Sanitizing fresh water tank? Bleach?

[JRJR]

What is a good way to sanitize my fresh water tank? Should I use bleach? If so how much?

Thanks
John

[jimh406]

Boating places like West Marine also have treatment and freshener.

[naturist]

I've used bleach (1/4 CUP to 15 gallons) and left it overnight. Works well, BUT takes a fair amount of rinsing out to get rid of the bleach smell/taste.

I now use hydrogen peroxide. I pour a quart ($1.50 or so) of the 3% drugstore peroxide in the 35 gallon fresh water tank, fill 'er up to the top from the hose, use the pump to fill the water heater and the lines, and let it sit for a day or so. Then dump the fresh water tank and use city water to run water through things for a couple minutes, instead of half an hour. No smell, no taste, and no hassle. Granted that's about $1.25 more expensive than using bleach. But I can afford that.

[SidecarFlip]

ScottG wrote:
The standing method is 1/4 bleach (Do not use low splash) to every 15 gallons of water.
On their website, Clorox says that 30 minutes is sufficient but I usually leave it overnight.
To completely kill the bleach in the water and remove any smell or taste of it, poor in a few ounces of hydrogen peroxide (perfectly safe and amount doesn't really matter), run it through the lines and then drain and refill.

I use Hydrogen Peroxide myself instead of bleach. Has no smell, kills everything and is safe to ingest diluted. Never been fond of the bleach smell. I use 35%.

[toedtoes]

Rather than bleach, I use chlorine granules. About 1 tablespoon for 40 gallons. Let sit overnight, then run through all faucets until empty, then refill with fresh water.

No need for multiple flushings and/or additives to remove the icky bleach taste.

[Lwiddis]

Please, bear II, don't waste wine in water tanks!
1/4 cup bleach for each 15 gallons of water and I agree with Scott that only 30 minutes isn't safe enough.

[ScottG]

The standing method is 1/4 bleach (Do not use low splash) to every 15 gallons of water.
On their website, Clorox says that 30 minutes is sufficient but I usually leave it overnight.
To completely kill the bleach in the water and remove any smell or taste of it, poor in a few ounces of hydrogen peroxide (perfectly safe and amount doesn't really matter), run it through the lines and then drain and refill.

[Jim]

JRJR wrote:
What is a good way to sanitize my fresh water tank? Should I use bleach? If so how much?

Thanks
John

There's a couple formulas, let these solutions soak 24-48 hours after running water to every faucet and showerhead:

Troubled System (green things floating around): 0.13oz/gallon of tank size = oz of bleach to use, Exp - 7.8 oz/60 gallons

Preventative = 1 oz bleach / 60 gallons (you can still drink and use it).

And then other things:

Remove Smells = 1.5 cups vinegar/60 gallons
Sweeten the water = 1/2 cup Baking Soda/60 gallons

You can see that it doesn't take much. These amounts are from an honest to goodness scientist and RV'er who also was a city water manager for several decades.

Also, the Bear II is right about that wine.

In these days of growing zones of drought, it's best not to fill and dump your tanks over and over if avoidable. Also, city sewage systems don't need really strong bleach water hitting their bacteria so use the Baking soda after a troubled system wash. Dump it into the tank after the 24-48 hour soak, and let it neutralize the water for a few hours.

[the_bear_II]

cheap wine will do the job and taste better than bleach