Water System Sanitation

[meyerske]

What's the point of mixing a few gallons of bleach/water solution to add to the fresh water tank, when a few moments later you fill the tank with water? For example, for me, it would be easier to mix 3/4 cup of bleach into 1/2 gallon of water instead of 3 gallons of water.

[JRTJH]

I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind your question, but here's my take on mixing Clorox and water to pour into the fresh water tank.

The Clorox is very caustic and pouring it into the plastic lines "undiluted" or in a "very strong solution" will cause the plastic to become brittle. It won't happen with one application, but over time, you'll damage the plastic hose and cause a water leak.

You should be using about 1/2 cup of Clorox per 20 gallons of tank size, so for your trailer, you should be using about 2 cups of Clorox (1.5 for the 60 gallon tank plus about 0.5 for the water heater/plumbing runs).

To dilute that much Clorox so the solution is "weak enough" not to damage the plastic fill hose would require about 2 gallons of water. Many of us use more water to assure the Clorox isn't too strong. But whatever "solution" you decide to use, just make sure it's not too strong to damage the fill hose and always follow the Clorox with enough fresh water to wash it completely out of the hose.

Most of us drain the water system and water heater (use the low point drains to remove all water/antifreeze) then pour the Clorox solution into the fresh water tank, follow with a complete fill of the tank (until water is flowing out of the vent), then purge your hot/cold water lines until you smell the Clorox at each faucet, let it sit for at least 5 or 6 hours (most recommend overnight), then drain and flush your system until it smells and tastes clean. You may find it difficult to get all the Clorox smell out of the lines, if so, follow the same procedure again, but use a box of baking soda in place of the Clorox solution to "freshen" your water system.

It's important to drain the water heater so you can get enough Clorox into it to kill any bacteria/organisms. If the water heater is left full of water, flushing will consume a very large amount of water until the tank is purged of the old water and what's left has enough Clorox to be effective. It's much easier to start with an empty water heater tank.

I hope this answers your questions.

[hankaye]

JRTJH, Howdy;

I think (?), that the key to the question being asked is this;
"when a few moments later you fill the tank with water?"
IMO, he's just asking about mixing a batch of Clorox & water,
getting it into the tank, then filling the tank with water to sanitize
the system. Just the way I read it, but you've brought up some good
information, as usual.

hankaye

[ctbruce]

Weak Clorox solution is all that is needed and time. Time is the key. And getting it pumped to all areas of your system. If you add the water immediately after the bleach you're probably fine. I have read where some hook the hose into their fresh water tank, add the bleach into the hose, and then hook it up to your water spigot and then fill the tank, diluting the bleach and rinsing the fill line at the same time. This makes sense to me and is a more efficient use of time. Just my 2¢.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by hankaye

JRTJH, Howdy;

I think (?), that the key to the question being asked is this;
"when a few moments later you fill the tank with water?"
IMO, he's just asking about mixing a batch of Clorox & water,
getting it into the tank, then filling the tank with water to sanitize
the system. Just the way I read it, but you've brought up some good
information, as usual.

hankaye

Then the answer (from me) would be: Because in such strong solutions, the Clorox will eventually destroy the plastic fill hose from your fresh water fill port to the fresh water tank and you'll have to disassemble that part of your RV to replace the brittle and leaking hose.

(seems to me "knowing the rest of the reasoning" helps understand the process)

I've watched people "sanitize" their water system by pouring in a cup of bleach and waiting 20 minutes and draining their fresh water tank without ever purging the faucets, I've seen people use vinegar, believing that would work and remember a lengthy discussion about using Listerine mouthwash as a substitute for Clorox, so there's still some significant "misunderstandings" about the process. Maybe I'm incorrect in my beliefs, but for me, answering a "part of a question" seems futile if the rest of the process isn't being done properly and/or omitted for whatever reason. Sanitizing, like packing wheel bearings or almost all other maintenance on an RV, is a "step by step process". If you omit one or two along the way, in many situations, it does make a difference in the outcome. That's the reason I try to always describe the entire process. Even if it doesn't "help" the OP, someone with less experience who reads the post "next week" may learn from the effort.

Just my take on "helping"....

As an added comment, the OP didn't list which model trailer he has, so I took the effort of looking up his previous posts (from 2014) to see what kind of trailer and how big his water tank is. It seems his trailer is an "older Cougar" with a 60 gallon FW tank, so given the added 6 gallons for the water heater and about 3 gallons for plumbing, chances are the 3/4 cup of bleach in his comment probably wouldn't be enough to fully sanitize his system. So, rather than criticize him for not using enough bleach, it seems "more appropriate" (to me) to fully describe the process so he has the information. Whether or not he uses it, well??? at least it's available.

[Desert185]

...and then the wifey comes home with bleach concentrate, which calls for a ratio correction in the process.

As much as I detest bleach and the damage it can cause within the household, it has a purpose for sanitizing the system, but it resides in the shop for next season...not in the freakin house.

[canesfan]

Originally Posted by Desert185

...and then the wifey comes home with bleach concentrate, which calls for a ratio correction in the process.

As much as I detest bleach and the damage it can cause within the household, it has a purpose for sanitizing the system, but it resides in the shop for next season...not in the freakin house.

What is the ratio for the concentrate? I just checked and that's what we have in the laundry room now. Or maybe I'll just go buy my own unconcentrated since my bottle in the garage is empty.

[notanlines]

Look on the label for about 6% sodium hypochlorite, not 3, 4 or 5. The cut-rate brands like to add the water FOR you.

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by canesfan

What is the ratio for the concentrate? I just checked and that's what we have in the laundry room now. Or maybe I'll just go buy my own unconcentrated since my bottle in the garage is empty.

I used one cup instead of 1 1/2 or two cups for the 66 gals (tank and water heater). Ran all faucets until a bleach smell, let it sit overnight, drained and flushed. The bleach smell wasn't overpowering and one flush cleared it, so the ratio seemed to work well.

[bitten]

First time underneath the bedroom and noticed the above. Did not note at pick-up. This drain is under the bed in my Cougar 28 RLS. What does it drain?

[JRTJH]

Bugbitten,

Probably the Fresh Water Tank

[trucker LOU]

Hey John, another bad side to bleach solution being to strong is that it is bad for the rubber parts in the water pump. don't ask how I know this.....Lou.......

[canesfan]

Originally Posted by Bugbitten

First time underneath the bedroom and noticed the above. Did not note at pick-up. This drain is under the bed in my Cougar 28 RLS. What does it drain?

Looks like the fresh water tank drain.

[canesfan]

Originally Posted by notanlines

Look on the label for about 6% sodium hypochlorite, not 3, 4 or 5. The cut-rate brands like to add the water FOR you.

Originally Posted by Desert185

I used one cup instead of 1 1/2 or two cups for the 66 gals (tank and water heater). Ran all faucets until a bleach smell, let it sit overnight, drained and flushed. The bleach smell wasn't overpowering and one flush cleared it, so the ratio seemed to work well.

I just read the label of the concentrated Clorox we have looking for the percentage and found this, "Not to be used for sanitizing or disinfecting, use regular Clorox instead". I never could find the amount/percentage on the label.

[bitten]

Originally Posted by canesfan

Looks like the fresh water tank drain.

Yes it is. Thanks. And I have to crawl way in there to get to it.

[JRS514]

I agree with Meyerske and I don't believe the question was answered. If, after you mixed your bleach into 3 gals of water and pour it in the tank, your next step is to fill the tank with water. Why not just add the bleach and then fill the tank? Why bother to mix it first? Surely pouring less than a cup of bleach in straight won't harm the lines, especially when filling the tank with water will dilute any solution coating the lines.

[meyerske]

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I understand the reasoning now. I appreciate it.