RE: Keeping water system clean during storage

[Ab Diver]

 
We are now into soccer season, which means ALL our weekends are booked for the next couple months. It s still pretty warm out (90ø+ in the daytime), and *stuff* just loves to grow in an unattended water tank.
 
 1) Is there anything that will inhibit bacterial growth, AND can be left in the water system for a long duration of time without hurting the pump, HWH, and/or faucet seals? I know some of you don t drain the HWH during the camping season, but that water is being flushed each time you use the trailer.
 
 2) I m wondering if leaving a 1/2 cup or so of chlorine mixed into the fresh water fill will deter bacterial growth so I don t have to do a major sanitation job before using the pop-up again this fall. Is it OK to leave the fresh water system topped off with such a mixture for extended periods of time?
 
 Just trying to avoid the whole rigmarole of sanitizing before our next use, if possible.

[CajunCamper]

 Ab Diver
I wish I had an easy solution for you, but I don t. I m not saying there s not one, I just don t have it for you. Just because of the way I am, I always sanitize my holding tank and lines before using it. We typically bring bottled water for cooking and drinking and use the water in the holding tank for general purpose such as cleaning.

[angelsmom10]

 Ab Diver
I d email the mfg and ask!

[tlhdoc]

 Ab Diver
Use a lower amount of bleach if you plan on leaving it in the water lines long term.   No more than a 1/4 of a cup.  If you have chlorine in your drinking water at home, you could just fill the system and allow the chlorine in your water to do the job.  
 
 I think I would just resanitize the system when you are ready to go camping again.

[angelsmom10]

 Ab Diver
This may sound stupid, but could you just leave the lines open so air gets to inside?

[tlhdoc]

 Ab Diver
I don t think much air would circulate in the system if you left the valves open.  I do think bugs and spiders would go in though.[: (]

[Ab Diver]

 Ab Diver
The last time I left (chlorinated) tap water in the tank for an extended period of time, it grew all kinds of slimy stuff. I had suffered a leg injury literally an hour before leaving for a trip and couldn t walk to the trailer to drain the system. Then forgot it was full of water. The next trip was a couple months down the road. [: (]
 
 So I ll guess I ll just drain the tank and sanitize as usual. I m pretty anal about our drinking water, and do the full sanitization routine before each trip. Was just hoping there was something on the market that could be left in the tank and do a  simple " drain and rinse"  routine before a trip.
 
 Hey, I got it!.... I ll fill the system with Bacardi 151. That oughta keep it sterile. Fits right in with our NNC " California Winterization"  Tips as well. []

[angelsmom10]

 Ab Diver

 

ORIGINAL:  Ab Diver
 
 ...................
 Hey, I got it!.... I ll fill the system with Bacardi 151. That oughta keep it sterile. Fits right in with our NNC " California Winterization"  Tips as well. []
 

Sounds great to me[][]