RV Fresh Water System Sanitized Using Vinegar & Water Heater

[Camper_Jeff___K]

I'm starting a new thread on this topic. The previous thread was the suggestion of doing this. This thread is having done the vinegar and water heater cleaning sanitizing method.

Previous Thread:


I tried a new method to clean and sanitize my Truck Camper Fresh Water System. This is a safe method, no bleach. Bleach as you know is a powerful time proven method of cleaning and sanitizing. If you don't want nasty chemicals in your water system this is a good alternative. It's a little more expensive, time consuming, and requires some mechanical know how, but the result is very good. No nasty chemicals in your drinking water from bleaching. Also, Vinegar is food! It doesn't want to kill you. TC - RV People, Enjoy...

[Camper_Jeff___K]

JimK-NY wrote:
Sorry, this Dufus is not at all convincing with a statement that this procedure "is supposed to" sanitize. If you could hit 130 degrees in the entire system, there is no documentation that this would work and in fact there is plenty of literature that states neither vinegar or a full 130 would be effective.

If you don't care, fine. Personally I want a system that is sanitized and free of the worst of the nasties such as Legionella. Legionella thrives in hot water but does not withstand bleach or boiling, but 130 is a long way short.

The "Dufas" is happy with the results. No smell, no taste, just good clean drinkable water coming out of the TC water system. It was interesting to try the method. Next time, I may try the water system cleaner suggested by another poster earlier. I believe it is a non bleach based product and airlines use it for cleaning their drinking water holding tanks.
Purogene Water Treatment Preserver
Take care...

[JimK-NY]

Sorry, this Dufus is not at all convincing with a statement that this procedure "is supposed to" sanitize. If you could hit 130 degrees in the entire system, there is no documentation that this would work and in fact there is plenty of literature that states neither vinegar or a full 130 would be effective.

If you don't care, fine. Personally I want a system that is sanitized and free of the worst of the nasties such as Legionella. Legionella thrives in hot water but does not withstand bleach or boiling, but 130 is a long way short.

[rlw999]

I use Purogene sanitizer with citric acid for once-a-season sanitizing. After that, since I usually refill with filtered, unchlorinated well water, I add a small amount of Purogene (1 oz per 30gal water) with every tank refill to keep the water clean (the water may sit in the tank for weeks between uses).

I rinse and drain the tank once after sanitizing and it doesn't leave any strong chlorine taste/smell behind, but I don't normally drink out of the freshwater tank.

It's the same chemical airlines use for sanitizing airplane water tanks.

[specta]

I use bleach. It attacks the DNA of the germs. That's why germs have not become immune to it and its been around for 200 years.

I put it in my FW tank and run it thru everything.

Then I drain the FW tank and the water heater. I don't let it sit in there for ever.

I refill them with FW and run it through everything again and drain everything again.

I've never had the smell of chlorine linger after thoroughly flushing system.

[Camper_Jeff___K]

BobsYourUncle wrote:

Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:

That's where the heat comes in. Even if the water temp doesn't make it to the 130 degree mark, The hot water and vinegar will still create a good cleaning action rinsing out the system removing some crud from inside surfaces and rinsing stuff out the drain pipe.

I looked at your other thread where you describe the process.
Are you actually able to bring the overall temperature up to a decent amount by recycling it?
I have never done this, but with a small HWT with limited heating capacity, I would be inclined to think there would be too much temperature loss in the fresh tank and the lines to be able to bring the whole thing past lukewarm.
Just wondering....

It took a couple hours but the TC water heater did get the water hot enough that you didn't want to hold your hands in it. The water heater did shut off when it reached temperature. I kept the pump running until the water heater cycled again and I considered it mission accomplished. I think the fresh tank doesn't lose as much heat as people may think. It's a big volume with a small surface area. The bottom and front side have 1/2 inch Styrofoam insulating. That is nearly half the fresh tank surface area is insulated. So the main heat loss is from the fill hose and the other half of the fresh tank. It's kind of like an elephant versus a rabbit for heat retention. Take care...

[BobsYourUncle]

Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:

That's where the heat comes in. Even if the water temp doesn't make it to the 130 degree mark, The hot water and vinegar will still create a good cleaning action rinsing out the system removing some crud from inside surfaces and rinsing stuff out the drain pipe.

I looked at your other thread where you describe the process.
Are you actually able to bring the overall temperature up to a decent amount by recycling it?
I have never done this, but with a small HWT with limited heating capacity, I would be inclined to think there would be too much temperature loss in the fresh tank and the lines to be able to bring the whole thing past lukewarm.
Just wondering....

[Camper_Jeff___K]

jdc1 wrote:
While vinegar does kill some bacteria, it does not come close to what bleach does.

That's where the heat comes in. Even if the water temp doesn't make it to the 130 degree mark, The hot water and vinegar will still create a good cleaning action rinsing out the system removing some crud from inside surfaces and rinsing stuff out the drain pipe.

[SoonDockin]

Link worked fine for me, no ad but thats my addblocker doing its work. Its a good concept, key is getting the water hot enough.
I might give it a try. Its supposed to be a good way to rid towels and clothes of moldy/musty smells. So far its kind of hit an miss for me.

[jdc1]

While vinegar does kill some bacteria, it does not come close to what bleach does.

[Camper_Jeff___K]

BobsYourUncle wrote:
I opened your youtube link and it takes me to an ad for a local grocery store.....
No thank you. When I see an ad it gets closed immediately.

I like the concept and idea of what you are posting here. Good work!:)
I don't like putting bleach in my fresh water. The smell lingers even after flushing the system.

I use vinegar to clean my Keurig coffee machine. Works good. No reason why not to use it in our RV water systems.

Thanks for posting this.

I don't care for the several tanks lingering of bleach either.
Simple rules for watching videos, click to SKIP ADS and fast forward through boring parts.
Just click to skip the ads. Fast forward in the boring spots.

[BobsYourUncle]

I opened your youtube link and it takes me to an ad for a local grocery store.....
No thank you. When I see an ad it gets closed immediately.

I like the concept and idea of what you are posting here. Good work!:)
I don't like putting bleach in my fresh water. The smell lingers even after flushing the system.

I use vinegar to clean my Keurig coffee machine. Works good. No reason why not to use it in our RV water systems.

Thanks for posting this.