Bleach in fresh H2O tank, how long?

[angler24]

Howdy - I am disinfecting my fresh water tank w/ 1/4 cup bleach (freshly purchased in 15 gallons of water. How long do you leave this in the tank before draining? Thanks in advance.
- Jane

[h2owmn]

The escape book (2018) says:
Make sure the water heater is not bypassed
Re bleach, you have the right proportion 1/4 to 15 but you need to fill the tank, so calculate how much bleach is needed for the capacity of your tank
Add the solution and fill the tank. Turn on pump and open all faucets til you can smell the chlorine.
Close the faucets and let sit 4 hrs. Do not forget to turn on hot water taps as well as cold.
Completely drain the system and flush with fresh water until chlorine odor is gone.
(it says if you have a water filter that this is the time to change it--that may mean an onboard filter, I don't know)

[drjp]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

The escape book (2018) says:
Make sure the water heater is not bypassed
Re bleach, you have the right proportion 1/4 to 15 but you need to fill the tank, so calculate how much bleach is needed for the capacity of your tank
Add the solution and fill the tank. Turn on pump and open all faucets til you can smell the chlorine.
Close the faucets and let sit 4 hrs. Do not forget to turn on hot water taps as well as cold.
Completely drain the system and flush with fresh water until chlorine odor is gone.
(it says if you have a water filter that this is the time to change it--that may mean an onboard filter, I don't know)

I believe is meant those house in-line carbon filters. Leastways, that’s what I use.

[drjp]

“house”= hose. Dern spell check at 6 am

[angler24]

Thank you for the informative replies!

[UncleTim]

Here is a link to a discussion we had a few weeks back.

This should be helpful.

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...ter-20010.html

[angler24]

Thanks for linking these threads together, Tim.

[EscapeBoulder]

Our dog won't touch the water after we sanitize with bleach and flush the system a minimum of three times. So even tho' we can no longer sense the chlorine, the dog sure can. So we carry a 3 gal jug of water for him 'til we run thru several additional tanks of fresh water and/or 'til the bleach smell has disappeared for him too.

[gbaglo]

Perhaps if you don't refill the tank right away, and blow out the lines, the bleach will evaporate. An open jug of water that smells of chlorine, left in the fridge overnight, doesn't smell of chlorine the next day.

[dfandrews]

I like to "swish" it around, so after sitting a long time (like most of 2020), I'll put the bleach in 1/2 to 2/3 tank of water, then hook up and tow around town a few miles to have it hit top and sides of the tank. Then, at the far end of town, I open the drain, so it's empty when I get home. Bleach is a contact disinfectant, so it's done its job by the time I get home.
Oh yeah, when I first put it in, I run water in the sink to take care of the water line. (That's all I've got in a 17A, LOL).

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by EscapeBoulder

Our dog won't touch the water after we sanitize with bleach and flush the system a minimum of three times. So even tho' we can no longer sense the chlorine, the dog sure can. So we carry a 3 gal jug of water for him 'til we run thru several additional tanks of fresh water and/or 'til the bleach smell has disappeared for him too.

We always bring water from home for the dogs, learned a long time ago their stomachs are more sensitive than humans to changes....thus a 5 gallon container on each trip for out and back as well as the on board tank.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

We always bring water from home for the dogs, learned a long time ago their stomachs are more sensitive than humans to changes....thus a 5 gallon container on each trip for out and back as well as the on board tank.

huh. most of my dogs would drink from the toilet, creeks, any nasty water they could find even though we consistently put nice fresh water out for them.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

huh. most of my dogs would drink from the toilet, creeks, any nasty water they could find even though we consistently put nice fresh water out for them.

My grandfather's dogs were the same way. Any water they could find, they'd drink out of, or roll around in it. BUT, they were outside dogs. IF they got the Hershey Squirts, no one knew . We only paid attention if something seemed 'off.' Because those were not house dogs and certainly didn't sleep with a human or spent anytime in Grandma's kitchen.

[Iowa Dave]

Jake drinks the same bottled water that we do. At $1.87 a case it doesn’t hurt me and I trust braking the seal myself.
Iowa Dave

[cpaharley2008]

Our dogs are our "children" and definite spoiled and house animals. Thus they are watched vigilantly while outside.

[UncleTim]

The one that makes me sick is when they barf and then eat it again.

Makes me want to barf when I see that.

[Bob in Bend]

Just wondering. Why is it important that the water heater is not bypassed?

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by Bob in Bend

Just wondering. Why is it important that the water heater is not bypassed?

There is an sacrificial anode rod inside that once tainted could pass on a unpleasant aftertaste.

[Galen]

Per 1978 Avion owners manual. After sanitation and rinsing water system. Remove any lingering chlorine taste or oder by preparing a solution of one quart of vinegar and 5 gallons of water and pouring into fresh water tank. The solution should be allowed to agitate in the tank for several days by normal trailer motion. Drain and rinse one more time.

[kiekhaefer]

Originally Posted by EscapeBoulder

Our dog won't touch the water after we sanitize with bleach and flush the system a minimum of three times. So even tho' we can no longer sense the chlorine, the dog sure can. So we carry a 3 gal jug of water for him 'til we run thru several additional tanks of fresh water and/or 'til the bleach smell has disappeared for him too.

Would this be the same dog that would drink out of a muddy puddle or the toilet? I actually do carry water from home for the dog, but it's more about conserving my fresh water tank than any preference my dog may have.



While the odor may be noticeable, there's nothing hazardous about drinking water with a little leftover chlorine. It will actually be the only time you can be absolutely sure that your water has no bacterial contamination. Most city water has a chlorine smell all the time.