Community Forums

Chuck 1935 · 07-23-2011, 03:41 PM

We use our Motorhome at least once a month and have never emptied, flushed or treated the water. We keep it filled with city water and it always tastes good.

srenovo · 01-19-2017, 12:47 PM

So what if one has softened well water that is Chlorine free? Like many, my wife and I drink bottled water on the road. Since we have well water at home which has no Chlorine we add 1 oz. of unscented bleach per 50 gals. I do the addition with a 50 ml syringe with a blunt tip needle. I got the syringe and needle at the "ag" store. If I remember my chemistry 1.0 oz. is almost 30 ml or 30 CC. So for 100 gals 50 to 60 ml should be just fine. Keep in mind there are different concentrations of bleach available - my recommendation is for standard bleach. There are lots of survival guides that have charts of standard and higher concentration bleaches. Unscented and non-sudsing are the only way to go.

RKins · 01-19-2017, 05:25 PM

Ok, I'm going to show my Newbeeism now....how do you get the bleach into the tank (I haven't gotten that far on my resto). Isn't the tank totally enclosed? Do you siphon it in? In my boat I have a 40gal fresh water tank that I unscrew the pie lid on it and dump it and the water in.

chuckftboy · 01-19-2017, 05:41 PM

Rkins, if you don't have a fresh water fill, put it in the hose before you connect amd turn on the water to fill the tank.

**NLOVNIT** · 01-19-2017, 05:43 PM

Add bleach to the hose, connect the hose, then fill your tank.

Lori-

okmunky · 01-19-2017, 05:48 PM

As far as I know the only way into an RV water tank is thru the water inlet port. My RV has 2 -- one gravity fill that goes into the onboard storage tank and a second that I attach a hose to that leads to a faucet. It sends water thru my waterlines directly, bypassing the water pump. I just use a large syringe to shoot the bleach into the gravity fill inlet before adding water to the tank. Make sure you have room in the tank for at least 15-20 gallons so the bleach all gets rinsed out of the fill tube and into the tank.

If I suspected a problem in the water tank I would fill it full and then drive around long enough to throughly mix the bleach and splash up into any air space that might be in the top of the tank. Rough roads or speed bumps, anyone?

draboo · 01-19-2017, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKins

Ok, I'm going to show my Newbeeism now....how do you get the bleach into the tank (I haven't gotten that far on my resto). Isn't the tank totally enclosed? Do you siphon it in? In my boat I have a 40gal fresh water tank that I unscrew the pie lid on it and dump it and the water in.

I wondered this,too, until last summer. I asked a friend this same question. His answer:
Pour it into the end of the hose that you hook up to fill up your tank.

RKins · 01-19-2017, 07:02 PM

I have no clue the last time my tank was filled (105gal) so you bet I'm going to sanitize it. So there has to be a better way of getting the solution in - I dug out my Owners Guide and it says: #2 I need 4.5 gals of solution and #4 tells how to get it in. (just found this - hope it's big enough to read)

I guess if you can't do it the way my guide shows, how about something like this?
Dramm Fertilizer Mixer - Fertilizer/Watering Supplies

WDW · 01-19-2017, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

Add bleach to the hose, connect the hose, then fill your tank.

Lori-

2x. I have a syrup bottle marked off in 2oz increments.

Taking in the sights with our Trolley ...but life is always better under a Palm Tree

2016 Coachmen Mirada 35 BH. - our Trolley
2015 Jeep Cherokee Latitude

Western New York

Ed_G · 01-19-2017, 07:17 PM

The standard formula to sanitize your fresh water tank is to add 1/4 cup bleach per every 15 gallons of water. Your 100 gallon tank would take almost 1 - 3/4 cup bleach. It is recommended that you dilute that bleach with a gallon or more water before adding it to your system. Let sit 24 hours....works even better if you drive a bit to slosh around in the tank. Don't forget to run your faucets and shower to get the sanitizing solution up into your plumbing too. Drain and repeat with fresh water....then drain that fresh water and refill.

rjsupersonic · 01-19-2017, 09:40 PM

The RV Geeks have a great youtube video on the proper way to sanitize your fresh water system. We do ours once or twice a year.

ByeTheWay · 01-19-2017, 09:53 PM

I have inline canister filters. I remove the filters and pour the chlorine into a canister. Reattach the canister and fill.

twogypsies · 01-19-2017, 09:54 PM

We full-timed for 16 years and traveled constantly and got our water from many different sources, many public campgrounds. We never sanitized or added bleach. We drank the water from our tank and used it for everything.

aguablanco · 01-19-2017, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easyrider

To remove the beach smell after sanitizing your fresh water system, add some baking soda to your water and leave it set for about a day, drain it and your're ready to go. I also run the bleach water through the water heater and toilet and have never had a problem with either one.

Another way to neutralize and deodorize chlorine in water is by using hydrogen peroxide. Use an amount of HP that is equal to the amount of bleach that was used. We use this method when we have to filter our potable water on rafting trips. After using a Katadyn Expedition filter we chlorinate with 1-3 drops per gallon to sanitize the water. After a 2 hour contact time we use the HP. Absolutely no taste or odor of chlorine. I believe the main byproduct of the reaction of the 2 chemicals is oxygen.
RichH