TXRVr
Texas
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Joined: 11/10/2008
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RJsfishin wrote:The shame of it all is,....if you keep it "full" whenever possible, you don't have to sanitize it,.....ever !
A gallon of water weights 8.3 lbs (more than fuel by the way). A 100 gallon holding tank is then 830 lbs which probably is about one third the useful cargo capacity depending on the size of the MH. If you are already at max cargo capacity, then adding water is unsafe. All of that weight is on one side of the rig and therefore effects tire pressure as it relates to load distribution. It also adds to GVW which effects fuel economy. Unless one is dry camping, it would then not seem prudent to always have the tank full of water.
If one wishes a definative answer to whether or not leaving water in a tank on a long term basis is healthy, then I'd suggest that one drain a gallon and take it to the local agriculture station for testing.
Personally, I'm comfortable with an internal filtering system and occassional bleaching of the tank.
Successful retirement is not
remembering which day it is.
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Ajones42
North Texas
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Joined: 11/17/2006
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Deen wrote:Ajones42 wrote:RJsfishin wrote:The shame of it all is,....if you keep it "full" whenever possible, you don't have to sanitize it,.....ever !
Not so! Ask me how I know! If you are cautious and fill with water from a city supply which has been treated, you may only have to sanitize a couple of times a year to be safe. The key is how fast you use your water. If it sits in your tank for any length of time unused, the chlorine will degrade rather quickly and lose its' effectiveness. This is even more critical during the hot summer months.
If I was filling with rural well water, I would sanitize much more often. Hmm...I sanitize every couple years and have never had any trouble.
Hi Deen,
I was replying to the person who said by keeping the tanks full you don't have to sanitize it - EVER! If sanitizing infrequently works for you, by all means continue doing that.
I sanitize at least 2X per year to be safe.
I also change the batteries in my smoke detectors and CO detectors 2X per year when the time changes.... even though the batteries are never dead. Same principle
Fulltiming in a 1993 Dolphin 32D
North Dallas, TX
My Old RV
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427435
Rochester, Mn
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Joined: 11/12/2005
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Geez-----I sure must be lucky. We've owned the Mh for 4 years and I fill my tank with fresh non-chlorinated well water before leaving home and refill as necessary at campgrounds. The tank gets emptied when I put the MH away for the winter. I've never sanitized the tank once------I guess the Minnesota winter temps do that!!!  We're both alive and kicking, and never gotten sick while traveling in the MH.
We normally only drink water that's come through the carbon filter under the sink, however.
Mark
2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U on a Ford chassis
2003 Ford Explorer toad with US Gear brakes,
ReadyBrute tow bar, and Demco base plate.
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ArchHoagland
Clovis, CA, USA
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Joined: 11/28/2004
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I put a whole gallon of bleach in my fresh water tank on a trailer I used to own.
Never did get the bleach smell out of the water system. I'll bet it still smells to this day.
I wouldn't use more than a cup of bleach for your tank.
2004 Monaco
La Palma 36DBD
Two Slides
2 Potties
Workhorse 22 chassis
8.1 gas engine & Allison 1000 transmission
7.1 MPG based on fuel used over 32,000 miles
TOADS
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
US Gear Brakes
1991 Mazda Miata 5 speed 33MPG 2,310 LBS
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Stim
NE Florida
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Joined: 05/23/2007
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My 1989 Southwind Owners Manual says- 1/4 cup household bleach to every 15 gallons of tank capacity to sanitize. I don't fill tank full, only 1/4 full then I drive MH to slosh the solution around plus running it through ALL water lines. I also let it sit for a day or more before draining.
Sanitizing is just common sense!
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