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Word of caution when sanitizing water system

Upon reading on the forum about sanitizing the water system I set out this spring to sanijze our water system. I used the vinegar method, leaving it for several hours before flushing with water. Alas, weak water flow and little hot water ( I posted before my concerns). After investigation it wa determined there was so much sediment and deposits In the system ( I suspect this was the FIRST time the system was sanitized since new...my thoughts) that the AH coils were completely jammed up and even high pressure compressor air could not dislodge the deposits
Long story short, new coils were required
8000.00 Canadian dollars!!!!!! Parts and labor
Ouch....
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Word of caution when sanitizing water system

Reply #1 –
There is a distinction in my mind between sanitizing and descaling.  You are correct about vinegar removing the calcium hard water deposits during descaling.  I drain the hot/cold water and Aqua hot, fill the Aqua hot and lines to the faucets/fixtures with vinegar at the supply line on the 12v freshwater pump, and heat it up.  I leave it for 24 hours and then flush.  I do that every couple of years.  To sanitize I drain the entire freshwater tank and refill with a super-chlorinated water solution.  I also let that sit for 8-24hours, then drain and flush with vinegar to remove the chlorine taste.  Flush again with fresh water, drain, and then refill.  I've had to do that when I get bad well water, but if I stay with city water that's chlorinated, then sanitizing is not usually required.  You obviously know that, but some with less experience may benefit from knowing the difference.  I am very sorry to hear about the damage that was done.  That's a big ouch, but it will be a dream when it's finished.  Good luck.
Mark, Monique & Steven Hachigian
2004 36U295 Build No. 6239
2011 Honda CRV 4WD
2024 Dynamax Isata 5 30fw Xplorer

Re: Word of caution when sanitizing water system

Reply #2 –
If you haven't started on the coils I would do what Mark said a few times it may take awhile
to loosen up the calcium. 
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Word of caution when sanitizing water system

Reply #3 –
I was under the impression that you had started on the coils.  If not, then I would do the vinegar again and leave it hot for a day or two and repeat if necessary.  It's shocking how effective that dilute acetic acid (vinegar) is over time.  Keep us posted.

I was also having a GREAT discussion through private messages with Pamela & Mike who sanitize with potassium permanganate.  Really smart approach, and not malodorous like bleach.  It's also not toxic if ingested.  Effective bacterial, cyst and fungal killer.  I was worried about purple staining because I like to run it out my drains into my sewer tanks, but a Corian search says the material is resistant to staining by 2% potassium permanganate.  I'm not sure about the toilet and the shower surfaces, but I suspect they are equally or more resistant.  I'd do a test first.  Pamela & Mike drain it out the tank drain from below if I understand their process correctly.

Corian Chemical Resistance

I hope they'll jump on this thread and outline their procedure.  Those folks are chemical and biochemical wizards. 
   
Mark, Monique & Steven Hachigian
2004 36U295 Build No. 6239
2011 Honda CRV 4WD
2024 Dynamax Isata 5 30fw Xplorer

Re: Word of caution when sanitizing water system

Reply #4 –
Now that the cat is out of the bag here you go for anyone that is interested from what has been kicked around. By the way thanks for those kind words

What we do is:
I have a 15 gallon tank and old water pump that I mix up a solution of KMn04 (potassium permanganate) and 2 gallons of water. I then pump this into the fresh tank.
Attach hose and fill tank with shore water.
Use on board pump to fill system and let set.
Drain out the water in the domestic tank through the little drain take forever but I think this is the best. (this correct that we have used the little tank drain and it seems to take half the night to drain BUT with this new info about the Corian I will start dumping it down the holding tanks rather using than some of those tank fresheners)
Fill tank again then flush piping.
Doing this I have not been able to detect any purple in the water after a couple of cups of water that have been purged out into a bucket. We use an old ice cream bucket.

Hope you understand. Mike uses this stuff for everything as it is one of his go to items. Remember this is to sanitize not to acid wash with vinegar to dissolve calcium.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Word of caution when sanitizing water system

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
Now that the cat is out of the bag here you go for anyone that is interested from what has been kicked around. By the way thanks for those kind words

What we do is:
I have a 15 gallon tank and old water pump that I mix up a solution of KMn04 (potassium permanganate) and 2 gallons of water. I then pump this into the fresh tank.
Attach hose and fill tank with shore water.
Use on board pump to fill system and let set.
Drain out the water in the domestic tank through the little drain take forever but I think this is the best. (this correct that we have used the little tank drain and it seems to take half the night to drain BUT with this new info about the Corian I will start dumping it down the holding tanks rather using than some of those tank fresheners)
Fill tank again then flush piping.
Doing this I have not been able to detect any purple in the water after a couple of cups of water that have been purged out into a bucket. We use an old ice cream bucket.

Hope you understand. Mike uses this stuff for everything as it is one of his go to items. Remember this is to sanitize not to acid wash with vinegar to dissolve calcium.

Pamela & Mike

KMn04
Had never heard of it. Quite interesting. Sound like it has many uses too👍👍
Scott

Re: Word of caution when sanitizing water system

Reply #6 –
Unfortunate for me but I have a shop already redoing the coils....
I certainly will heed the suggestions next time
Peter
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox
 

Re: Word of caution when sanitizing water system

Reply #7 –
I'm in the process of sanitizing my tanks right now. I used a product from starbright through Amazon. I have three 10-in water filters that I used to pour the gallon of this stuff in. After distributing it throughout the water system. I let it sit while I drove 250 mi. When I got here I started flushing the system out and it was very foamy. Didn't have a bad smell. After using the water pump to empty the water tank into the gray and black tanks, I emptied the rest of the tank and then refilled with fresh water. So far the sulfur smell that I was having in the bathroom sink is gone.
There's another product that they make that you put into make your water fresher and I have a bottle of that too. I think it's 1 oz per 20 gallons of water. Have to putting that in. I'll replace my filters which I have three. One which is 10 micron sediment filter, one a KAF filter that I think is 5 microns, and then I have a ceramic filter. The ceramic filter gets clogged up fairly easily so I put a bypass in when I don't feel like changing it. I can just bypass that one. I don't really drink the water out of my tanks, although after this, I'm hoping that it should be fairly clean and fresh. We'll see.
I used to use just a chlorine method. I wanted to try something different which is why I went with this product. I've used star bright products before and was always happy with them.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired