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bike_addict · 10-10-2011, 12:50 PM

I'm reading conflicting info between manuals and the newbies guide so figured I'd ask you guys. I've got a '12 Flying Cloud 25FB and I need to sanitize the tanks for the first time. Couple questions, thanks for the input.

- I've found the bleach/water mixtures for both a 4 hour and a 1 hour. Is there a benefit to the 4 hour over the 1 hour? If there's not then why have a 4 hour option?

- the Newbies guide mentions checking my manuals about my water filtration system before sanitizing but i can't find in my manuals any mention of it in the sanitation process. Do I need to do anything special because of my water filter? Do I open that valve up to let water run through?

- and I don't have to have my water heater on to pull water through it right?

Thanks!

Silver Goose · 10-10-2011, 01:09 PM

This is the procedure suggested in the manual that came with mine.

If you have a water filter, I would remove the cartridge before starting and replace it once you're using fresh water alone. You would normally take it out for winterizing and put a new one in next Spring.

Note they recommend 12-24 hours for the bleach solution.

dznf0g · 10-10-2011, 01:09 PM

I leave it in for 4 - 8 hours. Don't think it's a big deal, other than giving the chlorine enough time to mix and kill everything.
I pull out my filter cartridge, reinstall the housing and run chlorinated water through that plumbing.
Water heater does not have to be lit nor on in any way to run water through it. Be sure your bypass valves are shut and the valves for normal flow are open. then open your bypass valve while water is running to sanitize that short run of piping.

Don't forget to run chlorine out the outside spigot as well.

Sphere Guy · 10-10-2011, 01:27 PM

Ronnie, I use the bleach mixture and leave it in overnight. Making sure I run it thru all the lines. Then the next morning I drain it and fill the tank back up while flushing the lines and add a bit of bleach. I think the mixture is 1/4 cup for 10 gallons.

Sid

Gene · 10-10-2011, 01:46 PM

The only advantage to 4 hours over 1 hour is you use less chlorine and save a few cents. You also get time for a nap.

We do it in one hour because it saves time. My wife who has a BS in microbiology says this is fine and what do I know? I do not point out she got her degree 39 years ago because that would not be a good thing to point out. We flush the system 3 times with fresh water because chlorine tastes bad.

Take out the undersink filter. Once removed a valve must close automatically and water will not leak out of the pipe to it. I always check once water is running because I know things sometimes stop working. You also remove the filter when you run antifreeze through the system. Those filters are very expensive and can be ordered online where they cost less than at RV stores.

My microbiologist wife wanted an external filter as well and I do what I'm told. You put in between two water hoses when you hook up to city water or fill the fresh water tank. The under sink filter only filters water to that sink and maybe only to the little drinking water faucet and not the regular one. Replace the filter periodically—they usually say 3 months on them. The external filters are standard and can be bought at Lowe's, hardware stores, etc. They cost about $12 do 2 and should be good for anything less than 5 microns. Giardia is 6.5 microns, so that is important. Look for ones rated at 1 or 2 microns to get silt too. Even with filters, my wife buys gallon jugs of water to use for some things.

It is a good thing to filter any drinking water because campgrounds cannot always be trusted. We know a doctor who got giardia on the way to Alaska because their conversion van did not have any filters. He should have talked to my wife beforehand. I guess he missed the classes on microbiology.

The formula for the amount of chlorine—actually standard old fashioned Chlorox—is in our owner's manual and states how many ounces per gallon, but I don't remember it. I think we use about a cup for 40 gallons. Chlorine deteriorates fast in air and especially sunlight, so pour it and add it to the tank right away.

Draining the system when flushing takes a long time. Open every drain valve—ours has 3 between the wheels and one under the water heater—this one has a valve below the bypass valves for the water heater. Open the faucets to let air in. If you turn on the water pump, it will drain faster. The pump can run while dry, so don't worry about it. Don't forget to close everything when you fill the fresh water tank again. The flushing can take a couple of hours.

We sanitize twice a season. We have not gotten sick yet. In Texas you may have a longer season and may want to do it more.

Gene

extiger · 10-10-2011, 03:32 PM

I use Camco TastePURE Drinking Water Freshener. Wally World carries it as well as CW and I am sure others.

bike_addict · 10-10-2011, 03:57 PM

Well I screwed up. I didn't take the filter out before running the bleach solution through the lines. So is the filter trash now?

It's sitting with the solution in the lines now.

And the water pump was louder than expected. Kind of freaked me out at first. Thought something was wrong.

reinergirl · 10-10-2011, 04:06 PM

In my opinion the filter is toast.

The filter uses carbon to absorb excess chlorine. Your carbon has probably been used up and won't work. Sorry

Sphere Guy · 10-10-2011, 04:19 PM

Well, at least your filter wont have "Giardia"!

Wabbiteer · 10-10-2011, 04:48 PM

Wow, its dreamy listening to owners of new trailers...

If I knew then what I know now, it'd be I owe, I owe and make the payment Joe, for another 5 or 9 years

Did'ja know mouse fur and teeth are forever? Happiest day of my restoration project to date was feeding the FW tank to the rear-loader trash truck and having the man let me operate the crusher

Mikethefixit · 10-10-2011, 05:30 PM

What I do is pump it down in winter as mine has no drain. THEN in spring I add 1 pint or 16OZ of bleach and fill the tank which is 50 gallon. We only use this water to wash dishes and flush the toilet.
We carry enough fresh water in 1 gallon jugs for our trip.
Im reasonablity sure the bleach water gets sloched all around in the tank the first trip . THEN when empty I just use a quarter cup per 50 gallons from then on. NOT DEAD YET.

Gene · 10-10-2011, 05:33 PM

The amount of Clorox for a 39 gal. fresh water tank is 10.14 oz. I would not be surprised if the Camco Freshener if the contents are chlorine and some that smells good for close to $20.

Gene

extiger · 10-10-2011, 11:06 PM

Actually the active ingredient in Taste Pure is Sodium Hypochlorite. There is a thread on it as an alternative to chlorine. Although not as cheap as chlorine the price is very reasonable.

Darkspeed · 10-10-2011, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by extiger

Actually the active ingredient in Taste Pure is Sodium Hypochlorite. There is a thread on it as an alternative to chlorine. Although not as cheap as chlorine the price is very reasonable.

Sodium hypochlorite is bleach

slowmover · 10-11-2011, 06:14 AM

I purchased/installed an Everpure filtration system which directs one to "superchlorinate" the fresh water holding tank. The filter, mounted under the kitchen sink, then removes that (plus other "problems").

While a filter (or system of same) attached to the fresh water inlet hose is good, I also wanted a method whereby the tank and plumbing were kept under treatment constantly. Just a couple of days of very hot weather can change things for the worse.

.

Darkspeed · 10-11-2011, 07:06 AM

So everpure is add sodium hypochlorite to you water and remove it at point of use with an activated carbon filter.

reinergirl · 10-11-2011, 08:27 PM

I was thinking that installing one of the clean out hatches mentioned in the post below would be an excellent decision.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f443...tch-69584.html

Bleach is all well and good but a good scrub out IMHO is essential. Plus one can dry out the tank....

Darkspeed · 10-11-2011, 08:45 PM

The port is a good idea..

This is also another good idea..

Portable Purifier | Household Ozone Disinfection

jdalrymple · 10-11-2011, 08:56 PM

I would offer simply filling the tank with treated municipal water is sufficient.

After all, one does not "flush" or sanitize the plumbing in ones' home.

Regards,

reinergirl · 10-11-2011, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkspeed

The port is a good idea..

This is also another good idea..

Portable Purifier | Household Ozone Disinfection

I really like how you think "outside the box" but you may want to rethink this one. I actually took an ozone generator off an indoor hot tub because of reports that it was harmful to our lungs and respiratory systems.

I remember researching it at the time and thinking that the research showed more harm than good coming from ozone generators.

Here's just one site from the EPA.... Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners | Indoor Air | US EPA