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Old 10-07-2017, 04:56 PM   #1
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Sterilizing Fresh Water Tanks

For those of you that use your fresh water tanks, how often do you bleach your tanks and lines? I used the RV in September, bleaching and flushing after letting them sit empty for 5 months, and used them for a week, and then completely drained them when I got home. Now I'm getting ready for my Florida migration and plan on using the tanks along the way. Necessary to sterilize again? Also curious that when you are hooked up to city water for weeks on end, do you completely drain the tanks, let them sit with bleach water, or what? Thanks in advance.
Rusty
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Old 10-08-2017, 01:11 AM   #2
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Mine get done once a year, more often if I think there is an issue. FWIW our camper stays loaded and ready to roll at a moment's notice all year round. As long as we use chlorinated city water most of the time I figure once a year is plenty.

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Old 10-08-2017, 10:40 AM   #3
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Thanks Aaron. Along those same lines, how long will you leave potable water in your tanks before you dump it?
Rusty
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Old 10-08-2017, 10:44 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lcv800 View Post
Thanks Aaron. Along those same lines, how long will you leave potable water in your tanks before you dump it?
Rusty
Hadn't really thought about it, because we typically use it up and add a bit more after every trip. We haul drinking water with us and only use the on board water system for flushing and washing. Typically we are parked where we have water available so the on board tank seldom has more than 20 gallons in it.

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Old 10-08-2017, 11:35 AM   #5
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Thanks. I was just curious on how long water would stay "fresh" and whether there would be a bacteria issue after a few weeks. I did have a gross experience last year while hooked up to city water in Florida for two months. Fresh line to my micron and charcoal filters, then to my RV stays in the sun all day. When I temporarily disconnected to clean filters, the hose was loaded with strings of green algae! Obviously never made it past the filters but still grossed me out. No one else in the county park had a similar issue. Wondering on long hook ups if I need to rinse/bleach my fresh water lines out periodically. I know I will try to keep them out of the sun in case that was contributory.
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Old 10-09-2017, 02:23 PM   #6
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I leave my fresh water tanks completely empty as much as possible. I also flush the entire system and tanks with bleach 2x per calendar year. I’m not an expert. An amateur really, this is just what made me feel comfortable with the water system. Also, I used a parks water system and didn’t like the smell and/or flavor so after I left, I flushed again to remove any left over sediments.
Just to be safe. I’m a nerd [emoji846]


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Old 10-10-2017, 12:16 AM   #7
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I'll do similar. Thanks.
Rusty
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Old 10-12-2017, 06:17 PM   #8
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I fill tank with 2 cups bleach and 150 gallons of water run through lines and let sit overnight then drain and flush 2x a year. And leave tanks empty when not in use.


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