Sanitize in bypass or not?

[jheacox1]

Looking for a little advice. Do you guys sanitize in the WH bypass position or open it up to also sanitize the WH tank?

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[fonzie]

I include the water heater...

[zuterbru]

I sanitize the water heater too, fill it up first then top off the fresh tank again and sanitize the rest of it. When you drain and flush after a day or 2, drain the water heart then fill the system up with water again and flush out the lines. I also use one of the fresh water conditioning products, I like the non-bleach products, all the time to keep the system fresh through the season.

[TURBS]

Sanitize while bypassed


2008 2500hd Duramax
2015 Columbus 320RS
2016 nights camped "0"
2015 nights camped "34"

[5picker]

Originally Posted by TURBS

Sanitize while bypassed

X2
If you drained and cleaned the water heater during winterization it's ready to go.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by 5picker

X2
If you drained and cleaned the water heater during winterization it's ready to go.

Agreed.

If sanitizing the wh you have to drain it again

[doc73]

I sanitize both...

Not trying to be a turd... But playing devils advocate... My tank was closed up all winter and so was my plumbing. using the "it was sealed and cleaned" argument would mean no need to do any sanitation unless you know something got in there.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by fonzie

I include the water heater...

x2

[jheacox1]

Thanks everyone for your input. I rinsed the WH very well when/after winterizing....Accidentally ran some antifreeze into it like a doofus when I started winterizing. Totally forgot about the bypass valves on the first gallon and luckily had the rod out so I was promptly alerted as it poured onto the ground.
Maybe I should consider doing it with the bypass off after I flush the AF out. I'm going to use Springfresh to sanitize.

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[M&K Hoffman]

Originally Posted by TURBS

Sanitize while bypassed


2008 2500hd Duramax
2015 Columbus 320RS
2016 nights camped "0"
2015 nights camped "34"

Yep bypassed, dealt with the water heater last fall.

[BobHanke]

Would think if the water in the heater reaches 120-140 degrees, it will sanitize itself.

[doc73]

When I camp (outdoors) on the trail I boil water to sanitize. What is the temp for pasturization? 180 maybe? Not sure. Just like nasties can grow in a contaminated fresh tank and pipes they can grow in the dark moist environment of the heater.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[TnT]

I do the water heater to. I look at it as I'm doing the rest of it what's it going to hurt plus the lousy well water we have at the campground gets rid of the smell.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by BobHanke

Would think if the water in the heater reaches 120-140 degrees, it will sanitize itself.

Not necessarily. Above 140 degrees, things should be OK. But under 120 degrees, a water heater is a breeding ground for bacteria, especially Legeionellosis (Legionnaire's Disease). In the 120 degree range, Legeionellosos can't breed, but can survive. And what happens between camping trips ?? The water heater cools off, creating a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Check out: Is it Safe To Turn Down Your Water Heater Temperature? : TreeHugger

Thankfully, I think most RV water heaters are set high, so that once you mix with cold water you have plenty of hot to last a shower or 2. But I also understand that some RVs now come with lower temperature thermostats.

I keep my home water heater in the 120 degree range, but I also have a municipal water supply, and hopefully the chlorine will take care of those little buggers.

[vasnipe]

I sanitize the hot water tank as well.
Just make sure to drain and briefly flush the water heater when you flush the bleach water out. I forgot to drain and flush the water heater this year and my first shower left me smelling like I had been in a swimming pool.
Fixed that the next morning before breakfast.
As far as sanitizing the water heater by using it, I'll pass.
The water temperature does not get hot enough to kill critters.

On board my first Navy ship, where I learned to produce fresh water from sea water, fresh water safety was very, very, big.
Seawater feed temperature into a 2 stage 12,000 gallon per day flash type distilling unit is between 165F and 175F. That temperature combined with the low first stage pressure of about 23in Hg ensures the critters are killed.
Then we had in-line bromine injection to make darn sure they were toast. Just had to make sure we did not over brominate, very nasty taste when you brushed your teeth.
In the galley the Navy dishwasher rinse temperature is between 180F and 195F to kill nasties.

Getting Montezuma's Revenge at home or on vacation is bad.
I shudder to imagine the crew of a destroyer or carrier fighting that malady since I never had to deal with that.

Chris in Virginia

[bareftn]

Originally Posted by zuterbru

I sanitize the water heater too, fill it up first then top off the fresh tank again and sanitize the rest of it. When you drain and flush after a day or 2, drain the water heart then fill the system up with water again and flush out the lines. I also use one of the fresh water conditioning products, I like the non-bleach products, all the time to keep the system fresh through the season.

Please explain what it is that you use as a fresh water system conditioning product and what you use as a to keep the system fresh

[youroo]

Bleach mixture in F/W tank,turn on pump,have system in Summer use position,Except! have the W/H Output Closed and the Drain plug installed! Now Open the Pop off Valve on W/H until it fills,then close PO valve and Close the Incoming waterline to W/H! Now you are back to Winterize/Bypass position!Now open ALL outlets "1 at a Time" until you smell Bleach,then close. O/S shower,also,NOW,turn off pump and open a outlet to Dump all pressure,now push IN the City water inlet check valve until bleach water comes out,now remove the Low point drain caps and let run untill bleach water comes out Both of these as well,the pump Might have to be ON while performing this step! Turn on pump and open all outlets agin and let sit over night! Drain and flush system Completly with Fresh water and your Ready to go! Lot of Work but the "Whole System" is covered! Youroo!!

[MNtraveler]

Originally Posted by youroo

Bleach mixture in F/W tank,turn on pump,have system in Summer use position,Except! have the W/H Output Closed and the Drain plug installed! Now Open the Pop off Valve on W/H until it fills,then close PO valve and Close the Incoming waterline to W/H! Now you are back to Winterize/Bypass position!Now open ALL outlets "1 at a Time" until you smell Bleach,then close. O/S shower,also,NOW,turn off pump and open a outlet to Dump all pressure,now push IN the City water inlet check valve until bleach water comes out,now remove the Low point drain caps and let run untill bleach water comes out Both of these as well,the pump Might have to be ON while performing this step! Turn on pump and open all outlets agin and let sit over night! Drain and flush system Completly with Fresh water and your Ready to go! Lot of Work but the "Whole System" is covered! Youroo!!

It's a bit hard to tell, but does that process not fill the HW tank with bleach water, and it doesn't get drained? Unless you run the city water through the hot water faucets long enough to flush 6 gals. through the heater.




Land of 10,000 Lakes
2016 Forester MBS 2401R

[youroo]

Originally Posted by MNtraveler

It's a bit hard to tell, but does that process not fill the HW tank with bleach water, and it doesn't get drained? Unless you run the city water through the hot water faucets long enough to flush 6 gals. through the heater.




Land of 10,000 Lakes
2016 Forester MBS 2401R

Drain whole system covers the W/H tank also! Yes bleach water is in the W/H tank over night also! Youroo!!

[vasnipe]

Yes, you can put the bleach solution in the water heater.
Just be sure to drain and flush the bleach water out, pull your anode rod, but open a water tap or lift the heater relief valve to release water pressure from the system first so you don't get soaked.

Chris in Virginia