Sterilizing Plumbing

[seakayaker]

Hello,

We never use the fresh water tank so this question pertains only to hooking up to city water.

Can I safely sterilize the plumbing in my camper this way (or is there a better way):

1) Connect hose to camper water inlet.

2) Put a few ounces of plain bleach in the hose before connecting to the city spigot

3) Connect to city spigot and then turn it on.

4) Turn on faucets inside the camper to let both hot and cold water flow until no bleach smell.

Thanks,

Seakayaker

[Flybob]

It will not work as well as using the water tank. You will not get a good concentration of bleach to each area of the plumbing this way. Also you want to let the bleach sit in the plumbing for a few hours. Since you don't use water tank, why not fill it 1/3 add bleach, use water pump to fill plumbing let it sit. Drain tank then use it or shore water to rinse it out.

[SecretSquirrel]

Originally Posted by Flybob

It will not work as well as using the water tank. You will not get a good concentration of bleach to each area of the plumbing this way. Also you want to let the bleach sit in the plumbing for a few hours. Since you don't use water tank, why not fill it 1/3 add bleach, use water pump to fill plumbing let it sit. Drain tank then use it or shore water to rinse it out.

X2 - go here for bleach concentration to use:
https://www.clorox.com/dr-laundry/bl...g-water-tanks/

[youroo]

We use Hydrogen peroxide in our fresh water tank for "Spring Cleaning"! Youroo!!

[Thurman]

Think about this: You can put Hydrogen Peroxide in your mouth safely. Would you put Clorox in your mouth? HP is actually better at killing germs

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Thurman

Think about this: You can put Hydrogen Peroxide in your mouth safely. Would you put Clorox in your mouth? HP is actually better at killing germs

Well, I don't put Clorox in my mouth. I put it in my plumbing. Then I rinse it out. Just like I put soap on my dishes, then I rinse it off.

BTW: My bottle of H202 says "For external use only." (Says you can gargle with it, but don't go swallowing it.)

[Tirebuilder]

Hello...need some opinions / advice from those in the know, please. I have a 2015 FR Flagstaff 832IKBS travel trailer that is now winterized. We are heading out in 4 weeks and I need to know the best way to sanitize the lines after de-winterizing. We don't fill fresh water tank to take with us as we always hook up to campground supply which is "city" supplied. However, we do fill it with about 4 or 5 gals for rest stop flushing and hand washing. Right now, all my by-passes are "on" due to anti-freeze. Do I do a "full" de-winterizing, put anode rod back in w/h and fill or leave it bypassed and use only the fresh water tank? All replies appreciated and welcomed. Just wanting to do everything right and ensure all lines are sanitized. Thanks again for all the help.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Tirebuilder

Hello...need some opinions / advice from those in the know, please. I have a 2015 FR Flagstaff 832IKBS travel trailer that is now winterized. We are heading out in 4 weeks and I need to know the best way to sanitize the lines after de-winterizing. We don't fill fresh water tank to take with us as we always hook up to campground supply which is "city" supplied. However, we do fill it with about 4 or 5 gals for rest stop flushing and hand washing. Right now, all my by-passes are "on" due to anti-freeze. Do I do a "full" de-winterizing, put anode rod back in w/h and fill or leave it bypassed and use only the fresh water tank? All replies appreciated and welcomed. Just wanting to do everything right and ensure all lines are sanitized. Thanks again for all the help.

Download this:

Forest River Forums - Downloads - How To Winterize Your RV

There are more in the Library. See the tab at the top of the page.

[Platokidd]

Originally Posted by Flybob

It will not work as well as using the water tank. You will not get a good concentration of bleach to each area of the plumbing this way. Also you want to let the bleach sit in the plumbing for a few hours. Since you don't use water tank, why not fill it 1/3 add bleach, use water pump to fill plumbing let it sit. Drain tank then use it or shore water to rinse it out.

What he said ..X2

[PSU Turf]

Originally Posted by Thurman

Think about this: You can put Hydrogen Peroxide in your mouth safely. Would you put Clorox in your mouth? HP is actually better at killing germs

Bleach will kill all germs that are harmful to humans. Hydrogen peroxide does not kill bacterial spores such as Norovirus and Clostridium difficile (C. diff). Since these two types of bacteria are nasty gastrointestinal bugs I recommend bleach for sanitizing RV plumbing. Like Flybob mentioned you have to let the bleach / water solution sit for a while.