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Old 05-05-2017, 12:26 PM   #1
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Is sanitizing water tank really necessary?

Someone at a campground told me they never "sanitize" their water tank and said putting chlorene (I think that's what you're supposed to use?) in water tank is just a bad idea no matter how much you flush it.
Does anyone else agree with this? Or is it really a bad idea not to because of mold & bacteria??
Thanks
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Old 05-05-2017, 12:30 PM   #2
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I personally would not use my water tank unless it was sanitized. You don't know what could be growing in the lines or the tank. When you sanitize the tank you are also sanitizing all the water lines in the camper.
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Old 05-05-2017, 12:34 PM   #3
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Bad idea not to. Unless you like water that tastes bad and could get you sick.

Besides most city water has chlorine added to it anyway so there is no getting away from it. Your house water probably does unless you are on your own well.

And yes bleach (chlorine) is used to sanitize.
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Old 05-05-2017, 01:00 PM   #4
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It's a bad idea NOT to. I usually sanitize it once a year.
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Old 05-05-2017, 01:01 PM   #5
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You need to sanitize your fresh water tank and lines at least once a year with chlorine bleach.
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Old 05-05-2017, 01:26 PM   #6
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X4 on sanitizing the fresh water system every year.

Personally, we don't drink or cook with the water from the FW tank, so I include 3tbs of chlorine with every refill to keep it sanitary for washing dishes and us!

None of the parts in the water system will be negatively impacted by the harsher 1/4 cup bleach to 15 gallons of water sanitizing solution.
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Old 05-05-2017, 01:37 PM   #7
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If you never drink the water or use it to touch my dishes, I might not sanitize. But do drink the water! I cook with it and wash dishes too. I realy do not want to be sick, so I clean the tank and water lines.

Some people use a food grade chemical that brewers use to sanitize the brew equipment. They say it's better than clorine bleach.
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Old 05-05-2017, 01:37 PM   #8
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Personally, we don't drink or cook with the water from the FW tank, so I include 3tbs of chlorine with every refill to keep it sanitary for washing dishes and us!
This is the way we do it as well, only I add 1 cup of bleach every time we fill the tanks because our Eagle holds 90 gallons of water. So it gets "sanitized" every time out when we use the tanks.
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Old 05-05-2017, 01:55 PM   #9
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Take a microbiology class, peek into the microscope and you'll be sanitizing your water system.

Chlorine (bleach) is an effective way to do so.
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Old 05-05-2017, 02:11 PM   #10
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Make sure you use *fresh* bleach.

The sanitizing properties of bleach have a shorter shelf life than most probably realize.

I took a few home brewing courses a couple years ago and the importance of using new bleach for sanitizing was stressed multiple times.

There are products that sanitize better, some are 'no rinse' most have longer shelf lives.. Clorox works fine though.

I have a few 55 gallon drums of long term water storage and use Calcium Hypochlorite to sanitize that supply. I use the 'no-rinse' home brewer sanitizing options for my camper though. If it works for Molson Coors, I'm running with that option.
This is what I use in the camper...
Star San PBW

And
Star San
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Old 05-05-2017, 02:36 PM   #11
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Make sure you use *fresh* bleach.

The sanitizing properties of bleach have a shorter shelf life than most probably realize.

I took a few home brewing courses a couple years ago and the importance of using new bleach for sanitizing was stressed multiple times.

There are products that sanitize better, some are 'no rinse' most have longer shelf lives.. Clorox works fine though.

I have a few 55 gallon drums of long term water storage and use Calcium Hypochlorite to sanitize that supply. I use the 'no-rinse' home brewer sanitizing options for my camper though. If it works for Molson Coors, I'm running with that option.
This is what I use in the camper...
Star San PBW

And
Star San
The directions indicate that rinsing is most definitely required. Food grade does not mean edible.

I do something similar using IOSAN (an iodine based sanitizer) that is used often in the milk industry, but I do find that it foams a bit, and you don't want to spill any on the TT as it stains like crazy in the concentrated state.
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Old 05-05-2017, 03:02 PM   #12
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The directions indicate that rinsing is most definitely required. Food grade does not mean edible.

I do something similar using IOSAN (an iodine based sanitizer) that is used often in the milk industry, but I do find that it foams a bit, and you don't want to spill any on the TT as it stains like crazy in the concentrated state.
Yeah, PBW foams a bit and one probably should rinse that out. I've also use 'one step' which is a no rinse product. I guess just pointing out that bleach isn't the only game in town
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Old 05-05-2017, 03:09 PM   #13
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Chlorine does a good job of sanitizing your total water system. I sanitize our system each spring before we head out. We almost always have water hook ups, but, I want the water lines, HW tank etc sanitized, even tho we typically do not drink the water. I fill the system with the appropriate amount of water/chlorine mixture, open each faucet to allow the sanitizing solution to get to all parts of the system. Allow it to sit over night, then drain and flush the system well. No good reason not to do this, but many reasons to do it.

I also use plenty of this water flusing the toilet, with also will help sanitize the black tank.. .

Good luck whatever you decide to do.
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Old 05-06-2017, 09:18 AM   #14
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full timed in a motorhome for 8 years. Never sanitized the water tank. Still here to write this reply.
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Old 05-06-2017, 09:28 AM   #15
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We sanitize fresh water every time. Not rocket science for us when we fill dump about 1/2 tbl. bleach in the hose and filler up!Been doing that for about 10 years.Happy Trails
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Old 05-06-2017, 09:28 AM   #16
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Bigdomino - Five+ years and counting. Still alive.
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Old 05-06-2017, 10:00 AM   #17
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Bigdomino - Five+ years and counting. Still alive.
I knew these would come...
I've been drinking out of a garden hose for decades too.


Having an un-sanitized water tank probably won't kill you. If you're filling it with city water then odds are it's been cleaned up by your town.

But sanitizing your tank might save you from a bad case of "Gas Station Burrito Blues". And if you had young kids in the camper, they might be more susceptible and why run the risk for their sake?


150 years ago, you'd have stuck your face right into the stream.
These days, we know better.
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Old 05-06-2017, 10:40 AM   #18
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Once a year...always.
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Old 05-06-2017, 11:25 AM   #19
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well... I guess that's settled. ;-)
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Old 05-06-2017, 11:30 AM   #20
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Just because you can, doesn't mean you shouldn't. You can go years without greasing your axles...or changing the oil in your vehicle...don't recommend it, but, if your lazy sure go for it....eventually it may cause an issue... Why ? For the couple minutes it takes it just makes sense...I also wash and wax the RV and actually clean the floors inside too.. don't have to..but I choose too. I like clean and knowing im doing what I can to protect my family...some don't care, I do...to each their own.
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