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Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
After reading a variety of posts in various places, I’m confused!? I need to sanitize my Fresh water tank (using bleach), do I need to bypass the water heater? ‘08 MB, I don’t have a bypass valve. TIA!!
2008 27' Mid Bath
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #1 –
No actually you want to sanitize the inside of the water heater tank also. So yes, run the highly chlorinated water  through that 6 gallon tank from the main tank too.  RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #2 –
I leave the bleached water in the full fresh tank, water lines and water heater for about 4-hours and throughly rinse it all out at least twice or more. I don't specifically measure how much chlorine but it is at least 8 to 12 ounces. The chlorine will attack metal surfaces in the water system if exposed too long (like several days). This has always worked for us as we use the fresh tank water for all our water needs (including cooking and drinking). We do not connect to city water but only fill the fresh tank with filtered water when necessary.  I drain the tank when storing the coach. Living in Florida we never have to winterize the water system.
Mike C
2026 Coach House 27' "Casa Azul"
2010 RB "Monty"  &  2021 RB "Villa Verde"
2004 Born Free 26'
1998 Beaver Patriot 33'
1992 Barth Breakaway 28'
1982 Fleetwood Jamboree 23
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #3 –
So I run off the tank as well when camping and use one of the cheap Camco filters for the tank water.  I have not bleached the tank or water heater since purchasing Nocona in Dec. 2020.  I do winterize but keep water in the tank/water heater during our warmer months.  Am I setting myself up for getting sick?  Is bleaching really necessary?
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #4 –
Hi Greg;  A lot depends on how much chlorine and the quality of your municipal water source. I don't use a water filter, and just fill up straight from my hose.  I do use a Camco filter to keep debris out of the tank when I'm on the road.  The bottom of my water tank is clean with no appreciable accumulation of sand or rocks.  I super chlorinate about once a year, usually just before longer trips or excursions.
     I don't let the water sit, but I do dump* and refill every month or so, to keep good 'earthquake insurance' water in the rig. Also 'fire evacuation' insurance. (Along with fully loaded durable food supplies.)  RonB

     * In chronic water short southern California, the dumped water is used for irrigation of landscape planting by attaching a hose to the tank outlet. 
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #5 –
Greg,

I’ve sanitized once using a Marinco fresh water sanitizing kit a few years ago per Blueox25’s (Harold) recommendation.

It was a simple procedure although it took a few flushes of fresh water to clear the hot water taps (foaming due to the sanitation procedure). Since then I’ve not used any sanitizer products. Preferring to use my Water Filter Store two stage filter Harold and I purchased several years ago.

I am constantly using the water from my tanks while it is parked at home. When the tank runs low, I drain the tank onto the lawn and filter the water as I refill the tank.

Two years ago I tested my fresh water for coliform bacteria using a kit I purchased on Amazon. Amazon.com: Coliform Bacteria Test Kit for Drinking Water - Easy to Use...   The test showed no bacteria and since then I just use, drain & fill my tanks as usual.

Very satisfied with my water supply. Never hesitate to fill my water bottle (stainless steel) or make a fresh cup of coffee.

Cheers, Kent
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #6 –
I sanitize my fresh water supply with a diluted bleach solution every year after I dewinterize. The thing I do a little differently though is I don't allow the bleach solution to enter the water heater. My rig has a hot water heater bypass kit installed so my hot water tank is drained and rinsed when we winterize the system with RV antifreeze. After I sanitize the water system, I take the water heater out of bypass and then I install the water heater drain plug.

The reason I don't sanitize the water heater is I have found it nearly impossible to get all of the water out of it when I drain the tank. I think I would still smell the bleach every time I ran the hot water for at least the first few days of camping.

I will say I am always amazed at the white crud that ends up on the ground when I drain and rinse the water heater with a rinse wand.

Steve K
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #7 –
Quote
I will say I am always amazed at the white crud that ends up on the ground when I drain and rinse the water heater with a rinse wand.

Check this out. It's my 10 gallon tank from awhile back.
jor

09 27' MB
10  Suby Forester
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #8 –
So John; shouldn't that be a 6 gallon tank. As far as I know Lazy Daze never had a ten gallon water heater in any of its floorplans.   So white crystals should be magnesium chloride.  Calcium chloride is more of a brown color. These deposits are soluble in water with a little help.  They come out of solution because the water is heated.  RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #9 –
Quote from: jor  - 
Check this out. It's my 10 gallon tank from awhile back.

That's the result of not flushing the tank periodically with a water heater tank cleaning tool.
I flush our water heater once or twice a year, and the driveway becomes covered with what looks like hail.
Camco Water Heater Tank Rinser | Camping World

The cleaning tool connects to a hose, it has a valve to control the flow of water flowing from the tub.
The tube is inserted into the threaded drain, once the drain plug is remdoes get fioved. A plastic plug is preferable since it will not corrode in place the way metal plugs can.
The tube is a soft plastic that will not harm the tank's interior. The tool is pushed in and out of the dran hole aggressively while moving the tool around at various angles to touch as much of the interior of the tank as possible, contact helps break up the deposits.
Continue to flush until the water runs clean.
Expect to get very wet, it's a good job for a hot summer day.

We use the LD frequently and it rarely needs to be sanitized. It does get filled with chlorinated water each time and inside we use a high-efficiency water filler for drinking water.

Larry

Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #11 –
Quote from: kmk20  - 
After reading a variety of posts in various places, I’m confused!? I need to sanitize my Fresh water tank (using bleach), do I need to bypass the water heater? ‘08 MB, I don’t have a bypass valve. TIA!!
Thank you all for your input!! So very helpful!!
2008 27' Mid Bath
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #12 –
Edited by RonB:   A link to the LD Companion  The Lazy Daze Companion     will give better access to the many useful articles there.

  "The utilization of The Companion continues to decrease showing that many people answer without checking the Companion first."
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #13 –
Quote
So John; shouldn't that be a 6 gallon tank.
This one isn't from an LD. It's from a 95 Foretravel. When I bought it I was having trouble with the water fill valve (photo). Turned out it was being blocked by all of this crud coming from the heater. I had no idea the stuff is dissolvable so I replaced the tank. Kept it clean and no more problems!

Quote
Instead of answering the already answered question, I suggest they be referred to The Companion.
In my short time here I have found the Companion to be a valuable resource. I've read most of it and refer to it often. However, I still enjoy posts on subjects covered in the Companion as sometimes someone has a better mousetrap.  :D
jor
09 27' MB
10  Suby Forester
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #14 –
Hi John,  The hardness of the water determines the build up of that debris.  Magnesium carbonate and Calcium carbonate are soluble, until heated, and then the carbon dioxide is released, leaving this hard white stuff.  Iron and sulphur make things even worse, it smells (rotten egg) and looks (brown).  I believe in extreme cases the insides of the aluminum tank are affected, forming aluminum oxide and actually dissolving.  I do remember one person who replaced his tank with copper. I'm not even sure that was worth it, but he assured me that his local water was that bad.
   Frequent cleaning, or a portable water softener, if you were in one location for a long time, might be the 'fix' for that.    https://www.portablewatersoftener.com/shop/water-softeners       Interesting picture of the insides nonetheless.     RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #15 –
Quote from: Don Malpas  - 
Edited by RonB:   A link to the LD Companion  The Lazy Daze Companion     will give better access to the many useful articles there.

  "The utilization of The Companion continues to decrease showing that many people answer without checking the Companion first."

Exactly my point RonB that you edited out Why did you not give a link at the git go?
Links, rather than going over the same old ground will keep The Companion around.]
It's up to you.
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #18 –
We have been using Purogene since 2007, which is why I am so good-looking.

I am not aware of an alternative. I start the year cleaning the tank and lines with Clorox, but flush it out twice before filling the tank for use.

Restaurant food prep surfaces are cleaned with Purogene.
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #19 –
There is an next level purification using Purogene activated by citric acid I believe.
Chris - 2001 MB
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #20 –
When at home do you people sanitize the house hot water heater?
If you connect/ fill from a potable water source in a campground/ resort or city water. The water used for filling fresh tank is unlikely to be contaminated.
That being said there are 2 reasons to sanitize/ disinfect rv fresh water tank. The first is if the rv system was left with water in it for several months unused. The second is if the rv was filled in an unknown water source i.e. a natural spring, a water system that may have visual unattractive aesthetics color odor.
Majority of cities and rv campgrounds are permitted systems for water. These systems are classified as community, transient, transient non community. All of which have certain requirements for monitoring primarily coliform bacteria (as the indicator bacteria). Not withstanding many other constituents in the water source.
To sanitize the rv system if filled from unknown source. Fill water tank the known trusted source add about 1/4  cup bleach. Let it set for several hours (contact time). Then flush system and drain. Rv setting for extended time 2 options use previous method. Option 2 drain system refill the flush. Majority of systems disinfect with chlorine to minimum level of 0.2 rpm of chlorine to kill coliform bacteria (indicator bacteria).
Run filters into the rv water system yes one for piece of mind, for removal of objectionable color,odor taste. I go to 2 campgrounds that I connect my filters, both meet safe drinking water act, but I use them to filter the sediment and odor.
1992 Mid Bath
 
Re: Sanitizing fresh water tank and water heater
Reply #21 –
"The second is if the rv was filled in an unknown water source i.e. a natural spring, a water system that may have visual unattractive aesthetics color odor.

Spot on!

I'm reminded of a favorite USFS campground that had the old fashioned manual pumps, the kind that were common on farms during my childhood. Each pump was at the wellhead to lift water from the aquifer charged by a nearby river. The effluent was always a consistent muddy color and I refused to introduce it to my fresh water tank.   ::)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!