de-winterizing

**Lloyd** · 05-04-2015, 03:06 PM

Took most of the day, but I now have a camper with the water system sanitized, and ready to go.

It usually does use up the better part of a day when I sanitize the system using bleach, then flush it a couple times, then neutralize with white vinegar. Flush again, and then fill the tank, bleed the lines and we are ready to go.

We have a new campground to check out.
Finally getting caught up around here, and summer is calling.

Loneoak · 05-04-2015, 03:43 PM

If you weren't winterized, is it necessary to sanitize the system? We did not winterize when we got home from Florida because it did not get cold enough.

**DavisK** · 05-04-2015, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loneoak

If you weren't winterized, is it necessary to sanitize the system? We did not winterize when we got home from Florida because it did not get cold enough.

I would still sanitize because the tank is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria as well as the lines especially when it doesn't get too cold.

Tim D · 05-04-2015, 06:55 PM

I sanitize every spring. Not hard to do. Cant hurt.

**mark5w** · 05-04-2015, 07:06 PM

Anybody use the cheap Vodka in the fresh water tank method??

**Lloyd** · 05-04-2015, 07:38 PM

No, but I use it for making tinctures.

MartyinSC · 05-04-2015, 08:44 PM

Vodka? That's alcohol abuse! LOL I use a little bleach, flush two times and then smell and taste. No vinegar.

AmericalVette · 05-09-2015, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark5w

Anybody use the cheap Vodka in the fresh water tank method??

Never even thought of it.... but Vodka, cheap or otherwise, gets in my mouth!

cw3jason · 05-09-2015, 08:07 PM

A friend of mine used 5 gallons of vodka in his class A. He said it worked great. I'll stick to the pink stuff

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trcgolf · 05-11-2015, 03:31 PM

we are getting ready for a big trip and have never really used the fresh water tanks sytem...always have been hooked up to city. I understand yo need to sanitize the system with bleach...how much should we use?
then flush the water through the pipes and into the holding tanks.... any other suggestions, or is there a link for this question?

nachtmsk · 05-12-2015, 06:57 AM

I'm doing my first de-winterizing this coming weekend. I was just going to run water through the unit. I thought that would do it, but it sounds like I should sanitize.
How do I get the bleach into the system? What concentration?
Using bleach makes me a bit nervous, how about vinegar?
Also do I run the sanitizing agent (whatever it may be) though with the valves in the winterizing mode or the regular mode?
Thanks,
mike

**mark5w** · 05-12-2015, 07:40 AM

I use 1 teaspoon of granular pool chlorine (Sodium Dichlor). I run it through the valve in summer mode. To get it into my tank I use a funnel to put it into my water supply hose. Then fill up the fresh water tank. I turn on the pump and run it through all faucets, and through the hot water heater also. Let it sit for 3 hours or so and then drain and rinse. No bad bleach odor when finished. The chlorine solution is similar in strength as swimming pool water but does the job.

hondavalk · 05-12-2015, 07:43 AM

1/4 cup bleach for every 15 gallons of water

**Lloyd** · 05-12-2015, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nachtmsk

I'm doing my first de-winterizing this coming weekend. I was just going to run water through the unit. I thought that would do it, but it sounds like I should sanitize.
How do I get the bleach into the system? What concentration?
Using bleach makes me a bit nervous, how about vinegar?
Also do I run the sanitizing agent (whatever it may be) though with the valves in the winterizing mode or the regular mode?
Thanks,
mike

I can't tell you, what to do with your rig, but I will tell you how I do it every year.

I start out by draining the pink stuff out the low point drains. Some times with help of a little air pressure. (40# with the air compressor)
Start filling the tank, and flushing out thru the water heater, and all faucets.
Then I pour in a good cup of bleach while I'm filling the tank. When the tank is full I switch the valves over to normal usage position, fill water heater, and run water thru every faucet, shower head and flush the toilet. Fill the tank back up to capacity.
Let it set for an hour or so. Take the drain cap off, and start the bleach water running thru all the faucets again. Take the plug out of the water heater so that can drain also.
I also place a 2X6 under each tire on the curb side, and raise the front of the trailer. This will help in getting the tank closer to being empty.
The drain and pick line is on the street side, and positioned on the side of the tank. Not the bottom.
I then start running water back in the tank, turn the pump on and let it flush thru the water heater for awhile. Put plug back in the water heater and start flushing the lines and letting it drain out the bottom of the tank. This is usually done (by me) two or three times.
Then I pour about a quart of white vinegar in the tank and fill it with water again making sure the water heater is full and all lines have been bled out. The white vinegar will help neutralize the bleach. I let it set for half hour or so and drain it out. Then start the flushing process again. Usually a couple times. I smell the water coming out of the faucets and if I don't detect either bleach or vinegar, I figure I'm good. Final test is the taste test.

With this method, which I have used for many years on every RV we have owned, I feel confident that we are starting out with a sanitary water system. It takes a lot of time, but for me it's well worth it.

nachtmsk · 05-12-2015, 08:22 AM

Thanks Lloyd!
Each time you say "Fill the tank", you mean the fresh water tank, right?
Mike

**Lloyd** · 05-12-2015, 08:22 AM

Yes.

Tim D · 05-12-2015, 08:31 PM

I use a 1/4 cup bleach per gallon. The goal is to "sanitize". Some recommend to then drive around and get a good "sloshing". I usually do this when I don't plan on using for awhile. I will let it set for several days afterward then will pump it thru the lines etc. I will then rinse it once or twice and the smell will fade rather quickly.

OhioMark · 05-12-2015, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cw3jason

A friend of mine used 5 gallons of vodka in his class A. He said it worked great. I'll stick to the pink stuff

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Wow, The pink stuff runs 3-4 bucks a gallon here. 5 gallons of vodka, even the cheap stuff gotta be at least 10 times more.

Any advantage to the boozin' method? Like 10x better?

**Lloyd** · 05-13-2015, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim D

I use a 1/4 cup bleach per gallon.

The goal is to "sanitize".

Tim, I think that is over kill. It doesn't take much bleach to kill bacteria.
Actually, my cupful is considered a pretty strong solution.

Tim D · 05-13-2015, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lloyd

Tim, I think that is over kill. It doesn't take much bleach to kill bacteria.
Actually, my cupful is considered a pretty strong solution.

Don't know. Read somewhere to use that ratio. Bleach is cheap. I actually poured into my hose before hooking it up to "city" water than filled my tank. Can't hurt. Disinfected my supply hoses at the same time.

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