Question about sanitizing frewhwater tank

[MSHappyCampers]

If an RV is used throughout the year, and the freshwater tank is used regularly, is it necessary to sanitize the freshwater tank? All the water we consume for drinking or cooking goes through a high-quality filter under the sink.

I saw a YouTube video that says using bleach to sanitize a tank will ruin the seals in the water pump. I think they recommended using hydrogen peroxide. Any comments on that?

[palehorse89]

Hi Joe! , I always load up with fresh chlorinated water when I can through out the year, so if you always have treated water in your system, I can't imagine a problem. I have never had one using this method. If my water has been in our tank for a while, I drain it when I get on good water, and refill it. Sanitize once a year.

[shiggs68]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

If an RV is used throughout the year, and the freshwater tank is used regularly, is it necessary to sanitize the freshwater tank?

I saw a YouTube video that says using bleach to sanitize a tank will ruin the seals in the water pump. I think they recommended using hydrogen peroxide. Any comments on that?

You don't use a high enough mixer of Clorox to effect the pump seals.

All water is different, so even if you use the holding tank consistently, you should still sanitize at least once a year. The worse is holding water or empty for a period of time. Mold and bacteria forms in the tank.


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[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by palehorse89

Hi Joe! , I always load up with fresh chlorinated water when I can through out the year, so if you always have treated water in your system, I can't imagine a problem. I have never had one using this method. If my water has been in our tank for a while, I drain it when I get on good water, and refill it. Sanitize once a year.

Hey Joe,

I agree with Palehorse89 on this. We full time and keeping water from a treated city system in the tank keeps the critters at bay. If I have a need to sanitize, the standard 1/4 cup per 15 gal and let set for a couple of hours should do.

Heavy doses of chlorine is not good for the copper loop in the AquaHot so a long flush with city water after the treatment is wise.


Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

[dennis45]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

If an RV is used throughout the year, and the freshwater tank is used regularly, is it necessary to sanitize the freshwater tank? All the water we consume for drinking or cooking goes through a high-quality filter under the sink.

I saw a YouTube video that says using bleach to sanitize a tank will ruin the seals in the water pump. I think they recommended using hydrogen peroxide. Any comments on that?

I used to sanitize my tank once per year by removing the house filter element, adding two cups of bleach and filling the tank before we went on our first trip in the spring. Then I drained it when we arrived at our destination or let it drain enroute and flushed everything.
This past year I have switched to using Hydrogen Peroxide. I am not a big fan of Bleach and the HP is much easier to deal with. I just buy a couple bottles at the drug store and add them in the same way with the filter removed.
I also have a spray bottle of HP in my wet bay that I use to sanitize the water spout before I connect to the pedestal. I started this after I saw a guy at a campground hold his Slinky Hose up to the tap to rinse it after he emptied his tanks. You just don't know who was there before you.
How times have changed, when I was a kid, tainted water was the furthest thing from ones mind.