Community Forums

AgentTaylor · 03-15-2017, 01:34 PM

We have a 2016 Jayco Precept 31UL. Should we sanitize once a season? We live in Florida so we don't winterize.

Gormleys · 03-15-2017, 03:20 PM

Yes, most experts recommend sanitizing the fresh water system at least once a season. There are many threads here on the forum on how to do it. My wife prefers vinegar, but I like bleach.

Bigd9 · 03-15-2017, 04:23 PM

My feelings are if you use the RV regularly, and use "city water", that is water that comes from a public water supply with chlorine, then you probably don't need to sanitize. But is you let the water sit in the tank for long periods of time unused, I would "shock" it once a year.

AgentTaylor · 03-15-2017, 04:24 PM

Thank you!

twogypsies · 03-15-2017, 04:40 PM

As fulltimers we never sanitized in 16 years of moving constantly. We got our water from many sources and I'm sure a lot of them didn't have chlorine. However, we used that water constantly so it was always refreshed. We cooked and drank with it. We did use a good filter coming into the tank and another at the kitchen sink for taste.

Here's a good source for RV filters. If you have questions they are extremely helpful in suggesting what kind of filter you'd want. All filters are not the same. They filter different things.

https://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/

Pirate · 03-15-2017, 05:14 PM

17 years, have not done it a single time. No sickness, no diarrhea.

AgentTaylor · 03-15-2017, 05:47 PM

Pirate, are you full-timers? How long has your RV remained unused at any time?

Pirate · 03-15-2017, 05:52 PM

Not full time and can sit for months without use, water tank empty of course.

AgentTaylor · 03-15-2017, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate

Not full time and can sit for months without use, water tank empty of course.

Thanks!

BigBadDad · 03-16-2017, 02:04 AM

It is so easy to sanitize there is no reason not to do it a few times a year if you keep water in the tank. Draining the water tank and hot water tank is simple. Filling them is simple. Adding the bleach in the filling process is easy. Why not just do it ?

uncledon · 03-16-2017, 05:12 AM

I agree with BBD. We live in the country with a well so no chlorine. I have a cement pad next to the barn with 30A and a sewer where the fiver sits during the summer, getting used for various weekend trips. We usually have some water in the tank, but have had issues in the past with foul smelling water. Since then I have been sanitizing the tank with 1/4 cup chlorine, filling, letting sit for a day, draining/flushing. Now we are in good shape. Our issue was letting non-chlorinated water sit unused for extended periods I think.

PanJH · 03-17-2017, 07:09 AM

I generally do it once a year.... it's not a big deal, costs very little.

deputybubba · 03-17-2017, 07:36 AM

So I have done this in the past with my current gravity feed water system.
How do you accomplish this task with the newer 'tank fill' connections ?
I'm assuming maybe you pull in the cleaning solution via the winterization outlets ?

Thanks

RayChez1 · 03-17-2017, 02:13 PM

If you are a full timer and constantly using the water off the tank, you do not need to sanitize but once every two years.

When you put the coach in storage and the water just sets there for months at a time without any use, then you need to sanitize as soon as you pull it out of storage. If not water will stink when you open any of the valves.

I usually will use bleach. Pour a cup of bleach into the water hose used for filling up the tank and open the water valve. It will push the bleach into the tank. Helps if you can drive around so that the water can slush inside the tank and disinfect the inside of the tank real good.

My tank holds 100 gallons, so one cup to a full tank does the job. Keep using the water off the tank so that you can empty that water in the toilet.