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zimbop · 04-27-2008, 08:29 AM

I know there's no shortage of how-to's on the topic of water system sanitization, but I'm wondering if you guys have any special insights given the unique nature of our trailers... any tips that you don't find in the typical instructions? Thanks.

**jcanavera** · 04-27-2008, 08:38 AM

I don't believe there is. I've owned 4 travel trailers in my life and water system sanitization is and was done the same way in each. Of anything I think the recommendation of the bleach concentration in the water has gone down over the years.

Jack

CanoeStream · 04-27-2008, 08:40 AM

Following the manual works pretty well in my opinion:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f443...tml#post402363
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f443...tml#post227685

The biggest pain was my Argosy tank got enough light over time that it had a glorious algae garden going. Heavy duty rinsing and a couple gallons of bleach at a time were necessary to take care of that mess! I removed the gaucho and tank for other reasons -- treating the tank when it wasn't in the trailer. I sure wouldn't recommend subjecting the plumbing to bleach at that high a concentration.

Fyrzowt · 04-27-2008, 08:51 AM

Quote:

The biggest pain was my Argosy tank got enough light over time that it had a glorious algae garden going.

I suppose you could paint the tank black to eliminate the light. If you need to have a visual indicator of water level, mask off a small vertical strip prior to painting so you can see the water level. This should reduce the frequency of sanitation.
Dave

CanoeStream · 04-27-2008, 10:15 AM

Dave, the algae was due to long years of neglect at the hands of the PO. The whole biology book was in there -- milfoil, pterydactyl, etc. Periodic maintenance with simple disinfection would solve that problem completely.

Zimbop -- I don't know about Minuets but on an Argosy the water fill door gasket often needs to be renewed to keep road- and rainwater from flowing down the side of the trailer into the tank. Take a look at yours.

zimbop · 04-27-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanoeStream

Zimbop -- I don't know about Minuets but on an Argosy the water fill door gasket often needs to be renewed to keep road- and rainwater from flowing down the side of the trailer into the tank. Take a look at yours.

Thanks, I'll have a look at that. As for the general disinfectant, I'll do the normal method and see how it goes. I'm far too squeamish to ever drink water out of such a system anyway, so I'm not too worried about it, as long as washing dishes in it won't kill me. :-)

Not Done · 05-29-2008, 04:30 PM

I'm with you zimbop, I don't drink the water... Shower and dish washing is done with a bit of wonder. Are we alone in this or do most not drink the water and therefore "clean water" is in the context of clean enough for everything except drinking? Is it realistic to get it clean enough to drink?

Ramp · 05-29-2008, 05:15 PM

I went to Wally World and got a tank sanitation kit. It worked very well.

Lumatic · 05-29-2008, 06:17 PM

Cheap vodka! Works good for winterizing too. Don't know if it will kill all the little buggers but you probably won't worry about it that much. Better than bleach aftertaste.

ticki2 · 05-29-2008, 06:52 PM

I for one consider my tank water safe for drinking . Sanitize 2 or 3 times a season and use often . Take a closer look at other water systems , house , municible , or campground and you'll wonder how any water is potable. The latest word on bottle water is that you're safer with tap water . As always , if we wait awhile that will change again to some other " latest word".

overlander63 · 05-29-2008, 07:35 PM

If everybody believes what they read and hear, everything is bad for you. Just follow the hints in the threads linked above, and as long as your water isn't green, it should be good enough for dishwashing, bathing, even cooking, and, of course, flushing. As in all things, common sense should prevail. I have used my fresh water supply to make ice cubes, and I didn't die from it...

trlrqueen · 10-18-2012, 08:25 AM

I have read the AS manual and am a strict rule follower. The problem is how to work out the actual procedure without having 39 gallons of chlorinated water pour out on the ground or spend hours running my water pump to empty the fresh water tank into the gray water tank for dumping.

My plan is to add bleach to the tank before leaving on a camping trip. We will arrive approximately four hours later, at which time we will try the process of using the water pump to empty the tank (realizing that we will have to refill the tank with fresh water and then pump it out again).

Does anyone have any thoughts on this process? Can I damage the water pump by using it continuously for such a period of time? How long will one flush cycle take using only the water pump?

dznf0g · 10-18-2012, 08:38 AM

Do you not have a fresh water drain. Mine is white and between the wheels on the curbside. I don't think it would hurt the pump...nor do I think that a proper mix of clorine will hurt the environment. It gasses out very quickly compared to water evaporation even.