austinjenna
Columbus, Ohio
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I use a cup of bleach in my 60 gallon fresh water tank. I pour the bleach into the hose first as its easier for me that way then fill the fresh water tank up.
I bypass the water heater - that has its own sanitizing way.
Turn on the water pump
Go to each faucet and turn it on until you smell bleach then move onto the next faucet.
Do all the faucets, shower, outdoor shower, toilet etc...
You only need to let it sit an hour or 2 after that the bleach solution is diluted and wont really do anything.
Then I turn on all the faucets and pump it through until the tank is empty. You might want to open your sewer valves so there is no overflow.
I then fill up the fresh water tank again and pump it through all the faucets and I might do that twice. Then you should be set.
For the hot water tank I use vinegar and fill that up and let it sit, usually overnight then drain that and I use the little hot water wand to rinse it all out.
Then turn the hot water bypass back on and you are done.
Its inevitable that you will use a lot of water sanitizing everything.
At least this is my method.
2010 F350 CC Lariat 4x4 Short Bed
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Bobbo
Wherever I park
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3 tons wrote:Bobbo said:
“Do you not feel the water heater needs disinfecting too? Some water sits in it all winter.”
If you want to disinfect it, just turn it on for an hour or two…
3 tons
It takes a temperature of about 170 degrees F (77 degrees C) to disinfect water. How hot does an RV water heater get?
Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
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MFL
Midwest
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Bobbo wrote:3 tons wrote:Bobbo said:
“Do you not feel the water heater needs disinfecting too? Some water sits in it all winter.”
If you want to disinfect it, just turn it on for an hour or two…
3 tons
It takes a temperature of about 170 degrees F (77 degrees C) to disinfect water. How hot does an RV water heater get?
I hoping not 170, but may get to 140?
In my experience leaving a sanitizer in the water heater over night, will help clean the visible cr@p out of it, that you can see, using an inspection light.
Jerry
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bigfootford
Fair Oaks, California
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Joined: 12/03/2002
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Pour tap water into a gallon jug. Put it anywhere you want. Leave it for 5 years and see if there is anything bad in it. You know the answer.
Now if you were to put some dirt in there with it what do you think would happen?
A bud of mine and some of you know him, Reddog1, got an old 60's trailer to tear down because he wanted the frame. We took the freshwater tank out of there and was curious what it looked like on the inside. There was no slime, mold or dead living matter in there. It was clean. It did smell a bit of plastic.
Jim.
2000 2500 9.6 Bigfoot,94 F250, Vision 19.5, Mich 245/70XDS2's, Bilstein shocks, air bags/pump, EU2000, PD 9260,Lifeline 100ah, 200W. solar, Morningstar Sunsaver 15A/ display panel, Trimetric, Delorme/laptop, Holux gps rec,led lights, Wave-3 heat.
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Boon Docker
Mountain Foothills of Southern Alberta
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Bobbo wrote:Boon Docker wrote:Wow, lots of useless answers on how to use the least amount of water.
To the OP, try this:
Fill fresh water tank with 15 gallons of water and 1/2 cup household bleach.
Tow your trailer around for about 10-15 mins to slosh the bleach mixture around.
Bypass the water heater, then pump the mixture through the hot and cold water lines.
Leave mixture sit for a few hours then drain the tank and fully fill with water. Run the fresh water through each hot and cold line for 15-20 secs. You are done.
Works fine for me.
Do you not feel the water heater needs disinfecting too? Some water sits in it all winter.
If there is a rotten egg smell in the hot water then I sanitize the water heater. If not I don't bother with it.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Some of y’all make this RV thing seem far too complicated….
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Bobbo
Wherever I park
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While I have the fresh water tank full enough of bleach water to run through all of the water lines, I fill my water heater too. Doesn't cost any extra. YMMV.
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Blacklane
New Carlisle, Ohio USA
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While others debate the merits of different approaches, let me say that pouring bleach or any other liquid into the water tank is difficult. I used to use a flexible funnel, but all of the accordion folds held a lot of bleach that would drip everywhere, including on my pant.
The solution I found was a horizontal funnel found at auto parts stores used for filling automotive fuel tanks. It is just the right shape for filling RV water tanks as well.
Here is one example: https://www.amazon.com/Replace-8U5A17B068AD-8U5Z17B068A-8U5Z17B068B-Mountaineer/dp/B0B87XG738
* This post was
edited 04/22/23 06:15pm by Blacklane *
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toedtoes
California
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Blacklane wrote:While others debate the merits of different approaches, let me say that pouring bleach or any other liquid into the water tank is difficult. I used to use a flexible funnel, but all of the accordion folds held a lot of bleach that would drip everywhere, including on my pants and shoes.
The solution I found was a horizontal funnel found at auto parts stores used for filling brake fluid reservoirs. It is smooth and bent.
Here is one example: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Line-99239-Funnel/dp/B0722TS26D
I got a "beer bong funnel". It has a smooth tube and is bigger and longer than other funnels. And it has a valve at the end so I can get everything mixed IN the funnel before it starts flowing into the tank.
Beer Bong Funnel
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)
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austinjenna
Columbus, Ohio
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Quote:While others debate the merits of different approaches, let me say that pouring bleach or any other liquid into the water tank is difficult. I used to use a flexible funnel, but all of the accordion folds held a lot of bleach that would drip everywhere, including on my pants and shoes.
The solution I found was a horizontal funnel found at auto parts stores used for filling brake fluid reservoirs. It is smooth and bent.
Here is one example: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Line-99239-Funnel/dp/B0722TS26D
Just pour the bleach into your fresh water hose - then put that into your tank. There is no need to buy anything else to do it.
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