Sanitizing FWTank

[mlwilliams808]

This will be the first time I have sanitized my FW tank, have already done the math and will use 1-1/4 cup of bleach for 74 gal tank. Do I need bypass the water heater an drain the hotwater system as well?

[jtstromsburg]

I add the 1/4c per 15gallons (your math is spot on) to the fw tank and run pump and open all faucets/taps/toilets etc until I smell bleach at each. Let sit overnight or at least an hour or so and drain it all. Rinse once and drain. Then I'm ready for the year. My wh tank is drained in the fall and I don't sanitize it. Just a good rinse in the end.
Happy campin

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by jtstromsburg

I add the 1/4c per 15gallons (your math is spot on) to the fw tank and run pump and open all faucets/taps/toilets etc until I smell bleach at each. Let sit overnight or at least an hour or so and drain it all. Rinse once and drain. Then I'm ready for the year. My wh tank is drained in the fall and I don't sanitize it. Just a good rinse in the end.

Agreed- here's my write up on my process:

http://learntorv.com/eww-stinky-wate...-water-system/

[WFD]

Some say bypass the water heater, but the problem is some get a rotten egg smell after a time from the hot water, and a solution to getting rid of that is to sanitize it. The article ependydad referenced in his post touches on that but that article says bypass the water heater. In that case the rotten egg smell will still be there since the water heater never got sanitized.

[jtstromsburg]

One quick thing I'll add. It's not about sanitizing, but if you washer/dryer prep, make sure and flush that line for a bit as well. That line can hold water that gets pretty stanky if not flushed

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by WFD

The article ependydad referenced in his post touches on that but that article says bypass the water heater. In that case the rotten egg smell will still be there since the water heater never got sanitized.

Yep- I would wait on the water heater until I identify it as a problem.

Originally Posted by jtstromsburg

One quick thing I'll add. It's not about sanitizing, but if you washer/dryer prep, make sure and flush that line for a bit as well. That line can hold water that gets pretty stanky if not flushed

Yup. That was the source of my problems. Freaking rank!

[mlwilliams808]

so bypass wh?

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by mlwilliams808

so bypass wh?

I would.

[dalford]

First of all, do you have stinky water? You never said you did, you just said you wanted to sanitize the FW tank.

Run water from your hot water side, if no stink, then bypass it. If it stinks don't bypass it.

[mlwilliams808]

Thanks for all the help everybody, water doesn't stink but I thought it would be a good idea to sanitize since camper is 2 years old. I just changed the anode and didn't know what effect the bleach would have on it. I do have the washing machine installed but it is used pretty frequently. Again, thanks for all the help.

[EddieL]

Why wouldn't you want to sanitize the hot water tank?

[5picker]

Originally Posted by EddieL

Why wouldn't you want to sanitize the hot water tank?

Not so much whether you should... but rather there has been a long standing debate on whether sanitizing the water heater (bleach) has an impact on the anode rod.

Personally, I always sanitize my water heater when I do the rest of the system and have never seen any negative effects.

[WFD]

To me it makes total sense to sanitize the hot water tank, to prevent the rotten egg smell from occuring. That way your entire system is sanitized. If you have bacteria in the water heater, which is the whole reason to sanitize, and you bypass it, then the water from the hot water tank just counteracts the sanitizing you just did as soon as that hot water hits your taps. If concerned about the anode rod then just get in the habit of changing anode rod once the sanitization process is complete. Personnally I have not witnessed that sanitizing has had any effect on my anode rod.