Purifying water tanks

[reddieddie]

Hello Folks,

When I purify my fresh tanks with chlorine, do I need to turn off and drain the hot water heater as well?

2017 Springdale travel trailer with Suburban water heater (anode rod).

[MrMark52]

You should - with a 140 degree hot water setpoint temperature, that temp pretty much kills all the bad bugs in the hot water tank (if you were ever a Boy Scout - remember being told to always boil water from unknown sources?).

If you don’t heat the water heater, then that’s a different story and you should sanitize flush the tank.

[DamonCamper]

Originally Posted by reddieddie

Hello Folks,

When I purify my fresh tanks with chlorine, do I need to turn off and drain the hot water heater as well?

2017 Springdale travel trailer with Suburban water heater (anode rod).

If it were me....
I'd drain the WH, open the winterization bypass valve. Purify the fresh water tank and run that bleach water thru all lines with the HW heater bypass open. Then flush the entire system. Refill the tank and then close the bypass and allow the WH to fill with clean water. Problem solved.

[Backcountry1]

You can run the chlorine through your water heater also, and I would do it if you were already sanitizing the water system.

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-fresh-water-chlorination/

[MrMark52]

Originally Posted by Backcountry1

You can run the chlorine through your water heater also, and I would do it if you were already sanitizing the water system.

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-fresh-water-chlorination/

You just have to know that you filled the hot water tank up fully with no air pockets or the tank won’t be fully sanitized.

[Persistent]

All these methods work from a practical point of view. However, the hot water tank feed in and output lines are potential source for reinfecting the water system.

To be sure, shut-off and drain the heater.
Fill fresh tank with chlorinated water.
Let it sit for about 4 hours. Maybe drive a little to splash around the tank.
Pump cool chlorinated water into the cooled down tank along with all other tap lines. Don't forget outside taps, low point drains, and other odd valves and fittings.
Vent the "City Water" fitting by depressing the check valve in the opening. (Remove screen first.)
Let it sit for 4 hours.
Drain and flush.

As mentioned above, 140 degrees prevents most harmful micro-organisms from growing, but you could drive-while-full to splash the air space in the heater.

I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!