10 gals. of water. 😉

[Majja13]

I do mine once a year. I usually do slightly more the a cap full fill flush through system and then drain the main tank. I then refill and drain the main a couple more times.

[Monaco_Montclai]

I use a cap full any bottle cap is enought for me .once or twice a yr.but do change the water every couple of months. Now ita all happy -camping

[Gonzo42]

The manual for our rig says once a year minimum.

[beemerphile1]

Spring and again about mid-season for us. If I go too long I can taste the funkiness in the water.

Even if you don't use the tank, you should still sanitize the pipes.