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Topic: Fresh water sanitizer (Read 835 times) previous topic - next topic

Fresh water sanitizer

We used to use bleach to sanitize fresh water tanks, but now every bleach bottle we pick up says not to use it for that purpose. What do you use?

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #1 –
Purogene:  This treatment for fresh water tanks is not harmful as a maintenance product, has no smell or taste, and can simply be added to the tank as needed without further effort to drain, freshen, etc.  One quart of concentrated additive lasts a long time.
RV Water Filter Store: Standard Filter Canisters for Whole RV
Bob
Bob & Kathy
2007 Nimbus
Full Timers
Retired Charter Bus Owner/Operator

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #2 –
Next question: How do I get it into the tank? Last time we used a funnel to pour a small amount into the hose, attached the hose to the faucet, ran water for a couple of minutes, disconnected, poured a little more into the hose, etc. Took quite a while to get the necessary chemical into the tank, then finished filling the tank, let it sit for the specified time, ran water through all the faucets, drained the tank, refilled with fresh water, ran water through all the faucets, drained, refilled, repeated, drained, and finally filled with fresh water. Pretty much used a day.


How much of that Purogene do I need for the 105 gallons of fresh water?

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #3 –
David, we still use household bleach.  The labels are probably written to protect the bleach makers when people use way too much bleach.  Another option is calcium hypochlorite. We have not tried this. i have heard people talking about using hydrogen peroxide too but this is more often used as a pretreatment before a disinfectant for odor control.

Ordinary bleach to water ratios are about 2 tsp for every 10 gallons.  If you are adding 80 gallons that would be about 1/3 cup.  That Is more than we use. If we are using city water that is treated we use none.  If we are using well water we will use about 1/8 - 1/4 cup for a 100 gallons.  Just enough to get a wiff of it.  The drinking water filter will remove the chlorine smell and taste. If you.need to shock your system then use more, let it sit and rinse it out. 

We tend to keep water tanks pretty full except when on a long drive. But after two weeks of non-use we will drain the tank and refill. Over the winter the tanks are as empty as we can get them.

I don't  know if you can get a better grade of bleach, might be worth a look.  Bleach does have an expiration date.

Purogene looks interesting, kind of pricey .  We add whatever we are adding to the screw off bottom of our particulate filter.  Screw it off, add whatever, screw it back on.  Turn in the water.  The filter is the first thing connected to the water source.  It allows everything downstream to get disinfected.  The filter traps any incoming sediment before it gets into your system.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #4 –
Quote from: kb0zke –
Next question: How do I get it into the tank?

I disconnect the large green overflow hose coming from the top of the tank and pour into the end of it.
Peter and Tammy Fleming
1991 U300 GV 40 - Sold, owned for 4 years
Downsized to Roadtrek Popular 210 class B

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #5 –
Quote from: kb0zke –
Next question: How do I get it into the tank? Last time we used a funnel to pour a small amount into the hose, attached the hose to the faucet, ran water for a couple of minutes, disconnected, poured a little more into the hose, etc. Took quite a while to get the necessary chemical into the tank, then finished filling the tank, let it sit for the specified time, ran water through all the faucets, drained the tank, refilled with fresh water, ran water through all the faucets, drained, refilled, repeated, drained, and finally filled with fresh water. Pretty much used a day.


How much of that Purogene do I need for the 105 gallons of fresh water?




That will be 1 ounce for every thirty gallons of water for Purogene. Since my reverse osmosis dumps the water into the top of the tank, we disconnect the line and pour the Purogene into the hose. Then reconnect it and start making more reverse osmosis water which drives the purogene into the tank. There is no flushing, safety to drink when it is mixed into the water.
Bob
Bob & Kathy
2007 Nimbus
Full Timers
Retired Charter Bus Owner/Operator

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #6 –
Quote from: kb0zke –
Next question: How do I get it into the tank?
We always filter the water going into the coach. A whole House filter from Lowes around $23 or so.
Just take out the cartridge. Probably close to a half gallon available volume.
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #7 –
Quote from: TheBrays –
Just take out the cartridge. Probably close to a half gallon available volume.
Elliott,

To make sure I understand, are you saying:

    1. Hook the external filter to the RV water hose; remove the filter cartridge;

    2. Pour in about 1/2 gallon of the pink stuff;

    3. Attach the incoming water hose;

    4. Turn on the water pump; after a few (?) minutes turn off the water pump;

    5. Repeat steps 2-4 until you have enough pink stuff in the RV.

If this is your procedure, how long does it take step 4 to empty the 1/2 gallon of pink stuff into the RV?

If this is not your procedure, please explain what you actually do.

Thank you,

Trent

Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #8 –
Trent, he's talking about adding bleach or Purogen to the system
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #9 –
Richard,
 
Thanks, I was not sure.
 
However, would this same procedure work for the pink antifreeze?
 
Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #10 –
Duh! I have a filter setup similar to that, and I've changed the filter in it several times. Yes, when I change the filter I dump out somewhere between a quart and half gallon of water, so it would be very easy to put in the sanitizer before putting in the filter.

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #11 –
Trent, if I were to winterize my coach I think I'd do it the bypass way and pump it in direct.
 As we live in San Diego, I don't think we'll be doing that anytime soon😀
 
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #12 –
I like the idea of doing it in a way that sanitizes everything from the source on  I hate to think about what might be growing in the fill hose.  I am not sure how the Purogene does at sanitizing the supply lines. From what I read it seems to be for water held in storage. I know they use it in airplanes. Anyone find documentation on effectiveness in RVs?  Thanks.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #13 –
Quote from: TulsaTrent –
Elliott,

To make sure I understand, are you saying:

    1. Hook the external filter to the RV water hose; remove the filter cartridge;
    2. Pour in about 1/2 gallon of the pink stuff;
    3. Attach the incoming water hose;
    4. Turn on the water pump; after a few (?) minutes turn off the water pump;
    5. Repeat steps 2-4 until you have enough pink stuff in the RV.
If this is your procedure, how long does it take step 4 to empty the 1/2 gallon of pink stuff into the RV?

If this is not your procedure, please explain what you actually do.

Thank you,

Trent


Trent,
I was addressing adding bleach or some other fluid to the water system by filling the filter body and then turning on the faucet.
I understand your questing the procedure, I doubt the coach's  pump would suck fluid through the fill fixture.
sorry for the confusion

For my winterizing I install a couple of small electric heaters in the bays on each side of the tanks. If the forecast for Austin is too cold I've been known to run a furnace over night.
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: Fresh water sanitizer

Reply #14 –
I rarely sanitize our fresh water tank.  Did it when we bought the coach and once 3 years ago.  Know of a lot of folk who don't sanitize.  Just for curiosity I am going to have the water checked today and will post results.  That said, I try to use only city water.

When I do sanitize I use the filter housing to get bleach into the system. 
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