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Topic: How often do you sanitize your freshwater system? (Read 383 times) previous topic - next topic
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How often do you sanitize your freshwater system?
I never did it with my 1995 and I haven't done it yet with my 2021 but I'm considering it.

I have a two-stage filter and drinking safe hoses to fill the tank with and then under the sink I have a ceramic filter.

Tastes fine and doesn't smell so I don't know if I'm actually going to need to, or how often I need to, sanitize?
2021 Mid Bath
Re: How often do you sanitize your freshwater system?
Reply #1 –
For us the question is not how often but when to sanitize the water system. Most full-time RVers who use their water tank all the time don’t seem to sanitize very often. On the other hand we will sanitize when on the rare occasions we don’t use the RV for about two month or so.  That’s especially true when we have long hot summers and we haven’t used the water in the water tank.

Another time that we have sanitized is after filling with questionable water.  I hope our experience is helpful to you.
Re: How often do you sanitize your freshwater system?
Reply #2 –
For me, I use the rv part-time and I usually sanitize the freshwater tank as part of my de-winterizing procedure in the Spring.  So far I haven't got bad water that would require a second sanitation.

Kevin Hannah
Kevin
Kevin Hannah
Green Valley, AZ
Owner of 2004 30' Island bed
Previously 2001 LD 26.5 MB and 2000 LD 26.5 RK
Re: How often do you sanitize your freshwater system?
Reply #3 –
I full time but don't drink the water in my fresh tank.
I drink spring water I get in Sedona, some of the best water in the country.
Been more than 18 years with no problems.
So, I see no need to sanitize my tank.
Jota
96 23.5 FL
Re: How often do you sanitize your freshwater system?
Reply #4 –
Water has never stayed unused in our LD long enough to cause issues, 22 years and counting without sanitizing, other than dumping poor-tasting water when we get home.

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: How often do you sanitize your freshwater system?
Reply #5 –
With so many different types of usage, I can see why there are different answers.

We winterize our rig with RV antifreeze in the plumbing but leave the fresh water tank dry from November until mid April. I do sanitize the fresh water tank and water system except for hot water tank. I leave the water heater in bypass mode until I finish sanitizing and rinsing the plumbing.

I should add that here in Ohio, we don't have a water shortage like some areas of the country so there is no concern about using water other than paying for it.

Steve K.
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath
Re: How often do you sanitize your freshwater system?
Reply #6 –
When I was RVing I went on several trips in the 6 - 9 month window that the mid Atlantic allowed.  Sometimes more if I drove south.  Before each trip I would fill the FW tank about a quarter and drive around the block to slosh things around good.  Then dump that immediately.  I would leave the FW drain open and run a bit of water through the tank, then close and refill the FW tank until it was over flowing.  While the FW tank was filling I would open all the all the faucets on cold.  I would then hook the hose to the City Water port and let the water purge the FW lines.  I would then turn off all the faucets and make sure the Hot water tank was open.  I then let the HW tank purge.  I would turn off the water (I had a valve on my hose for that) close the HW tank and open the pressure release valve.  Then fill the hot water tank.  I would then run water through all the hot water lines.  I would let the city water sit for a couple days to let the chlorine do its thing. Then dump all the water in the system and fill again.  I generally traveled with a full HW tank (following the manual on how to burp the HW tank when refilling) and a half full FW tank to full FW tank depending on where I was going.
Don't know that I would do the same here in AZ.  The water has a lot more minerals in it.  Our drinking water is different is on a separate filter than the rest of the house.  But the city water is chlorinated and likely not too different than the campground water associated a city/town system.
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath
Re: How often do you sanitize your freshwater system?
Reply #7 –
Interesting seeing the different approaches.
We don't usually drink out of the fresh water tank. A good amount of the times we have hook ups and we do connect our RV to the campgrounds water.
At our house our well water has a bit of iron, so I don't fill the fresh water tank at home. I usually fill it nearly all the way full while at a campground with their water which always has some chlorine, even though our filter removes most of the chlorine, supposedly.  This happens every 4 to 6 weeks. I will drain some at the house before a trip so I can add more when we arrive at a campground. The water in the tank gets used while traveling and the overnight stops without hookups, but not for drinking.
Someday if we traveled more I would consider a better filtration system under the sink with maybe UV, but that doesn't seem worth it at this time.
Steve and Jill, Steve posting
1999 26.5 Mid-Bath
Re: How often do you sanitize your freshwater system?
Reply #8 –
Haven’t had to winterize in my four years of TK ownership which simplifies things.

At the end of the season (fall) I drain the fresh water tank.   In spring I sanitize the fresh water tank, run that water through the pipes and let it sit for a day, drain, refill, run the water through the pipes, then drain refill, good to go for the year.

The RV is in continuous use until I’m done for the year, haven’t yet done a mid season sanitize.   Fresh water tank is only used for washing, rinsing, and toilet functions.

I keep drinking water in four one gallon stainless steel jugs.  Easier to keep fresh, monitor water quality, clean if I end up with questionable water and minimizes micro plastics.
Dave

2017 TK