Sanitizing Warning

[KyDan]

As you discovered the LP gas detector is not specific to LP gas. Lots of things can set it off.
My favorite is the one where someone posted their dog liked to lay near the LP detector and if it f--ted sometimes the LP detector would go off! Funny stuff! I just about snorted my coffee the first time I read that!

It's all part of the adventure!

[Dano1955]

Originally Posted by Iwritecode

I always buy the generic off-brand bleach.

X2

[pgandw]

We had the same issue in our A-frame from our well water.

Most well water does not store very well in tanks, usually due to small amounts of iron or copper sulfate in the water (the stuff that causes toilet, sink, and bathtub stains - blue for copper, rust for iron). Over time (several weeks or more), the sulfate dissolves and forms the SO2, leaving the metal behind to form the stains. We called SO2 swamp gas, and it does make your water smell nasty. Still drinkable, but smells bad.

At the end of the camping trip, I would open the fresh water tank drain and let it drain on the road as we drove home. Or save it and use it to water grass during the summer in Colorado (where wells have a fixed annual allotment, and are metered to make sure you don't use too much). I would also empty out the water from the hot water heater. The important thing was to pretty much empty the tank at the end of each trip, and not let the water "ferment", especially in the hot water heater.

Then refill with fresh just before the next trip. Having since moved into the city, I can't afford to throw water away - my water bill is much higher than either the electric or gas bill. But city water keeps just fine in the tank through the winter and into the next year.

hope this helps
Fred W
2014 Rockwood A122 A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time

[SailorSam20500]

Originally Posted by pgandw

I would also empty out the water from the hot water heater.

Sorry, can't resist. Why do you need to heat hot water???

[mkosu04]

Originally Posted by SailorSam20500

Sorry, can't resist. Why do you need to heat hot water???

... but of course all hot water tanks do just that... they keep reheating the hot water!

now if you have a tankless water heater, then its just a water heater and not a hot water heater.

[itat]

Originally Posted by pgandw

We had the same issue in our A-frame from our well water.

Most well water does not store very well in tanks, usually due to small amounts of iron or copper sulfate in the water (the stuff that causes toilet, sink, and bathtub stains - blue for copper, rust for iron). Over time (several weeks or more), the sulfate dissolves and forms the SO2, leaving the metal behind to form the stains. We called SO2 swamp gas, and it does make your water smell nasty. Still drinkable, but smells bad.

At the end of the camping trip, I would open the fresh water tank drain and let it drain on the road as we drove home. Or save it and use it to water grass during the summer in Colorado (where wells have a fixed annual allotment, and are metered to make sure you don't use too much). I would also empty out the water from the hot water heater. The important thing was to pretty much empty the tank at the end of each trip, and not let the water "ferment", especially in the hot water heater.

Then refill with fresh just before the next trip. Having since moved into the city, I can't afford to throw water away - my water bill is much higher than either the electric or gas bill. But city water keeps just fine in the tank through the winter and into the next year.

hope this helps
Fred W
2014 Rockwood A122 A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time

Thanks for this info. I almost always drain my WH tank and water lines after every trip, but not because of any smells. I just don't like the idea of untreated water with no chlorine residual sitting in my system for more than a week or two. Much of our camping is at places where they provide well water, so it's good to know my practice (together with my high quality water filter) will prevent water smells.

[sonic2]

I will ask this question. What is the recommended best fresh water tank cleaner in everyone's opinion?

1. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)
2. Potassium Metabisulfite
3. Sodium Metabisulfite

[Dano1955]

Originally Posted by sonic2

I will ask this question. What is the recommended best fresh water tank cleaner in everyone's opinion?

1. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)

Cheapest store brand, as stated in this thread NOT the splashless type.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by sonic2

I will ask this question. What is the recommended best fresh water tank cleaner in everyone's opinion?

1. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)
2. Potassium Metabisulfite
3. Sodium Metabisulfite

PLEASE leave the MetaBisulphates to your wine making bench.

PLAIN Bleach at the correct concentration (1/4 cup per 10 gallons) of fresh water tank.

You just don't want lots of SO2 in your camper and no telling what that released SO2 will do to your faucet parts.

[SailorSam20500]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

PLEASE leave the MetaBisulphates to your wine making bench.

PLAIN Bleach at the correct concentration (1/4 cup per 10 gallons) of fresh water tank.

You just don't want lots of SO2 in your camper and no telling what that released SO2 will do to your faucet parts.

X2

FWIW, before I would consider using metabisulphates, I would look at an iodine sanitizer. They are widely used in restaurants and I use Iodophor for both beer and wine making to sanitize everything. However, iodine stains stuff.

[JoeR46]

I have a 2017 Coachman Freelander 27QB that has about a 55 gallon fresh water tank. The rig had 2800 miles on it when I bought it and I don't know what the previous owner did. It doesn't matter if I am using the city water or the tank water it tastes and smells bad.

I have separate lines on the side of the rig for the city water and to fill the tank, and I use a filter all of the time. Since it doesn't matter where the water is coming from, correct me if I am wrong, I am guessing that the water lines throughout the rig would need to be sanitized too.

My first thought is putting a filter under the kitchen sink with new tubing going to the faucet.

Suggestions please.

Joe
Crestview FL

[Dp26]

When you fill through a filter, you are likely removing most chlorine, making the water last less long. Fill at home without filter, if on a chlorinated supply, or filter then add proper chlorine yourself. You can get a test kit to confirm proper amount. I use my hot tub test kit.

On the road, fill using filter. Once home, empty and refill or empty and sanitize, depending on next use time.

Hot tub normal is max of 5ppm to use, so I aim for 2ppm in rv. My city water is usually 1.5ppm. Last time I looked, epa says up to 4ppm is acceptable for drinking. What type of chlorine is up to you, but be careful it does not have other things, such as the splashless type does.

[JoeR46]

Thanks, I'll try that.

Joe

[Paulie1138]

Just a tip that has been said here before. Before you drain your HW tank, be sure the electric and gas are off to it. I have a clip-on clothes pin I colored red that I place near my Water inlet that reminds me. Another gets put on the switch inside.