Water tank sanitize

ianpemb

Senior Member
Joined
May 3, 2022
Messages
129
Location
barrie
Hi everyone, I have a 2021 precept prestige 36h and when I try to syphon fill the tank no matter what I try it does not draw. I am looking for a work around in order to sanitize the fresh water tank. I have just poured a little diluted bleach at a time into the fill hose then connected that hose to city water and filled the tank a little at a time then unhook the hose add more bleach solution then more water .. rinse lather repeat. This works but it's slow. Can I remove the water filter then remove the cartridge and add bleach to the filter holder then power fill the tank using city water?
 
Hi everyone, I have a 2021 precept prestige 36h and when I try to syphon fill the tank no matter what I try it does not draw. I am looking for a work around in order to sanitize the fresh water tank. I have just poured a little diluted bleach at a time into the fill hose then connected that hose to city water and filled the tank a little at a time then unhook the hose add more bleach solution then more water .. rinse lather repeat. This works but it's slow. Can I remove the water filter then remove the cartridge and add bleach to the filter holder then power fill the tank using city water?
Here is what I do. Turn water off on hose. Drain off the pressure by opening outdoor shower head, then remove the water filter canister. Pull out the water filter and then put 2 cups of bleach in the canister and re-install it. Then turn on the water to tank fill. The water will run through the filter canister and take it to the fresh tank. Then re-install the water filter.
 
FWIW- On this coach and my previous RV, I just calculated the amount of bleach needed and added it full strength (with a small funnel) to the fill hose, then filled the FW tank. I don't believe there is anything in the system that will be harmed by a few seconds of full-strength bleach exposure. Lazy way perhaps, but it has worked well for me for many years and I have read lots of posts where others do the same. Just my $.02

Good times and safe travels to ya, Ian.

On Edit: Ooops, I was typing and didn't see Kevin's post ......... same principle, maybe a better way?
 
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FWIW- On this coach and my previous RV, I just calculated the amount of bleach needed and added it full strength (with a small funnel) to the fill hose, then filled the FW tank. I don't believe there is anything in the system that will be harmed by a few seconds of full-strength bleach exposure. Lazy way perhaps, but it has worked well for me for many years and I have read lots of posts where others do the same. Just my $.02

Good times and safe travels to ya, Ian.

On Edit: Ooops, I was typing and didn't see Kevin's post ......... same principle, maybe a better way?

X2

I am considering attaching a longer piece of hose to a funnel and filling my tank that way. But it always made sense to sanitize my freshwater hose while I was doing the rest of the system.
 
fw sanitizer

google IN-LINE water sanitizer hose connection.it is a small plastic tank about the size of a soda bottle with 2 hose connections and a removable plug to add bleach. I love it
 
Hi everyone, I have a 2021 precept prestige 36h and when I try to syphon fill the tank no matter what I try it does not draw. I am looking for a work around in order to sanitize the fresh water tank. I have just poured a little diluted bleach at a time into the fill hose then connected that hose to city water and filled the tank a little at a time then unhook the hose add more bleach solution then more water .. rinse lather repeat. This works but it's slow. Can I remove the water filter then remove the cartridge and add bleach to the filter holder then power fill the tank using city water?

Just making sure (everything)… you tried switching the inlet screen? If so, ignore, if not, see below from another post/poster. Same deal for when winterizing.

“Head back out and see if you have conical shaped screens/filters on the inlets. If you do, flip the one around so the cone faces inward.”
 
This is what I am doing now but I can only get a small amount of bleach in the hose at a time
 
Yes I do have the conical filters. I have tried both ways and still nothing. I took it in to have it winterized and they ended up connecting a hose directly to the water pump to draw the antifreeze into the system because they could not get the winterize setting on the nautilus to draw
 
This is the answer to my question about putting bleach I. The water filter housing
 
Strange, well, just get that Nautilus and/or water pump fixed sometime before boondocking/selling. Out of Jayco warranty probably.

Do you have tankless water heater? Wonder if opening the pressure relief valve to clear out a possible air pocket or such could resolve? Grasping at straws. I can say that my first year with our rig, I accidentally ran antifreeze thru water heater messing with those knobs as I too had issues drawing it in until learning to reverse the inlet.

Good luck!
 
Strange, well, just get that Nautilus and/or water pump fixed sometime before boondocking/selling. Out of Jayco warranty probably.

Do you have tankless water heater? Wonder if opening the pressure relief valve to clear out a possible air pocket or such could resolve? Grasping at straws. I can say that my first year with our rig, I accidentally ran antifreeze thru water heater messing with those knobs as I too had issues drawing it in until learning to reverse the inlet.

Good luck!
we do have a tankless water heater. You are correct. This is out of warranty but lets not get me started on that issue. This was new in the fall of 2021 I bought it in the spring of 22 and the warranty was NOT transferable.
 
Hi everyone, I have a 2021 precept prestige 36h and when I try to syphon fill the tank no matter what I try it does not draw. I am looking for a work around in order to sanitize the fresh water tank. I have just poured a little diluted bleach at a time into the fill hose then connected that hose to city water and filled the tank a little at a time then unhook the hose add more bleach solution then more water .. rinse lather repeat. This works but it's slow. Can I remove the water filter then remove the cartridge and add bleach to the filter holder then power fill the tank using city water?

You need to reverse the washer on the inlet valve to permit it to siphon. Otherwise it serves as a check valve
 
Although not written in the owner’s manual, here is the correct procedure for sanitizing the freshwater tank …

1) Remove the main water hose connection from the wall. Note that as you remove this fitting, you will find a conically shaped screen/washer immediately behind the fitting. The cone normally faces outward.
2) Reverse the conical screen/washer so that it faces inward. This causes a water pressure backflow switch to be depressed.
3) Reconnect the main hose fitting with the conical screen/wash facing inward.
4) Locate the short (~14”) hose that is cut off on one end and has a threaded fitting on the other; attach it to the main hose fitting.
5) Put the cut off end into the hose into the container of your diluted bleach solution.
6) Set the water control levers to SANITIZE THE FRESHWATER TANK and turn on the water pump. The bleach will be sucked into the tank (approximately 90 seconds for a gallon)
7) Once your bleach is sucked in, remove the water hose connection and again reverse the conical screen/washer so that it faces outward again.
8) Connect the main water hose and set the water valves to FILL THE FRESHWATER TANK.
9) Turn on the water until the main tank is full with the diluted bleach mixture.

Please note that reversing the conical screen/washer pointing inward should also be used when sucking in anti-freeze for winterizing.

Best of luck!
 
Although not written in the owner’s manual, here is the correct procedure for sanitizing the freshwater tank …

1) Remove the main water hose connection from the wall. Note that as you remove this fitting, you will find a conically shaped screen/washer immediately behind the fitting. The cone normally faces outward.
2) Reverse the conical screen/washer so that it faces inward. This causes a water pressure backflow switch to be depressed.
3) Reconnect the main hose fitting with the conical screen/wash facing inward.
4) Locate the short (~14”) hose that is cut off on one end and has a threaded fitting on the other; attach it to the main hose fitting.
5) Put the cut off end into the hose into the container of your diluted bleach solution.
6) Set the water control levers to SANITIZE THE FRESHWATER TANK and turn on the water pump. The bleach will be sucked into the tank (approximately 90 seconds for a gallon)
7) Once your bleach is sucked in, remove the water hose connection and again reverse the conical screen/washer so that it faces outward again.
8) Connect the main water hose and set the water valves to FILL THE FRESHWATER TANK.
9) Turn on the water until the main tank is full with the diluted bleach mixture.

Please note that reversing the conical screen/washer pointing inward should also be used when sucking in anti-freeze for winterizing.

Best of luck!
 
I have learned from experience that my 2016 Alante 26ay will only pump to the fresh water tank when the low point drain valves are closed. As far as bleach I pre dilute the bleach in 2 gallons of water and "country fill" that solution into the half filled tank and then fill the tank. I let it sit for eight hours or overnight.
 
this is the easiest way to sanitze period

See below I have done it with this for the past few years.
 

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