Community Forums

wa8yxm · 01-01-2018, 01:10 PM

Spring flush
Start with bleach water 1/4 cup per five gallons. Fill the tank and pump through ALL LINES

Next drain and replace with Baking soda.. About 1/2 to 1` cup per tank of water (No need to be precise) and again pump through all lines

Now drain and re-fill with straight water and again flush the lines

You can then to off and you are good to go. Any slight baking soda will not be noticed or harmful.

NOTE: #1 reason I use AIR to winterize.. Getting all that pink out on my RV is not as easy as I made it sound. but I"ve never had air freeze on me (As evidenced by the fact I am still breathing).

Quincy · 01-01-2018, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricci

Hi - Unless the water system was contaminated prior to winterization or the antifreeze was contaminated there is no need to sanitize the system. Also the antifreeze is not toxic (it's in many items you eat on a daily basis) but for purposes of having clear water just run each tap until it runs clear.

Tom

X2 Tom. We usually drink and make coffee with bottled water so I drive to the first stop for the day and after connecting to the water hose bib take a shower and go to sleep by the time we use the facilities a couple of times there is little or no airborne pathogens or anti freeze left to worry about. Been doing this for thirty five years. Still here.

Winemaker2 · 01-01-2018, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Spring flush
Start with bleach water 1/4 cup per five gallons. Fill the tank and pump through ALL

Thats too strong a mix...
1/4 cup for 15 gals whats recommended.

mgtibb · 01-01-2018, 10:46 PM

Propylene glycol and ethanol (the two main types of antifreeze) are disinfectants. So flushing lines with bleach is redundant.

Dav L · 01-01-2018, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgtibb

Propylene glycol and ethanol (the two main types of antifreeze) are disinfectants. So flushing lines with bleach is redundant.

But one is also bleaching the fresh tank, which doesn't get filled with antifreeze.

Quincy · 01-02-2018, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricci

Hi - Unless the water system was contaminated prior to winterization or the antifreeze was contaminated there is no need to sanitize the system. Also the antifreeze is not toxic (it's in many items you eat on a daily basis) but for purposes of having clear water just run each tap until it runs clear.

Tom

OMG Tom!!! Just kidding X2 I have never done anything but driven to our first stop of the Summer and hooked up to the CG water supply and taken a shower. After using all the stuff a few times the red was gone. You can take even more comfort if the CG has city water with chlorine in it. Remember, we were the generation that coated pennies from Mercury we saved from broken thermometers and rode our bikes behind the DDT truck spraying for mosquitoes.

Ricci · 01-02-2018, 07:05 AM

Hi - This seems to be one of those topics where people become unhinged. In the US and Canada I'm unaware of airborne bacteria that are likely to invade someone's fresh water tank. Also nearly every water supply (steam distilled is one exception) bacteria is present. We live in a world of bacteria of which very few types are detrimental and many are beneficial. Obviously a pathogen free water system is essential whether in a home or a motor home and no one would advocate for infested water but some do go overboard on this issue. How many home owners dismantle and disinfect their stick and brick plumbing once or twice a year?
If a system sits unused for long periods or if the bad types of coliform bacteria are present in your system then sanitize it. When I see the strength of the mixture some folks advocate for in sanitizing a tank it scares me.

Tom

nothermark · 01-03-2018, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgtibb

Propylene glycol and ethanol (the two main types of antifreeze) are disinfectants. So flushing lines with bleach is redundant.

Depends on how well you like the taste of food safe antifreeze. It tends to linger in the tubing. A bleach rinse gets it out. Chlorine is easy to get out as all it takes is more water.