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Old 09-30-2015, 10:25 AM   #1
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Sanitizing fresh water tank

Was looking this up on Youtube and thinking about filling the tank with water and bleach on last trip so can agitate it on ride home. There is a recommended amount of bleach per gallon of water but I have no clue how big my tank is (I got zero literature). I have a '15 Wildwood X-lite 262bhxl. Thanks.
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Old 09-30-2015, 11:12 AM   #2
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Product Spec Page (Wildwood X-Lite Travel Trailers by Forest River RV) says you have a 40 GAL Fresh Water Tank.

Here is our Sanitizing procedure:
  1. Start with a nearly empty fresh water tank.
  2. Turn the water heater off and let the water cool.
  3. Dilute 1/4 cup of household bleach for each 15 gallons of tank capacity in to a gallon of water. (For your tank just use 1 cup of bleach)
  4. Add the chlorine/water solution to the water tank. (Never pour straight bleach into the RV fresh water tank. )
  5. Fill your Fresh Water tank until full
  6. One faucet at a time, let the chlorinated water run through them for one or two minutes. You should be able to smell the chlorine. (Make sure you are using the water pump and not an external water supply.)
  7. Top off the RV fresh water tank and let stand for at least three hours over night is better.
  8. Completely drain the system by flushing the faucets for several minutes each. Open the fresh water tank drain valve to speed up emptying the tank.and Open the hot water tank drain plug and drain until it is empty.
  9. Close all valves and faucets and drain plugs.
  10. Fill water tank with fresh water.
  11. Flush each faucet for several minutes each repeating until the tank is again empty. (Make sure you are using the water pump and not an external water supply.)
  12. Fill the tank again. The water should now be safe to drink but if the chlorine odor is too strong you can repeat the fresh water flush.
  13. Your RV fresh water system should now be safe for use.
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Old 09-30-2015, 11:32 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BamaBob View Post

Add the chlorine/water solution to the water tank. (Never pour straight bleach into the RV fresh water tank. )



Why not. I always do , and I use double what you suggest.
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Old 09-30-2015, 11:41 AM   #4
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Std method is 1/4 cup per 15 gallons.

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Old 10-01-2015, 08:29 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by Rugged Brown View Post
Why not. I always do , and I use double what you suggest.
Because it has the potential to damage your tank and fittings. Every sanatizing process out there warns "Never pour straight bleach into the RV fresh water tank." So why take chances?
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Old 10-01-2015, 12:32 PM   #6
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No straight bleach

Question, how does it make a difference if you pour straight bleach in and then immediately follow up with freshwater fill?
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Old 10-01-2015, 12:43 PM   #7
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Have you tried dumping straight bleach into your FWT inlet? Hint: try with plain water in a bleach bottle first

Plus, this is a everyone and every site says "Don't DO it" issue. That alone would give me pause to reflect on my actions

Then again I'm from the South and have seen many "Here, hold my ber and watch this!" bad endings


(Pro tip: when we sanatize in the spring I use a very large funnel and pour the bleach-water mix into our drinking water hose and siphon the hose into the FWT, leaving bleach water mix in the drinking hose. Cap it off and let the hose sit for a hour then fill the FWT with water from the tap. This sanatizes the drinking water hose in the process.)
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Old 10-01-2015, 05:06 PM   #8
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We are full timers and never use the fresh water tank. What is the best thing to do with the tank until we use it, if ever? We had a TT for 8 years and never did use the tank.
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Old 10-02-2015, 01:59 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by James Briar View Post
We are full timers and never use the fresh water tank. What is the best thing to do with the tank until we use it, if ever? We had a TT for 8 years and never did use the tank.
Even though we only use our FWT occasionally, we always keep @ 1/3 tank of water (you just NEVER know when you will need it!...too many years living in the Southwest.) We sanatize yearly (hey, it sanatizes the plumbing too which you DO use all the time and your fresh water hose as well.)
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Old 06-29-2016, 10:41 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BamaBob View Post
Even though we only use our FWT occasionally, we always keep @ 1/3 tank of water (you just NEVER know when you will need it!...too many years living in the Southwest.) We sanatize yearly (hey, it sanatizes the plumbing too which you DO use all the time and your fresh water hose as well.)

We also keep approximately 1/3 tank in FWT for possible on-the-road flushes. Is once or twice a year drain and sanitize (with rest of system) often enough... or should that water in the FWT be drained more often... since when used it pushes that stale water in the rest of the system?

I have started draining and re-filling (to 1/3 tank) about every other month... am I wasting my time?
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Old 07-03-2016, 03:24 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by DJP6371 View Post
Question, how does it make a difference if you pour straight bleach in and then immediately follow up with freshwater fill?
Straight bleach will cause deterioration on a lot of metals that it touches. Even if you immediately rinse with water. The effect is cumulative.

FWIW, I also brew beer and store it in those stainless steel pop syrup containers that used to be used. We NEVER store even dilute bleach water in them because it WILL eat holes in the stainless! I never sanitize those with bleach water instead I use an iodine based solution.
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