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Old 05-06-2012, 07:52 AM   #15
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The chlorine test strip readings vary by mfr. We go for a low level reading. We use household chlorine, not pool strength. One oz. per 10 gallons is a reasonable level. After a week or two is when we use a test strip to see what's what.

We bring distilled water for the batteries and for the dog to drink. It has low pH and does not make the best coffee.
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Old 05-06-2012, 04:22 PM   #16
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Literally just finished sanitizing my fresh water system after buying the MH brand new two months ago (we have our first trip scheduled for the Memorial Day weekend). My fresh water fill is a gravity fill about half way up the side of the coach. After much thought, and a couple failed attempts using other things, I was best able to get the bleach/water mix into my tank by premixing in a cleaned two liter soda bottle, then dumping into the tank.
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Old 05-06-2012, 05:47 PM   #17
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1- Put in 2 oz of regular bleach in your fresh water tank for every 10 gals of water.

2- Run EVERY faucet with the center position to get the hot water tank filled until you smell bleach.

3- Let it sit over night and then run it dry again using the hot and cold water.

4- Refill the fresh water tank with just water and let it run until it drains.

Make sure you turn on the shower, sink and the sink in the bathroom all at once for each fill.

Don't leave any water sit in the fresh water tank until you are going to use it. Put in a few ounces of bleach when you fill it up for a trip. When your trip is done empty the fresh water tank or put in a little bleach to keep it fresh for about 1 month at best. If it's to sit more than a month dump it. If you leave it sit empty for more than a month re-sanitize it so it cleans any mold that has developed.

Also, take a few gallons of bottled water for coffee and brushing your teeth to be safe.

On our first MH we didn't do this and both of us wound up in the hospital so I'm anal about keeping the fresh water tank clean. If you take a gallon jug and fill it half full of water and place it on a shelf in your shed and look at it a month later it will be black/green with mold. The same thing happens with your fresh water tank.
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Old 05-07-2012, 02:06 AM   #18
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[QUOTE=MRBB;1168360]1- Put in 2 oz of regular bleach in your fresh water tank for every 10 gals of water.

2- Run EVERY faucet with the center position to get the hot water tank filled until you smell bleach.

3- Let it sit over night and then run it dry again using the hot and cold water.

4- Refill the fresh water tank with just water and let it run until it drains.

Make sure you turn on the shower, sink and the sink in the bathroom all at once for each fill.

Don't leave any water sit in the fresh water tank until you are going to use it. Put in a few ounces of bleach when you fill it up for a trip. When your trip is done empty the fresh water tank or put in a little bleach to keep it fresh for about 1 month at best. If it's to sit more than a month dump it. If you leave it sit empty for more than a month re-sanitize it so it cleans any mold that has developed.

Also, take a few gallons of bottled water for coffee and brushing your teeth to be safe.

On our first MH we didn't do this and both of us wound up in the hospital so I'm anal about keeping the fresh water tank clean. If you take a gallon jug and fill it half full of water and place it on a shelf in your shed and look at it a month later it will be black/green with mold. The same thing happens with your fresh water tank.[/QUOTE
That is exactly my concern too. I don't want us to get sick. The off taste of the water is bad enough but for both of us to end up hospitalized just isn't worth it. I will follow your "anal" instructions to a tee. They made sense to me. Thanks for taking the time to write that.
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Old 07-15-2012, 04:18 PM   #19
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I just read all the above treads. I just finished running bleach thru my motorhome system. Did it twice and added a lot of bleach.. I think my tank is about 100 gallons...I drained all the taps and tolietand did it again...Going to check in morning for bleach smell..Right now that's all I smell it is on my hands when I was draining the tanks but not full strength...on my hands thou...At least I got clean hands..Going to buy at HomeDepot a good water filter for my drinking water...But I will only use my holding tank water I bring from home....to drink and wash thou.. I butt the the 3 gallon jugs of water fir tea and coffee..
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Old 08-05-2012, 11:57 PM   #20
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Can the hot water be byepassed when sanitizing? I can drain and flush it several times to clean it out.
If I put bleach solution in the fresh water tank and turn on the pump it will have to fill the 10 gallon hot water tank and then the remaining water system before shutting off. Then I would have to drain the hot water tank again. Any comments welcomed.
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Old 08-06-2012, 12:32 AM   #21
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We carry bottled water for coffee and drinking.

Every campground is different and there is some horrid water at certain places.

I put about a half gallon of bleach in the fresh water tank on a trailer I had one time. Never did get the bleach smell out....

I never bleach now, I drain the tank at the end of the trip and leave the drain open.

When I fill before the trip I put about a quarter tank in, drain it and then put about 15 gallons in for flushing and washing while on the road until we get to our site.
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Old 08-06-2012, 01:49 AM   #22
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Ditto on the bottled water for human consumption and sanitized tank water for washing and flushing.
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Old 08-06-2012, 05:00 AM   #23
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In 30 Years of Camping never used Camp Ground water for drinking or cooking including the Dog's water Bowl
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Old 08-06-2012, 07:18 AM   #24
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I understand that it's a personal decision but I have never understood the aversion many people have to using water hookups or their on board fresh water tank for drinking water. The public water supply in the US and Canada is the envy of the world. It's very safe. I'm now 65 and I've been camping since I was about 10 years old and I have used the campground supply all those years.
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Old 08-06-2012, 11:05 AM   #25
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When we lived on a boat in in the Virgin Islands some of our neighbors would pour a bottle of inexpensive white wine into the water tank occasionally to help cut down bacteria. I have no idea how well that worked but it didn't leave a clorine taste in the water.
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Old 08-09-2012, 03:28 PM   #26
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A couple of points, for what it's worth:

1. On my MH the tank drain is in the side of the tank right at the bottom but, cannot drain the tank completely (assuming the coach is fairly level), so a small amount of water remains no matter what. I leave about 10 gallons with bleach mixture in it when parked for more than a month.

2. I'd think real hard about leaving the drain open all the time. I live in the woods and "creatures" are always looking for an adventure. Same reason I don't leave even the grey water valve open at a park until I'm ready to dump.
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Old 11-01-2012, 11:57 AM   #27
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Water can be iffy for drinking and cooking. To be safe, I drink beer and cook with wine.
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Old 11-01-2012, 12:05 PM   #28
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When we dewinterize in the spring, I sanitize the unit as others have described, (1/4oz per 15gals of water). During the rest of the year, I will leave city source water in the tank for approx (2) weeks if not used then drain if we're not going to go camping. If well water is used, I leave it in (1) week max if not used then drain. I will sanitize one more time during the camping season if needed. We mainly use bottled water for drinking but will occasionally use the onboard source in addition to bathing/cooking.
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